Advanced Grammar in Use (Cambridge)
Did you know that grammar textbooks can go out of date? They can – especially English books that were written to help students prepare for specific tests. Today I’ll talk to you about a book which is the most up-to-date version in a series. You’ll find it very helpful if you need to take the Advanced level of the Cambridge exams (CAE), or even the Proficiency exam, or the IELTS.
What it’s about
Advanced Grammar in Use is a very comprehensive book with over 100 study units, which include grammar rules and lots of exercises. The book is bundled with a CD ROM and solutions, which all come together as a valuable study tool for anyone doing independent study or exam preparaton! As I mentioned, this edition came out very recently so it’s completely up-to-date. Therefore you won’t find any obsolete concepts that no one uses anymore. Don’t expect to find any basic grammar rules inside, either.
Who Advanced Grammar in Use is written for
As I already mentioned, this is an advanced grammar text book, so it’s meant for people who already have a good level of English and want to pass an exam at the C1 or C2 level within the European framework. If you’re still a beginner and can only say things in English like “the book is on the table” or to ask “where is the bus stop?”, then this book is not for you! When you have a more advanced language level, you’ll be able to pick up on the nuances that indicate subtle differences in meaning. If you have a decent level of English you can dive right into this new book. At first glance you may feel disoriented by the amount of information it provides, but its structure, friendly layout, colour-rich images, and diagrams will make you want to get started straight away.
Study, practice, and check your work!
The interactive CD ROM has around 200 exercises to offer, to help reinforce the concepts covered in the book. In addition, the customised tests and audio recordings that come with the main exercises will help you improve your English even more. I can confidently say that if you take the exam after preparing with this book, you should have no problem passing! Near the back of the book you’ll find all of the correct answers to the exercises, so you can easily identify your weakness and improve. If you’d like to find out more, take a look at the table of contents on Google Books! Sometime during your exam prep you may also want to consider downloading an app on your phone so that you can squeeze in that extra bit of study during lulls throughout the day. For example, when you’re queuing at the post office, or taking the bus home. There are plenty of apps out there, but I’d recommend downloading yours directly through the Cambridge website. Here’s the link to the app designed specifically as a companion for Advanced Grammar in Use!
