IELTS Language Practice: Review, learning guide, free PDF link

IELTS Language Practice is an extremely useful resource to help learners quickly improve their grammar and vocabulary. For Intermediate-level students who want to progress rapidly, this is definitely a book that should not be overlooked. Let's explore the information below on prepedu.com to gain a clear understanding of the content, advantages and disadvantages, and effective ways to use the IELTS Language Practice book. And don't forget to quickly download the PDF file at the end of the article for easy test preparation at home!

I. Introduction to IELTS Language Practice

1. General information

IELTS Language Practice is a book for practicing grammar and vocabulary at an intermediate level or above. The author of this material is Michael Vince, who has extensive experience in teaching. He has also served as an examiner for CAE, FCE, and IELTS exams for Cambridge ESOL.

2. Who should use IELTS Language Practice book?

The IELTS Language Practice book is suitable for individuals who are at a B2 level, and even those at C1 and C2 levels. It is evident that the book is not intended for beginners or those with a weak foundation, as the vocabulary and grammar knowledge compiled by the author, are quite advanced and specifically designed for the IELTS exam.

II. The Content and Evaluation of the IELTS Language Practice Book 

IELTS Language Practice is a book that helps you simultaneously learn vocabulary and grammar. The exercises in this material are designed to resemble those in the IELTS exam.

1. Content

The book consists of three main sections: Grammar, Vocabulary, and Words Phrases:

• Grammar Section: This is the first section you will study in the book, which includes 27 lessons and 13 practice exercises, alternating logically.
• Vocabulary Section: Following the Grammar section is the Vocabulary section, which contains 18 lessons. Each lesson covers common topics in the IELTS exam. The last two lessons in this section compile academic vocabulary (Academic Word List) to facilitate effective vocabulary learning.
• Word and Phrase Section: Finally, this section consists of practical exercises with words and phrases organized by small topics.

All exercises in the book have answers provided at the end for self-study and reference.

2. Evaluation

Grammar aspect:

• The book succinctly summarizes the grammar section with easily understandable illustrative examples. The target audience is Intermediate-level learners, as the presentation is suitable for their proficiency level.
• The exercise formats in the book simulate those found in the IELTS exam. The exercises are also considered relatively challenging.
• A notable exercise format in the book is the "Rewrite" exercise. This type of exercise helps you practice the skill of paraphrasing, which is important and commonly used in most IELTS exams.

Vocabulary aspect:

• In the vocabulary section, you will immediately engage in practical exercises without a pre-assigned vocabulary list, unlike some other books. Therefore, when studying the book, you need to proactively refer to the compiled vocabulary list in the last two lessons of the vocabulary section and take note of new words when necessary.
• The exercise formats in the book are designed to closely resemble those in the IELTS exam, allowing you to simultaneously learn vocabulary and become familiar with the exercise formats used in IELTS.

III. How to use IELTS Practice Language Effectively

The book provides relatively few detailed instructions and focuses more on practical exercises. Therefore, you need to employ suitable strategies to study the book effectively. Below, Prep will guide you on how to study the book for optimal results!

1. Spaced Repetition

You need time to "digest" the vocabulary you have learned. Therefore, it is not advisable to cram the book in just 1 or 2 weeks; instead, you should allocate appropriate time. Prep will analyze the forgetting curve to explain why you need to review using the right method to achieve the best results:

The forgetting curve follows an exponential decay pattern. The retention rate is 100% at the time of learning any information, but it quickly drops to around 40% in the first few days. After that, the rate of forgetting slows down.

In other words, forgetfulness occurs rapidly and significantly in the initial days of learning, and then the rate of forgetting gradually decreases. So, how can you effectively combat forgetting? Below is the Spaced Repetition method:

The Spaced Repetition method requires you to study and review knowledge over time in a cyclical manner. Typically, this method utilizes two cycles:

• Fixed cycle (5 days, 3 cycles)
• Increasing cycle length (3 days, 7 days, and 14 days)

For example: Applying the increasing cycle length, after you have finished studying a unit of knowledge, you need to review it after 3 days. On the 7th day, you review it again, and on the 14th day, you review it for the third time. You can continue reviewing until you are fluent. Note that as the cycle length increases, the fourth review will be on the 30th day, and so on.

2. Supporting tools

As mentioned earlier regarding vocabulary in the book, it doesn't provide a vocabulary list for each lesson but goes straight to the practical exercises. Therefore, note-taking becomes even more important. You should take notes on vocabulary, and grammar, and organize them systematically for convenient review. Some useful English learning note-taking software includes Anki or Quizlet, which you can explore.

3. Interleaved Learning, Regular Practice, and Application

• Interleave grammar and vocabulary lessons:
  • The book's feature is that vocabulary and grammar sections are independent of each other. However, studying each section separately can be monotonous. Therefore, you can interleave grammar and vocabulary lessons. When applying them, you can apply both vocabulary and grammar knowledge at the same time.
  • For example, when writing an essay to apply your knowledge, with interleaved learning, you can apply both the vocabulary and grammar knowledge you have learned. This optimizes your time and learning efficiency.
• Continuously review and apply learned knowledge: A quite effective way to review is to redo the book once again. This is a very useful method.
• Effective application: You need to apply your knowledge in speaking and writing. You can practice writing a diary, making sure to apply the knowledge you have learned based on your notes, as mentioned by Prep. As for speaking, it may be more challenging to apply. A helpful tip is to record your voice, listen to it, replace the learned vocabulary, and then speak it again in a complete manner.

IV. Download IELTS Language Practice PDF for free

You can purchase the IELTS Language Practice book through various e-commerce platforms. Additionally, Prep also provides a high-quality PDF version of the IELTS Language Practice book for convenient downloading and studying:

DOWNLOAD IELTS LANGUAGE PRACTICE

These are the detailed reviews by Prep regarding the content of the IELTS Language Practice book. Don't forget to refer to some effective study guides. Moreover, combine the materials with the IELTS course at Prep for effective exam preparation.