Title/Author

Section

Pages

Comments

IELTS on Track.  Stephen Slater, Donna Millen and Pat Tyrie

IELTS and Tests

134, 142

Using synonyms, connecting words and prepositions in IELTS writing

IELTS on Track.  Stephen Slater, Donna Millen and Pat Tyrie

IELTS and Tests

158

Vocabulary to describe data in IELTS Writing Task 1

IELTS on Track.  Stephen Slater, Donna Millen and Pat Tyrie

IELTS and Tests

162

Using synonyms and connective devices to show examples and results (IELTS Writing Task 2)

Check Your English Vocabulary for IELTS.  Rawdon Wyatt

IELTS and Tests

Whole book

This is a good resource for vocabulary useful for IELTS.  The first part of the book has general exercises related to IELTS (e.g. describing a graph, or writing an argument), while the second half has topic-related vocabulary (e.g.  ‘Travel’ or ‘Crime’).  You can use both to build up your vocabulary to tackle the test, and also to be able to speak about a variety of topics that might come up in IELTS.  There are many types of activities, and the answer key is at the back of the book.

IELTS Preparation and Practice – Reading and Writing Academic Module.  Wendy Sahanaya, Jeremy Lindeck and Richard Stewart.

IELTS and Tests

106ff

109ff

119ff

106-Describing graphs (changes)

109-describing trends

119-comparing information in charts

Step up to IELTS.  Vanessa Jakeman and Clare McDowell

IELTS and tests

37

37 - expressions for comparing data (e.g. ‘whereas’, ‘by contrast’).

57 – vocabulary for describing trends (e.g. ‘drop’, ‘remain stable’)

63-64 – vocabulary for listing ideas, and saying what people thing (e.g. ‘Some people feel that…’)

69 – talking about likes and dislikes.  Qualifying ideas using ‘as long as’ and ‘provided that’.

80 – vocabulary for the environment

84 – to stop someone +ing and to stop/prevent someone from +ing

p92 – expressions to give your feelings about things

Step up to IELTS.  Vanessa Jakeman and Clare McDowell

IELTS and tests

100-101

A very useful section on connecting your ideas using pronouns (e.g. ‘this’, ‘it’) and words like such.

Advanced Language Practice.  Michael Vince

Grammar

Units 27-29

Lots of exercises and activities on connecting ideas, useful for writing. Unit 29 has a brief review of items of punctuation including apostrophes and colons/semi-colons.

Focus on IELTS.  Sue O’Connell

IELTS and Tests

23, 39, 55

This book has a number of useful exercises on tricky words and their use.   The author often compares words with similar meanings that are used incorrectly.  Many of these are tricky for Hong Kong students!. Some of the explanations mentioned below are preceded by a quick exercise at the bottom of the previous page (e.g. p22, p38), and it’s a good idea to do this first, to check your own understanding.

P23 – do, play, go, increase/decrease + correct prepositions (in, of, etc), rise, raise, fall + correct preposition

P39 – number/amount, percentage/proportion, compared to/with, in comparison

P55 – television/radio + articles, concentrate/listen/play + correct preposition, plural expressions with numbers a ten-year old girl.

P71 – at the end/in the end, half/a quarter, one in ten/nine out of ten, worth/value

P87 – economic/economical, at first/first, lastly/at last, after/afterwards

P103 – differ/vary, make a difference/distinction, make/do

P121 – after all/finally, affect/effect

P135 – few/little, in spite of/despite, nevertheless

P151 – vocabulary connected with tourism

P167 – contain/consist, surely/certainly, a great deal of/a great many

Focus on IELTS.  Sue O’Connell

IELTS and Tests

100

Vocabulary for argument nevertheless, while, on the other hand.

Focus on IELTS.  Sue O’Connell

IELTS and Tests

190

Using and talking about numbers e.g. approximately twice as many…

Focus on IELTS.  Sue O’Connell

IELTS and Tests

193-194,
195

Exercises on linking words, especially pronouns.  This is very useful for writing. Exercise 12 on p195 is also useful.

Focus on IELTS.  Sue O’Connell

IELTS and Tests

197-198
(Ex. 16)

Useful words to introduce a sentence that show your own view. E.g. typically, inevitably

Focus on IELTS.  Sue O’Connell

IELTS and Tests

198-199 (Ex. 17)

Expressions for cause and effect, e.g. result in, result from

Vocabulary in Use Intermediate.  Stuart Redman & Ellen Shaw

Vocab

Units 32-37

Some exercises and explanations of expressions used to connect ideas (e.g., first of all, compared to, as a result).  It might be a good idea to review these for writing tasks if you are having some difficulty with them.