The book’s greatest strength is also a potential weakness. Because it is designed to accompany the main Headway course, it can be difficult to use as a standalone textbook. If a student has not covered the specific grammar point from the main Headway book, they may struggle with the academic exercises. Teachers using a different core curriculum may find the sequencing frustrating.
Headway Academic Skills is a solid, reliable workhorse in the EAP (English for Academic Purposes) classroom. It does exactly what it sets out to do: provide a clear, scaffolded path to academic competence. While it may lack the visual flash of modern competitors, its methodological approach to writing and study skills makes it an essential companion for any student using the Headway platform. headway academic skills