Vocabulary is the cornerstone for mastering your English language abilities. While you can confidently and fluently use a surplus of appropriate words, you are halfway to successfully wielding the English language, particularly when preparing for an English proficiency exam like the IELTS.
There are a plethora of free vocabulary learning materials available online, but nothing surpasses the adrenaline rush of learning like holding a really useful book in your hand, where you can mark and make notes and personalise your learning process. The trick is to pick the correct books that will solely help you with IELTS preparation.
Here are the top 10 vocabulary books for IELTS:
- 2000 IELTS Words to Score 7-8 Band by IELTS GAME
- IELTS Vocabulary Masterclass 8.5 by Marc Roche
- Barron’s Essential Words For the IELTS by Dr. Lin Loughheed
- 4000 Essential English Words by Paul Nation
- English Vocabulary in Use by Micheal McCarthy and Felicity O’Dell
- Oxford Word Skills
- IELTS Vocabulary Booster: Learn 500+ words for IELTS
- Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS by Pauline Cullen
- Check your English Vocabulary for IELTS by Rawdon Wyatt
- Vocabulary Builder Workbook by Chris Lee
Let’s have a look at 10 fantastic books that will make word learning easier and more effective:
1. 2000 IELTS Words to Score 7-8 Band by IELTS GAME
IELTS game is an excellent website that assists students preparing to take the IELTS exam. They offer a variety of free materials, one of which is the 2000 IELTS Words to Score 7-8 Band, which includes vocabulary from the 7 and 8 band ranges for 25 various topics.
Why this book?
- For each topic, ten words from the Band 8 vocabulary range and ten words from the Band 7 vocabulary range are offered.
- The most typical subjects asked on the IELTS speaking module ‘warm up’ (part 1) and ‘discussion’ (part 3) sessions are covered here.
- 5 topics cover the most relevant vocabulary for letter writing, report writing and essay writing.
Who is it for?
- For candidates who have good basic grammar but struggle with the vocabulary portion of speaking.
- Very beneficial for candidates who aim to acquire vocabulary on a consistent basis because the terms are divided topically, making it easier to cover them in a short period of time.
2. IELTS Vocabulary Masterclass 8.5 by Marc Roche
Marc Roche is a well-known writer, teacher, and entrepreneur who was born in Manchester and now lives in Spain. His vocabulary books are among the best-rated on Amazon, and many students studying for English competence exams use them.
Why this book?
- Collocations (reading and listening), Phrasal Verbs, Essay Vocabulary, Graph Vocabulary, and Speaking Vocabulary are all taught in separate books.
- Does not contain a list of exhaustive words but rather a filtered vocabulary set with a particular focus on exam usage.
- One of the few publications that concentrate on vocabulary support for the Listening and Reading modules.
Who is it for?
- This book is appropriate for candidates at the beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels of English language competency.
- It can be used as a dictionary to refer to words that are only relevant to IELTS.
3. Barron’s Essential Words For the IELTS by Dr. Lin Loughheed
Barron’s is a well-known publisher of IELTS study materials, and Essential terms for IELTS is one of their most well-known titles. This book is absolutely necessary for students wishing to ace the IELTS exam. You will receive extensive practise in expanding your vocabulary and conversing correctly.
Why this book?
- a mega-list of 600 terms that appear regularly in IELTS assessments
- Tourism, nature, the environment, art, hobbies, social issues, and many more are examples of popular categories covered in the book.
Who is this for?
- It is quite beneficial for beginners to learn lexical resources.
- Since the activities are organised thematically, it is easier to learn and recall terms.
4. 4000 Essential English Words by Paul Nation
4000 Essential English Terms is a six-book series that focuses on practical high-frequency words to help learners from beginning to intermediate levels improve their vocabulary. The series includes a wide range of terms that span a high percentage of the words found in many spoken or written documents. As a result, after memorising these target words, students will be able to completely comprehend vocabulary items encountered in written and spoken form.
Each unit contains 20 definitions and examples of how to use the words. The activities in the books are meant to show the terms in various contexts so that students may completely understand how they can be used. In addition, at the end of each unit, there is a story that contains the unit’s target words to provide learners with more instances of the terms in use. Each level effectively prepares the learner for the next, gradually pushing the learner with more difficult language and narrative.
Why this book?
- All target words have clear, understandable definitions and examples.
- Several activities are provided to reinforce target vocabulary.
- Vocabulary development progresses between levels.
- Reading passages that contain target words.
- Photographs that are appealing and illustrate each target term.
- Free additional audio recordings of target word lists and reading passages are available for download and help with pronunciation.
Who is it for?
- It can also be beneficial for pupils who want to improve their overall English skills.
- Helpful for gaining band 6.5 and more.
5. English Vocabulary in Use by Micheal McCarthy and Felicity O’Dell
English Vocabulary in Use is one of the most well-known publications in the IELTS vocabulary learning series, consisting of six vocabulary training volumes ranging from basic/beginner to advanced. This series is published by Cambridge University Press. They adhere to a precise format, which includes teaching vocabulary on the left page and practise questions on the right. There are two volumes for each level: a study book and an exercise book called “test your English vocabulary in use.”
The text has been broken into 100 units, which are grouped into eleven sections. The first section is called Effective Vocabulary Learning. It discusses the learning process and ways for learning words. The second section is about word creation and how to add prefixes, suffixes, and other modifiers. The third and fourth sections include pronunciation as well as connecting and linking terms. Other sections include countable and uncountable nouns, subjects, feelings, and actions, idioms and expressions, phrasal verbs and verb-based expressions, and finally, English varieties such as formal and informal.
Why this book?
- The first book is for Pre-intermediate students, and the sixth book is for Advanced students, thus each book is for a certain level of English and can help students learn at their own pace.
- It is one of the few publications that include an additional activity book to help you put what you’ve learned into practice.
- The book includes a comprehensive phonetic library to assist users in pronouncing difficult words correctly.
Who is it for?
- Each book is written with the student’s level in mind, so it may be utilised effectively by students of various English levels.
- Even a beginner can understand the text thanks to the phonetic library and practise exercises.
6. Oxford Word Skills
Oxford publishes the greatest and most authentic resources for English language learning, and the Oxford Word Skills series comprises of eight volumes that aid in English language acquisition. Word skills, pocket dictionary, primary students book, higher intermediate-advanced student book, intermediate phrasal verbs and idioms, and so on are all part of the series. It is a useful book series that may be used by anyone who wants to study English, especially those taking English proficiency exams like the IELTS.
Why this book?
- In an easy-to-use book, all themes are linked with link words, simplified, and words to expand our vocabulary.
- There are 181 two-page units in all. These are separated into 31 modules, each of which covers a distinct facet of a significant issue. Each unit in a module introduces and explains approximately 20 pieces of vocabulary.
- Some elements are represented by images.
- The vocabulary is given in a variety of text formats so that you may see new words and phrases being used naturally, making learning more organic.
Who is it for?
- Excellent resource for those studying for the Cambridge or IELTS tests.
- The tasks make it simple to acquire language depending on context.
- It can aid students in their preparation for any competitive exam, not only IELTS.
7. IELTS Vocabulary Booster: Learn 500+ words for IELTS
The book concentrates mostly on vocabulary for essay writing, but it will also be highly useful in preparing for the IELTS speaking, reading, and listening sections. You will learn over 500 new words in this book on nine major topics utilised in IELTS writing assignment II: education, health, environment, crime and punishment, food, art, globalisation, technology, and outer space. Similar topic vocabulary might be used in your speaking session as well. This book is written with one main purpose in mind: to help you improve your IELTS score as rapidly as possible, preferably to a 7 band score or above.
Why this book?
- It’s incredibly clear and precise, and it offers the most straightforward explanations of new vocabulary.
- The book contains numerous images, which aid in word retention.
- For each lexical resource supplied, examples are provided.
Who is it for?
- It is designed to be straightforward, fun, and appropriate for individuals with varying learning styles.
- The book’s content can be understood with intermediate language abilities.
- For even greater results, the book delivers contextual learning with examples and illustrations.
8. Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS by Pauline Cullen
Cambridge Vocabulary For Ielts With Answers by Pauline Cullen is a useful resource for IELTS candidates. The book thoroughly covers the vocabulary needed to get a band 6 or above on the IELTS test. What distinguishes the book is a series of practice papers offered at the end of each chapter. While providing candidates with an overview of the exam pattern, the book can also instil the necessary degree of confidence in the users. Because of its clarity of subject and straightforward presentation, non-native English speakers preparing for the IELTS might considerably benefit from the Cambridge Vocabulary For Ielts With Answers.
Why this book?
- Special attention has also been placed on ensuring that the book holistically prepares the candidate to pass all stages of the test, including listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.
- The test materials provide a wide range of questions generated from prior test patterns, making it a must-have for all IELTS candidates.
Who is it for?
- The book is frequently recommended as a self-study resource that will help IELTS candidates quickly pass the exam.
- Along with the mock tests, the book includes some important recommendations for candidates to help with IELTS preparation and confidence building.
9. Check your English Vocabulary for IELTS by Rawdon Wyatt
Rather than simply presenting a list of words to memorise, they assist you in expanding your vocabulary through simple tasks. This has the added benefit of increasing retention. This best-selling workbook serves as a resource for students preparing for the IELTS exam. The book is especially suitable for anyone planning to study or train at an English-speaking college or university. The book includes exercises to assist teach students build basic and topic-specific vocabulary for the IELTS exam, as well as grammar, English use, comprehension, and spelling. It features a variety of activities to help students build and improve their English vocabulary and language abilities, making it suitable for both self-study and classroom use.
Why this book?
- Uses a range of useful, intriguing, and enjoyable exercises to test and enhance vocabulary.
- Simple format with clear directions
- Detailed answer key with more information
- Includes IELTS-style questions. Speaking and writing activities with sample answers to enable for constructive target language practise
Who is it for?
- Ideal for students with intermediate or higher levels of education.
- The book is suitable for beginners because it covers things in simple terms.
- Also a good option for those who struggle with writing vocabulary.
10. Vocabulary Builder Workbook by Chris Lee
Simple Lessons and Activities to Teach Yourself Over 1,400 Must-Know Words are included in the Vocabulary Builder Workbook. It is the most recent way to expand your vocabulary and improve your language skills. More than flashcards are required to increase your vocabulary. That’s why Chris Lee, a prominent test-prep expert, created a new strategy for incorporating new terms into your vocabulary. The Vocabulary Builder Workbook will help you develop and retain a foundational understanding of over 1,400 important words. Ideal for students preparing for the SAT, ACT, IELTS, or TOEFL, as well as those who wish to enhance their writing and speaking skills. The Vocabulary Builder Workbook transforms the work of extending your vocabulary into a chance for true learning and growth.
Why this book?
- The Vocabulary Builder Workbook can help you become a better reader, writer, and test-taker as it consists of s imple and enjoyable lessons organised by theme to assist you with identifying roots, forming associations, and recognising hundreds of new vocabulary terms.
- For sustained growth, use progressive learning techniques for all levels, using vocabulary sessions that gradually increase in difficulty.
- Retention Activities to ensure you remember every word long after the test is finished.
Who is this for?
- Helpful for intermediate students with a good grasp for grammar.
- Assist secondary school instructors in effectively teaching vocabulary.
- The Vocabulary Builder Workbook inspires you to improve your vocabulary by providing you with refreshingly simple lessons and enjoyable activities.