IELTS Vocabulary Up To Band 6.0, by Pauline Cullen

It is not particularly surprising that the IELTS, a test that is designed to test knowledge of the English language for non-native speakers, that some elements of the English language would be useful across all parts of the test. And that is true for vocabulary. What is perhaps most surprising is that this test is scored with a maximum score of 9.0 would find it worthwhile to include vocabulary up to a band 6.0, which is considerably below the maximum score on the exam. Indeed, if one is seeking a sufficient score to work as a nurse or to enter university, it is necessary to achieve a score of 7.0 in most sections, while for other working purposes a 6.0 is acceptable. This book, it can therefore be understood, is not aiming at the higher requirements for professionals or academic English achievement but rather the minimal standard of vocabulary that is necessary for someone to master in order to reach the minimal passing standard. This is not to say that this book is not without value to candidates on the IELTS who are seeking a higher score than this book aims at, but it must be pointed out that as this book aims at a lower standard than such candidates would need to achieve, such readers must view this book as a basic one whose vocabulary must be exceeded rather than meet. One must go beyond what is offered here, without neglecting anything included herein. This is a less than ideal use for a book, but that is what happens when a book aims low rather than aiming higher than the minimum standard of achivement.

This particular book is a bit less than 200 large pages and it is divided thematically into 25 units. After every 5 units there is a multiple choice question that tests the reader on the vocabulary taught in the section. The book begins with a map of the contents that shows how different units of the book address specific topics and test practice. This is followed by an introduction that shows which chapters of the book help with specific parts of the test, both the academic as well as the general test. This is followed by a summary of the IELTS test itself. The first 20 units of the book are divided into thematic contents that can be found in different sections of the IELTS exam: growing up (1), mental and physical development (2), keeping fit (3), lifestyles (4), student life (5), effective communication (6), travel (7), the passage of time (8), the natural world (9), reaching for the skies (10), design and innovation (11), information technology (12), the modern world (13), urbanisation (14), the green revolution (15), the energy crisis (16), business (17), the law (18), the media (19), and the arts (20). The last five units of the book deal with specific tasks for the exam: language building 1 (21), language building 2 (22), academic writing task 1 (23), academic writing task 2 (24), and general training writing (25). This is followed by thee answer key, recording scripts, a wordlist, acknowledgements, and a tracklist for the listening files that accompany this book.

While this book is basic in the sense that the vocabulary included here is below the level that many candidates for the IELTS will need in order to get a 7 on the various sections of this book, this book is not basic at all in the way that its contents are structured within units. Topics tend to be divided into a variety of subtopics and move abruptly between listening exercises, reading exercises, and writing tasks. Included among the questions of this book are vocabulary notes as well as error warnings that seek to help the reader avoid and correct mistakes in spelling, grammar, and collocation. This is certainly a book that can be used properly, but its proper use is complex and those who wish to focus on specific parts of the IELTS exam will likely find much about this book’s organization and structure to be immensely unhelpful. It is more helpful if the reader is looking for general knowledge about topics and general practice, especially, that can be used across different sections of the IELTS exam. Most of the questions, though, in this book tend towards the easier side, including true/false questions, multiple choice, matching, and fill in the blanks, and there are not many practice questions for the more difficult academic writing sections of the test where most readers would be expected to struggle in order to achieve a passing result.