Criterion

      Grade:          5/4/3/2/1

Comments (5 being the highest grade and 1 the lowest)

Originality/ Overview

         5

For the IELTS candidate, New Insight into IELTS provides extensive, in depth, preparation and practice for the IELTS examinations, both Academic and General modules. With a key focus on exam strategies, it unpacks each of the modules, raising awareness and facilitating understanding of the task types. (Eg ps 27 & 51)

The sole aim of this book is to orientate the candidate, both to the nature of the IELTS examination and to the strategies necessary to achieve their required score. It does this through comprehensive coverage of each module, enabling detailed, focused, preparation and practice for the exam.   

Language is drawn from the Cambridge English Corpus which includes ‘a unique bank of exam candidate papers’. (www.cambridge.org/corpus)

New Insight into IELTS has been ‘thoroughly updated’ providing ‘a wealth of fresh new material and a new look’, including a free IELTS practice test:

www.cambridge.org/elt/insightielts

Practicality/

Functionality

        5

It is user-friendly and systematically organised according to the four main skills.  An overview of each module prefixes the presentation and practice of the same, outlining the test format, section by section, part by part. (Eg ps 7, 36, 91 & 137)

Each module is independent of the other and each section/part within the module is also independent. Each section is divided into manageable, self contained, units.

If used as the main text for an IELTS preparation course, there is approximate coverage for 40-50 hours which could be extended if the Workbook is used to supplement. (The Student’s Book does incorporate whole class and pair work activities as well as opportunities for individual practice.) Equally, it would be as appropriate as a self study resource.

Audio CDs

Varieties of English are used including: British English (incorporating regional dialects), American English and Australian English.

Components

Student’s Book with Answers

Audio CD (separate)

Workbook with answers

Audio CD (separate)

(There is no Teacher’s Book)

Presentation

        5

Student’s Book: Colourful, categorised and identifiable sections.

Overall rating

      5

What outstanding strengths/ weaknesses do you feel this title possesses?

Strengths

The Student’s Book:

Enables clarity of understanding, providing thorough exposure to each question and task type.

(Eg ps 15, 30, 50, 67 and 100)

Equips learners with useful ‘Test tips’, raising awareness to support performance. (Eg p 67)

Enhances candidate performance through staged strategies which provide both an approach and rationale. This is applicable to all skills and concludes each of the skill sections. (Eg ps 35, 90, 135 & 160)

Supports independent learning through an annotated, detailed, Answer Key, providing comprehensive feedback to all exercises. (Eg p 187) Transcripts have also been annotated. (Eg p 171)

Guides candidates’ development of time management per task through the use of suggested time limits.

Facilitates random selection of material to meet and address individual learning requirements.

Raises candidates’ awareness of assessment criteria highlighting and specifying that which the Examiners will be looking for whilst also discriminating between the Academic and General modules. (Eg ps 92 & 100)

Incorporates graded material (below and above Band 6) at initial and final stages of the book, to enable those less/ inexperienced in taking the IELTS exam and those who require further challenge beyond the targeted Band 6, to benefit accordingly.

Weakness

Model writing answers are provided at Band 9 only. Whilst this may provide candidates with a standard to aspire to, for most it will be an unrealistic one. 

The Workbook

Strengths

Awareness of common student errors are identified and represented through exercises focusing upon the same. These genuine learner errors have been collated by and extracted from, the Cambridge Learner Corpus and provide a valuable source of input during the preparation period.

On which courses do you envisage being able to use this material?

Preparation for IELTS examinations

New Insight into IELTS would be highly appropriate for self study (including homework tasks) and would also be an excellent complement in addition to other similar course material.

The material is intended for use with students whose current level is approximately Band 6 and is suitable for both Academic and General Training candidates.

Other comments

New Insight into IELTS would serve any IELTS preparation course well and certainly within the capacity of either additional self study or, for use as a focus on particular parts of the IELTS exam, according to student need.

New Insight into IELTS has the potential to effectively equip any Band 6 (B2) candidate with both the test information and technique required to achieve an IELTS examination at this level and above.