How to write an FCE review (with examples)
The FCE review is a Part 2 option in B2 First Writing: 140 to 190 words for a magazine or website about a film, a book, a place or a product. It describes, gives an opinion and normally ends with a recommendation.
- Task
- Part 2 option
- Words
- 140–190
- Readers
- Magazine or website
- Marks
- 20 (4 criteria × 5)
What the FCE review task asks you to do
A review is one of the four task types in Part 2 of the Writing paper, where you choose one task from three. It is written for an English-language magazine, newspaper or website, and the subject can be almost anything people recommend or warn each other about: a film, a book, a TV series, a restaurant or café, an app, a museum, a holiday destination or a product. The prompt, no more than 70 words, tells you what to cover, usually a description, an evaluation and a recommendation for a particular kind of reader.
A review describes and gives an opinion, and normally includes a recommendation. The skill is balance: enough description for the reader to picture what you are reviewing, then most of your words on what was good or bad about it and who it suits. The register is usually neutral or informal, with lively, precise vocabulary. You can write about something real or invent it, as long as it fits the task.
How it is marked: the four Writing criteria (Content, Communicative Achievement, Organisation and Language) each give 0–5, so a review is worth 20 marks. A review that retells a whole film plot, or never says whether the reader should go, misses what the task is for, however accurate the English.
An FCE review example
Read the task and plan four or five paragraphs: what the place is, the food, value for money, the study question and a verdict. Then open the model review.
You see this announcement in an English-language student magazine.
Reviews wanted: Where to eat
Write a review of a café or restaurant in your area that students would enjoy. Describe the place and the food, and say whether it is good value for money. Would you recommend it as a place for students to study?
The best reviews will be published next month.
Write your review.
Show the answer and explanation
Model review (184 words)
The Green Lantern: worth the walk
Tucked away in a side street behind the station, the Green Lantern is easy to miss. That would be a shame, because it is one of the best places in town to eat well without spending much.
The café is small but bright, with mismatched wooden furniture and plants hanging from the ceiling. The menu changes every week and is mostly vegetarian. I tried the lentil soup with homemade bread, which was generous enough to keep me going until dinner, and my friend's mushroom pie was even better.
Prices are reasonable, too. A main course costs about eight euros, and students get a free hot drink with any meal if they show their card.
However, I would not recommend it as a place to study. Although the staff are relaxed about people staying for a long time, the music is fairly loud at lunchtime and there are only two power sockets. Come here to eat and chat with friends, then head to the library.
Overall, the Green Lantern is great value, and I will definitely be going back.
Why it scores well
- Content: every part of the task is covered: the place, the food, value for money, and a clear answer to the study question, which is a mixed recommendation with reasons.
- Communicative Achievement: a title with a hint of the verdict, an opening that makes the reader curious, and a confident, friendly tone that suits a student magazine.
- Organisation: paragraphs follow the order of the task and finish with a one-line verdict; too, However and Overall guide the reader.
- Language: a participle opening (Tucked away in…), enough to, a concession with Although, and precise description (mismatched, generous, reasonable) instead of nice and good.
How to write a B2 review
- 01
Check exactly what the task asks you to cover: what to describe, what to evaluate, and who the recommendation is for.
- 02
Choose a subject you can describe in detail. It can be real or invented; what matters is that it fits the task.
- 03
Write a title and an opening that set the scene and hint at your opinion, so the reader wants to keep going.
- 04
Describe briefly, then evaluate in more depth. Give specific examples of what was good or bad rather than general praise.
- 05
Use precise adjectives and phrases (gripping, overpriced, cosy, a bit predictable) instead of good, bad and nice.
- 06
Finish with a clear recommendation for the reader named in the task. A mixed or negative recommendation is fine if you give reasons.
FCE review mistakes to avoid
Too much description. Retelling the plot of a film or listing every dish leaves no words for evaluation, which is the heart of a review.
No recommendation, or the wrong reader. If the task asks whether students would enjoy it, recommend it for students, not "for everyone".
Vague adjectives. "The food was good and the place was nice" tells the reader nothing and shows little range for the Language mark.
An essay-like tone. "Firstly, I will describe the café. Secondly…" sounds wrong for a magazine review. Write as if you were telling a friend what to try.
Useful language for an FCE review
- Setting the scene: "Tucked away in…", "Set in a small village in…", "The latest film from…", "Opened just last year,…"
- Describing: "The plot centres on…", "The menu is mostly…", "The app lets you…", "It is packed with…"
- Praising: "…is well worth seeing", "What really stands out is…", "The highlight for me was…", "beautifully shot", "gripping from start to finish"
- Criticising: "The only disappointment was…", "…was a bit predictable", "…felt rather overpriced", "…let it down"
- Recommending: "I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone who…", "It's well worth a visit if…", "Give it a miss unless…", "Overall, it's great value."
FCE review structure
| Paragraph | What it does |
|---|---|
| Title | Names the subject and, ideally, hints at your opinion |
| Opening | Introduces what you are reviewing and catches the reader's interest |
| Description | Gives the key facts: setting, plot, menu, features (keep it short) |
| Evaluation | Strengths and weaknesses, with specific examples; this should be the longest part |
| Recommendation | Who should go, watch, read or use it, and why, answering the reader in the task |
Practise the review in full FCE Writing tests
Four of our six FCE Writing tests include a review among the three Part 2 tasks. Each paper is timed at 80 minutes, and your text gets an expert evaluation on the four Cambridge criteria.
FCE review questions
What can I be asked to review in FCE?
Almost anything people recommend: a film, a book, a TV series, a restaurant or café, an app, a museum, a place to visit or a product. The prompt tells you the subject and who will read the review.
Does an FCE review need a title?
It is not required, but give it one. Reviews in magazines and on websites have titles, and a good one shows the examiner you understand the genre.
Should a B2 review be formal?
Usually not. Most reviews are for magazine or website readers, so a neutral or informal, lively style works best. Avoid slang and keep the language precise.
Do I have to recommend what I review in FCE?
A review normally includes a recommendation, and the task usually asks for one. It can be positive, negative or mixed, as long as you give reasons and address the reader in the task.
Sources
- B2 First Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge University Press & Assessment), pages 26–33
- B2 First exam format (cambridgeenglish.org)
CambridgeMock is independent and not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Facts on this page are checked against the official documents above; the practice items and advice are our own.
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