describe something you have experienced and recommend it (or not)
Length
140–190 words
Topics
a film, book, game, café, app, place or event
Must have
a title · description · good and bad points · a clear recommendation
Structure
Four parts
Title
A Hidden Gem in the Old Town
Introduction
what you are reviewing and your first impression
Body
what it is like: details, good points, weaker points
Recommendation
who would enjoy it and why — your final verdict
Describing
Vivid adjectives and details
Positive
gripping · stunning · cosy · delicious · well worth the money
Negative (tactful)
a little slow · slightly overpriced · could have been more original
Highlights
What really stands out is… · The best thing about it is…
Weak points
On the downside, … · My only complaint is…
Recommending
Always finish with a verdict
Strong
I would highly recommend it to anyone who…
With a condition
It's well worth a visit, as long as you…
Mixed
On balance, the positives outweigh the negatives.
Negative
I would think twice before…
Model
Find the title, introduction, good and bad points, and verdict
A review — 153 words
A Hidden Gem in the Old Town
Having read so many good reviews online, I finally visited Café Luna with my friends last Saturday — and I was not disappointed.
The café is small but cosy, with colourful paintings on the walls and relaxing music in the background. The menu offers a broad range of sandwiches, salads and homemade cakes, and everything we ordered tasted fresh and delicious. The chocolate cake, in particular, was utterly amazing. The staff were friendly and attentive without being pushy.
On the downside, the café gets very crowded at weekends, so we had to wait twenty minutes for a table. The prices are also slightly higher than in other cafés nearby, which may put off some students.
On balance, however, the positives far outweigh the negatives. I would highly recommend Café Luna to anyone looking for a relaxed place to meet friends. Just make sure you arrive early!
Common mistakes
Where candidates lose marks
Retelling the whole plot
→
Describe briefly, then evaluate
a review gives opinions, not a summary
It was good. It was nice.
→
It was gripping from start to finish.
use precise, vivid adjectives
No recommendation
→
I would highly recommend it to…
always give a verdict
Only positive points
→
On the downside, …
balance makes you believable
Your turn
Say it first, then write it
Review something out loud, then write 140–190 words.
1
Choose a film, game, app or café you know. What is your title?