Achieve IELTS is designed for students preparing to take the International English Language Testing System test.
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Achieve IELTS
Louis Harrison, Caroline Cushen & Susan Hutchison
Levels:
Intermediate to Upper Intermediate (band 4.5 to 6)
Upper Intermediate to Advanced (band 5.5 to 7.5)
Developed and tested at UK and European universities and language schools by experienced IELTS teachers and examiners, Achieve IELTS recognises students' real aims and ambitions by preparing them for examination success and student life in international education.
Achieve IELTS provides:
- a student-centred communicative approach to learning
- clear, useful advice on approaching the test from an experienced examiner
- motivating and contemporary topic-based units that cover the core skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking
- carefully graded development of test skills, building to full test practice activities, texts and instructions that closely follow the test format
- a strong grammar syllabus which revises key structures needed by students at this level
- graded writing practice with model answers and example students answers (including examiner's comments), including the latest changes to the IELTS writing test
- an integrated Workbook with further practice in test questions, a study skills syllabus and practice in the IELTS general English module
- preparation for study after IELTS to help students deal with social life in an academic environment
Achieve IELTS Student's Book includes a full audio script of listening exercises included in the Class Audio component featuring a range of international speakers.
Workbook with Audio CD
The Workbook provides practice linked to the Student's book units in:
- all core test skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing
- vocabulary
- pronunciation
- language points revised in the Student's book
- practices in study skills to help you learn better
- IELTS general training module for reading and writing
An Audio CD is included with the book for the listening exercises. The complete audioscript and an answer key is included with the book.
Teacher's book includes:
- an overview of IELTS
- an introduction to the aims and rationale of the course
- advice on how to use the Student's book activities
- background reading on academic life
- suggestions for additional activities
- model answers and students' answers with examiner's comments for the writing test
- an end-of course evaluation
- full answer key
Hours of Study
Each unit has 4-5 taught hours of material with a further 24 hours of self-study contained in the Workbook which includes an audio CD.
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Achieve IELTS Practice Test Book
Anthea Bazin & Elaine Boyd
This useful practice test books, containing four complete IELTS practice tests, can be used as a self-study resource or as part of an IELTS course. It provides practice for students preparing for the academic test at any level as well as a compehensive overview and test-taking strategies.
The Book contains:
- Detailed description of the test and its question types
- Strategies for preparing for the test
- Four complete IELTS practice tests prepared by experienced examiners and authors of exam materials
- Two audio CDs with correctly timed pauses to give an authentic test practice experience
- Full answer key with audioscripts and sample writing answers
- Authentic IELTS test answer sheet for familiarisation by students
- Personal assessment sheets for teacher feedback and to assist progress
Reviews
"…this is a very good course book.
It is packed with practical, informative readings, a variety of activities
(fill-ins, matchings, T/F, odd-word-out, etc.), engaging listenings and
exceptionally good practice tests for essay writing. The book includes
work with graphs, flow charts and diagrams; practice with writing definitions
and explaining processes, cognitive areas that are essential to university
curricula.
The teacher's book is coherent and straightforward with short,
precise background notes, answer keys, additional activities, and suggestions
for using the Workbook for further practice. The inexperienced teacher
should have no problem moving smoothly from unit to unit, task to
task.
The student's workbook is designed more for self-study than for
classroom use providing supplementary grammar practice, timed IELTS reading
comprehension and writing tasks, and extensive listening opportunities
with the enclosed audio CD. Students can check their answers in the key
as well as follow the audio script if need be.
The course itself is divided into 12 units, each one covering the core
skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Typical aspects of
language (such as verb tenses, prepositions, conditionals, etc.) are addressed
as well as specific pronunciation practice for days, dates and numbers,
for example, or linking, stress and intonation.
Another positive feature I noticed is that the authors have cleverly
integrated an ongoing opportunity for the students to talk. Pair work
is required for every activity, be it reading, writing or listening. Through
continual checks and cross-checks, discussions, asking and answering questions
with a partner, you not only maintain students' attention, but also provide
vital oral/aural practice so lacking in language classrooms.
This book's main purpose is to prepare students for the IELTS exam,
and this is covered thoroughly by the authors. For example, students
familiarize themselves with the exam pattern and the rhythm needed for
timed reading and writing sections. In each unit there are sections dedicated
to IELTS tasks - including how to understand the gist of a passage or
how to identify speakers' attitudes and opinions, an essential skill when
listening to English in a social, semi-official and academic contexts.
In conclusion, feel free to use this course book for secondary students
whether or not they are planning to take the IELTS. Achieve IELTS can
be an excellent preparatory tool for university "adult" experiences
and it provides practical advice that students can use in the future.
We have here not just your typical "teach-then-test" purpose
of an English as a Foreign Language publication, but also, due to the
socio-cultural and academic content, an honest effort at motivating students
and encouraging character formation. The authors have come close to the
current using language to learn and learning to use language approach
in SLA.
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