IELTS 5 Practice Tests, Academic Set 1: Tests No. 1-5: Volume 1 (High Scorer's Choice) Paperback – 6 April 2017

There are many practice test books, but this one stands out. The texts are interesting, and the question types are very similar to what you see in the actual exam. It’s like taking the real test at home! The detailed explanations are a big plus – they help reinforce the material and make this book a great tool for self-study.

The instructions in the listening section are clear, and the time for reading the questions is built into the recording, so you can just press play and then focus on the test. There is a good split of male and female voices and a good range of different accents, including words which have different pronunciations in Britain and America.I like the fact that the reading sections has explanations of the answers – this is a really useful feature.There are some model answers for the writing, although there is no indication for these of what level they are or what, if anything, an examiner would want to see improved for a higher score. This would be a really useful addition should the book be updated.It was really useful to have some examples of speaking answers, and I found the commentary on these really helpful.If I could have one thing changed in the book, it would be to have the answers after each section rather than all together at the back, as it it too easy to accidentally see the answers to the listening tests you haven’t completed yet.All in all, an excellent book for practising for the IELTS exam.

The product is extremely user-friendly, with Listening recordings available as download links as opposed to CDs you would need to purchase separately. The number of tests in each book is generous (5). Apart from the answer key, Reading has justifications for the answers too. There are full Listening transcripts as well, alongside Band 9 examples for each Writing task. Not many IELTS preparation books have that. My favourite feature of the books is the recording of a candidate answering the Speaking practice tests, complete with examiner comments on each section and corresponding IELTS bands for the 4 assessment criteria. This is something I use to give my students an idea of what exactly gets you a 6+ Speaking band. As a teacher whose main focus in IELTS, this set of books has proven invaluable as they provide a wealth of resources meant to equip students with the skills needed to get a good IELTS band. I cannot recommend them enough!

Good but answer rational are not extensive to isolate distractors

Great book, helped me a lot to score 8.5 in the IELTS Academic test

There are lots of practice test books, but this one is different. The texts are interesting, and the questions are a lot like those in the actual exam. It feels like you’re doing the real test at home! The clear explanations are a big help and make this book great for studying on your own. I even contacted the author via email for further explanation, and she kindly sent me free additional materials. Great experience overall!

Very happy with my purchase! My mother tongue is English, but I needed to pass an IELTS test as proof. I did not know the format of the test, and booked it only 3 weeks in advance. I bought this book and the theory book to get an idea what to expect, and I am so glad that I did! The IELTS is actually somewhat complicated, and a lot of technique is necessary to do well on the test, and this book provided everything I needed. It’s a great crash course! Very happy with my purchase, and I received my 8.5 result in the post today. I certainly would not have done as well without this book.

Excellent easy to use