Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 is a Cambridge University Press course designed for learners preparing for IELTS at a foundation level. It is one level in the wider Complete IELTS series, which also includes Bands 5-6.5 and Bands 6.5-7.5 for higher levels. Because searches often mix up the Student’s Book, the Workbook, the PDF and the audio, this review looks at what each part contains, who the course suits, and how to access the materials responsibly.
About the course
Publisher, authors and level
The Student’s Book was written by Guy Brook-Hart and Vanessa Jakeman and published by Cambridge University Press. The Workbook was written by Rawdon Wyatt. According to the publisher, the course prepares learners for the IELTS test at CEFR level B1, generally described as a foundation level corresponding to bands 4 to 5.
Editions available
The Student’s Book comes both with and without answers, and with or without a CD-ROM, while the Workbook is available with answers and an audio CD. A separate Teacher’s Book provides teaching notes and photocopiable materials for classroom use.
What is inside the Student’s Book
Ten topic-based units
The Student’s Book has 10 units built around topics intended to engage young adults preparing for study at university. Each unit works through IELTS task types for Reading and Listening step by step and includes speaking activities aimed at building confidence and fluency.
Reference sections
The book includes a Language Reference for grammar and vocabulary, a Writing Reference covering the skills needed for both writing tasks, and a Speaking Reference covering the skills needed for the Speaking test, each with further explanations, examples and exercises.
Revision units and practice test
Revision units appear after every second main unit to check progress and recycle grammar and vocabulary already covered. The Student’s Book ends with a full practice test covering all four skills, and the version with answers includes a CD-ROM with additional exercises and answer keys with sample answers.
What is inside the Workbook
The Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 Workbook with answers provides further Reading, Writing and Listening exercises for homework and self-study, giving extra practice in the grammar and vocabulary introduced in the Student’s Book. It includes an audio CD with all the listening material for the Workbook, along with recording scripts and an answer key.
Strengths of Complete IELTS Bands 4-5
- Clear level targeting. The course states its CEFR level and band range directly, which helps learners check whether it matches their current ability before starting.
- Structured progression. Ten topic-based units with regular revision points give a predictable, gradual path through the material.
- Coverage of all four skills. Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking are all addressed within the same course, supported by dedicated reference sections.
- Practice test included. A full test at the end of the Student’s Book lets learners see how their skills come together under exam-style conditions.
- Separate homework material. The Workbook gives extra practice without repeating the Student’s Book content, which is useful for learners who want more exercises at the same level.
Limitations to keep in mind
- Foundation level only. This title targets bands 4 to 5, so learners already working above this range will need the Bands 5-6.5 or Bands 6.5-7.5 titles in the same series instead.
- Published material dates from 2012. Some topics and task examples may not reflect the most recent test content, so pair the course with newer sample papers as your level rises.
- Two books needed for full practice. The Student’s Book and Workbook serve different purposes, so learners who want both classroom-style input and extra homework practice generally need to use both rather than one alone.
- CD-ROM and audio CD formats. Because the course was designed before some learners’ devices dropped disc drives, check how the audio and CD-ROM content are delivered for the edition you are buying.
Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 PDF and download requests
Searches for a Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 PDF frequently lead to sites offering the Student’s Book, Workbook, Teacher’s Book and audio as free downloads or as paid unofficial bundles. This includes specific searches such as a Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 Student’s Book PDF or a Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 Workbook PDF, which usually point to the same kind of unauthorized listings. The same concerns apply here as with any copyrighted course book:
- Copyright. The course is published by Cambridge University Press, and distributing or selling unauthorized copies infringes the rights of the authors and publisher, regardless of whether the site charges a fee.
- Completeness and accuracy. Unofficial copies can be missing pages, contain scanning errors, or pair audio files that do not match the printed track numbers.
- Reliability of the source. Sites offering course materials outside official channels are not accountable for errors the way a publisher or authorized retailer is.
A more reliable approach is to buy the Student’s Book and Workbook from a bookstore or authorized retailer, check with a library, or ask a teacher whether your school already has copies available.
Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 audio
Both the Student’s Book, through its CD-ROM and any accompanying Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 Student’s Book audio, and the Workbook, through its audio CD, rely on audio for their Listening exercises. Use the audio supplied with your own copy, and contact the seller or publisher if it is missing rather than searching for unofficial audio files, since mismatched numbering can make it hard to follow which recording belongs to which exercise.
Student’s Book with answers versus without answers
If you are comparing a Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 Student’s Book with answers against the version without answers, the difference is straightforward: the “with answers” edition includes answer keys and sample answers for self-study, while the version without answers is intended for classroom use where a teacher manages the answer key separately. Self-study learners generally need the “with answers” edition to check their own work.
Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 workbook with answers, in context
The Workbook is most useful once you have started the Student’s Book, since its exercises are built to reinforce grammar and vocabulary from specific units rather than to stand alone as a separate course. Learners who buy only the Workbook without the Student’s Book may find some exercises reference language points that are explained in more detail in the Student’s Book’s Language Reference.
The wider Complete IELTS series
Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 is the foundation title in a series that also includes Bands 5-6.5, aimed at an intermediate to upper-intermediate level, and Bands 6.5-7.5, aimed at a more advanced level. All three share a similar structure of topic-based units, reference sections and a practice test, so learners who complete one level can generally move to the next title in the series rather than switching to an unrelated course. Checking your practice test scores against each title’s target band range before buying helps avoid starting a level that is too easy or too demanding.
How to study with the course
- Confirm your level first, using a short diagnostic or a full practice test, before committing to the Bands 4-5 title specifically.
- Work through the Student’s Book unit by unit, using the reference sections when a task introduces unfamiliar grammar or vocabulary.
- Use the Workbook for homework, matching each Workbook unit to the Student’s Book unit you have just completed.
- Complete revision units as they come up, rather than skipping them, since they are designed to catch gaps early.
- Take the full practice test near the end of the course under timed conditions.
- Move on to the next level in the series, such as Bands 5-6.5, once you are consistently scoring above this course’s target range.
Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 offers a structured foundation-level course covering all four IELTS skills, with a Student’s Book for core teaching content and a separate Workbook for extra practice. It suits learners working at CEFR B1 who need a guided path before moving to more advanced material, though it is not intended to take a learner all the way to a high band score on its own. Access the Student’s Book, Workbook and their audio through legitimate channels, and move on to the next level in the series once you have outgrown this one.
See also: Basic IELTS Listening book review: Who it suits and how to use it
Frequently asked questions
What level is Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 designed for?
It is designed for learners at CEFR level B1, generally described as a foundation level corresponding to IELTS bands 4 to 5. Learners already scoring higher in practice tests should look at the Bands 5-6.5 or Bands 6.5-7.5 titles in the same series instead.
Do I need both the Student’s Book and the Workbook?
The Student’s Book provides the main teaching content, reference sections and a full practice test, while the Workbook offers additional homework exercises in the same grammar and vocabulary areas. Self-study learners who want more practice at this level generally benefit from using both together.
Is it safe to download Complete IELTS Bands 4-5 as a free PDF?
Unauthorized copies infringe the publisher’s and authors’ copyright and can be incomplete, contain errors, or come with audio that does not match the book’s track numbering. Buying the books from an authorized retailer, checking a library, or asking a teacher for school copies are safer ways to get accurate materials.
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