Textbooks, Revision Books and more...TO UPDATE
Whether you are studying at school in the USA or UK, or you are a home educating private candidate accessing the IGCSEs and A Levels, it is important to have the right study materials.
Many of the subject-specific books are endorsed by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) so they are tailored to the syllabus and examinations that students will cover at the end of the course. So, check each subject-specific resource page in Resources for the suggested textbooks. Personally, I tried to get one or two CIE endorsed books to help me tutor successfully and plan lessons.
In addition to the books, I also purchased revision materials for each subject even when they did not specifically cover CIE syllabuses. Most of the time, the well-written revision books or alternative subject books cover most of the material that is covered in the CIE syllabuses.
To get textbooks, revision books and subscriptions to brilliant learning sites, I went to the following:
CGP Books
http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/home.asp
CGP Books have revision books, workbooks, practice tests, textbooks and even video tutorials for some subjects. These books are such fun to go through that I have bought at least one book for each subject that I teach. Their website also has useful revision tips for students too, so take a look.
If you live in the USA and would like to purchase any of the materials you see online, I am proud to be a Book Distributor for the US market. Please contact me at samantha@eddistutorial.com with your order and the books will be on their way.
Disclosure: Eddis Tutorial Services, LLC receives compensation from CGP, on selling their books.
Cambridge International Examinations Resources Pages
For each Cambridge International Examination subject at IGCSE, AS or A Level, there is a dedicated list of resources under each subject heading. In addition, some subjects have extra support under the CIE Cambridge Students support site. It is well worth having a look at the resources that are given, although not every resource needs to be used. The Cambridge-endorsed books are specifically tailored to the syllabus material, so I always try to purchase one or two of these books. Look at the following links to find the resources that are most useful to you:
http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/middlesec/igcse/subjects
http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/uppersec/alevel/subjects
http://www.cambridgestudents.org.uk/subjectpages
Amazon.com
A great one-stop shop for many of the recommended books as well as revision books that can be very helpful. The added layer to the Amazon website of showing other related products can also be useful, as well as the Used books section (where I purchased quite a few literature books at minimal cost, so that my students had access to all on the syllabus list). Sometimes, the www.amazon.com site in the USA is not specific enough to the UK-based books needed. That is when I try www.amazon.co.uk to find out about the ISBN number and other information on books.
Barnes And Noble.com and Barnes and Noble Bookstores
My local bookstore in the USA. I have always found it easy to speak with trained salespeople that will collect up the books I can get in the store, or order in books that they might have online, to be picked up at my local store. As I am a home educator, I also use my Barnes and Noble Educator Discount card to get 20% off all educational material. Make sure to use your local bookstore, which you can find online at: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
and look at the Educator Discount card too, at:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bn-at-school/educator.asp
WHSmith
One of my favourite bookstores in the UK, because it has lovely stationery too! There is always a wide selection of revision books for GCSE and A Levels, and almost all the literature books that you need for the syllabuses. WHSmith also has an online store, so materials can be purchased online if necessary. If you are in the UK, you can go to the nearest WHSmith or go online at:
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/
Waterstones
Another great bookstore in the UK. I go to this store often as it sometimes carries different books suitable for IGCSE and A Level subjects. There is also an online store, and there are usually discounts on books. You can also use the search bar (as with the WHSmith website) to type in your IGCSE or A Level subject and see what books are available. If you are in the UK, you can go to the nearest Waterstones or go online at:
http://waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/
Cambridge University Press
Straight from the Cambridge University Press, this website highlights the CIE endorsed books that are published by the CUP. The website that I use gives the price of books in US Dollars, so it is useful for students doing the Cambridge Program in the USA. Well worth a visit at:
http://www.cambridge.org/us/education/cie/index.html
Alibris
Although this online bookstore sells new books as well, if you are on a tight budget and have to get good quality used books, a site like Alibris is probably worth a look. First of all, see how much the books cost in your local store (especially if you get a discount) and then compare against the used books you can purchase online with shipping costs included. Make sure you have enough time to get your books ordered and delivered before the start of your course - the books are there to help you organise your thoughts, deliver the material effectively and provide another person's perspective (the author's). The websites to go to are either:
http://www.alibris.com/
http://www.alibris.co.uk/
Spark notes
One of the best sites with a wealth of free information for students on a wide variety of subjects. This site is not to replace teaching, especially with analysis of literature, but it is still a wonderful resource. It can be used for revision, for study aids, to set questions and so much more. You can also buy quite a few Spark Notes materials at Barnes and Noble, so if you haven't already been to the site, go to:
http://www.sparknotes.com/
Cliffs Notes
A great study guide site, Cliffs Notes was the original producer of revision and study materials. You can buy Cliffs Notes materials at local bookstores or go online to find the study aids and revision books for a variety of subjects. The literature materials are very comprehensive and are useful for revision, study notes, to set questions and more. If you haven't already been to the site, visit it at:
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/
Internet 4 classrooms
This is an American-based site, so it is related to high school subject material rather than IGCSEs and A Levels. However, it is a site that I go back to again and again for reference, resources, and sometimes for lesson plan ideas. There is so much on the site that it is well worth bookmarking:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/
Shambles
There is a particular webpage on Shambles that I have used when trying to find revision materials for several subjects. Sometimes the links have not worked, so I searched for the websites myself. If the sites have lots of pop-ups, I tend to relegate them to the bottom of my list of resources and references. Thanks to Chris Smith for creating this website though, which is packed full of information.
http://www.shambles.net/pages/students/revision/
Topmarks
This is a UK educational search engine with links to plenty of really helpful resources. Browse through the subjects and once you click on a subject, a whole list of links come up. I go here first when I want to research the best links for a particular subject:
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/
Discovery Education
This US website has plenty to offer, but I have used it specifically for the puzzle maker capability when creating word searches and other puzzles. The hard work is done for me once I input what I want to be tested. A useful resource to have at hand:
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/index.cfm?campaign=flyout_parents_puzzle
The Book Depository
What a great online bookstore! You can buy books from this website and pay in various currencies with free shipping to many destinations. I have gone to this website numerous times and I am always happy with the service:
http://www.bookdepository.com/
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/
AND MORE TO BE ADDED...
There are many more resources to add here, so please suggest what has really worked well for you, or what you particularly want to see. Thanks for any input to help others!
Back to home page
Many of the subject-specific books are endorsed by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) so they are tailored to the syllabus and examinations that students will cover at the end of the course. So, check each subject-specific resource page in Resources for the suggested textbooks. Personally, I tried to get one or two CIE endorsed books to help me tutor successfully and plan lessons.
In addition to the books, I also purchased revision materials for each subject even when they did not specifically cover CIE syllabuses. Most of the time, the well-written revision books or alternative subject books cover most of the material that is covered in the CIE syllabuses.
To get textbooks, revision books and subscriptions to brilliant learning sites, I went to the following:
CGP Books
http://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/pages/home.asp
CGP Books have revision books, workbooks, practice tests, textbooks and even video tutorials for some subjects. These books are such fun to go through that I have bought at least one book for each subject that I teach. Their website also has useful revision tips for students too, so take a look.
If you live in the USA and would like to purchase any of the materials you see online, I am proud to be a Book Distributor for the US market. Please contact me at samantha@eddistutorial.com with your order and the books will be on their way.
Disclosure: Eddis Tutorial Services, LLC receives compensation from CGP, on selling their books.
Cambridge International Examinations Resources Pages
For each Cambridge International Examination subject at IGCSE, AS or A Level, there is a dedicated list of resources under each subject heading. In addition, some subjects have extra support under the CIE Cambridge Students support site. It is well worth having a look at the resources that are given, although not every resource needs to be used. The Cambridge-endorsed books are specifically tailored to the syllabus material, so I always try to purchase one or two of these books. Look at the following links to find the resources that are most useful to you:
http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/middlesec/igcse/subjects
http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/uppersec/alevel/subjects
http://www.cambridgestudents.org.uk/subjectpages
Amazon.com
A great one-stop shop for many of the recommended books as well as revision books that can be very helpful. The added layer to the Amazon website of showing other related products can also be useful, as well as the Used books section (where I purchased quite a few literature books at minimal cost, so that my students had access to all on the syllabus list). Sometimes, the www.amazon.com site in the USA is not specific enough to the UK-based books needed. That is when I try www.amazon.co.uk to find out about the ISBN number and other information on books.
Barnes And Noble.com and Barnes and Noble Bookstores
My local bookstore in the USA. I have always found it easy to speak with trained salespeople that will collect up the books I can get in the store, or order in books that they might have online, to be picked up at my local store. As I am a home educator, I also use my Barnes and Noble Educator Discount card to get 20% off all educational material. Make sure to use your local bookstore, which you can find online at: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
and look at the Educator Discount card too, at:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bn-at-school/educator.asp
WHSmith
One of my favourite bookstores in the UK, because it has lovely stationery too! There is always a wide selection of revision books for GCSE and A Levels, and almost all the literature books that you need for the syllabuses. WHSmith also has an online store, so materials can be purchased online if necessary. If you are in the UK, you can go to the nearest WHSmith or go online at:
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/
Waterstones
Another great bookstore in the UK. I go to this store often as it sometimes carries different books suitable for IGCSE and A Level subjects. There is also an online store, and there are usually discounts on books. You can also use the search bar (as with the WHSmith website) to type in your IGCSE or A Level subject and see what books are available. If you are in the UK, you can go to the nearest Waterstones or go online at:
http://waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/
Cambridge University Press
Straight from the Cambridge University Press, this website highlights the CIE endorsed books that are published by the CUP. The website that I use gives the price of books in US Dollars, so it is useful for students doing the Cambridge Program in the USA. Well worth a visit at:
http://www.cambridge.org/us/education/cie/index.html
Alibris
Although this online bookstore sells new books as well, if you are on a tight budget and have to get good quality used books, a site like Alibris is probably worth a look. First of all, see how much the books cost in your local store (especially if you get a discount) and then compare against the used books you can purchase online with shipping costs included. Make sure you have enough time to get your books ordered and delivered before the start of your course - the books are there to help you organise your thoughts, deliver the material effectively and provide another person's perspective (the author's). The websites to go to are either:
http://www.alibris.com/
http://www.alibris.co.uk/
Spark notes
One of the best sites with a wealth of free information for students on a wide variety of subjects. This site is not to replace teaching, especially with analysis of literature, but it is still a wonderful resource. It can be used for revision, for study aids, to set questions and so much more. You can also buy quite a few Spark Notes materials at Barnes and Noble, so if you haven't already been to the site, go to:
http://www.sparknotes.com/
Cliffs Notes
A great study guide site, Cliffs Notes was the original producer of revision and study materials. You can buy Cliffs Notes materials at local bookstores or go online to find the study aids and revision books for a variety of subjects. The literature materials are very comprehensive and are useful for revision, study notes, to set questions and more. If you haven't already been to the site, visit it at:
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/
Internet 4 classrooms
This is an American-based site, so it is related to high school subject material rather than IGCSEs and A Levels. However, it is a site that I go back to again and again for reference, resources, and sometimes for lesson plan ideas. There is so much on the site that it is well worth bookmarking:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/
Shambles
There is a particular webpage on Shambles that I have used when trying to find revision materials for several subjects. Sometimes the links have not worked, so I searched for the websites myself. If the sites have lots of pop-ups, I tend to relegate them to the bottom of my list of resources and references. Thanks to Chris Smith for creating this website though, which is packed full of information.
http://www.shambles.net/pages/students/revision/
Topmarks
This is a UK educational search engine with links to plenty of really helpful resources. Browse through the subjects and once you click on a subject, a whole list of links come up. I go here first when I want to research the best links for a particular subject:
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/
Discovery Education
This US website has plenty to offer, but I have used it specifically for the puzzle maker capability when creating word searches and other puzzles. The hard work is done for me once I input what I want to be tested. A useful resource to have at hand:
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/index.cfm?campaign=flyout_parents_puzzle
The Book Depository
What a great online bookstore! You can buy books from this website and pay in various currencies with free shipping to many destinations. I have gone to this website numerous times and I am always happy with the service:
http://www.bookdepository.com/
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/
AND MORE TO BE ADDED...
There are many more resources to add here, so please suggest what has really worked well for you, or what you particularly want to see. Thanks for any input to help others!
Back to home page
Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: April, 2021.