How to Write a Review for B2 First (FCE) [2026 Guide]

Learn how to write a review for the B2 First (FCE) Writing with examples, structure and practical tips. Complete guide to pass your Cambridge exam.

Updated on 07/01/26

In today’s article, we’re going to learn how to write a review for the Cambridge B2 First. The review, as you probably already know, is one of the tasks that can appear in B2 Writing Part 2. And if you’re still not entirely sure about it, don’t worry, because I’m going to explain everything from scratch. Are you ready? Let’s-a-go!

What parts does the B2 Writing have?

The B2 First (FCE) Writing, as we’ve mentioned on other occasions, is made up of 2 parts:

• Writing Part 1: Here you always have to write an essay. There’s only one option, so you can’t choose. The task will always follow the same format and you must write between 140 and 190 words.
• Writing Part 2: In this part you’ll have to choose from 3 options. For these options, the types of Writing that can appear are the following:
  • Article
  • Email (informal or formal) or letter (informal or formal)
  • Review
  • Report

Each piece of writing you do should be between 140 and 190 words, approximately, and, as they’re different types of writing, you’ll need to bear in mind the peculiarities of each one regarding structure, register, grammar and vocabulary, etc.

So let’s get started with the one we’re focusing on in this article: Reviews!

What is a B2 review?

A review in B2 First is essentially a piece of writing whose main objective is to evaluate and describe something you’ve seen, read or experienced (a book, a film, a restaurant, a concert, etc.).

In the specific case of the B2 First exam, it’s important to bear in mind that the text is expected to be descriptive and personal whilst also being informative, giving our reader a clear idea of what you’re evaluating and whether or not you recommend it. Unlike more formal types of writing such as the report, in a review you can express your personal opinions freely and use a more relaxed tone.

How to write a Review for the FCE Writing (B2 First)

Below we’ll look at the main characteristics of a B2-level Review so that you can bear them in mind when writing:

• Purpose: The purpose of any review is to talk about a topic in detail, evaluating its advantages and disadvantages, and making some recommendations. Moreover, reviews are expected to engage the reader whilst providing useful information.
• Tone and register: Reviews tend to be aimed at the general public (for example: website readers, magazine subscribers, etc.), so the language can be standard or even slightly informal. You should address the reader directly, in the second person, and you can use humour if you think it’s appropriate.
• Structure: Every review needs a title. This should be as catchy as possible to grab the reader’s attention from the beginning. In the introduction, you should present what you’re evaluating in a relaxed way, trying to entertain and engage the reader. Each paragraph between the introduction and the conclusion should deal with a different aspect. And you should wait until the conclusion to make a clear recommendation.
• Opinion: In a review for B2 First, you’re expected to give your opinion throughout the whole text, although the final recommendation is expected at the end. A review is very personal, so you can freely use first-person sentences.
• Common topics for reviews: In B2 reviews you’re generally asked to write about restaurants, books, films, series, musical events, plays, holiday destinations, etc.

B2 First Writing Review Example (FCE)

Now that we’ve seen the main characteristics of a review for the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Writing, let’s look at a good example of a B2-level review, looking at both example instructions and a possible answer.

B2 Review Instructions

In the following text box you can see an example of a typical review task for B2 First.

From these instructions, we must always extract the essentials:

• Topic: a review of a film you have seen recently
• Target reader: students of the college film club
• Points to cover:
  • Information on the plot
  • Information on the actors
  • Whether you would recommend it
• Essential instructions for part 2:
  • Choose only one of the Writing tasks. That is, if you decide to do the review, you mustn’t do any other Writing Part 2 task.
  • Write the review using 140-190 words, approximately.

B2 Review Sample Answer

According to the task model outlined above, we can organise the paragraphs of the B2 review in the following way:

• Introduction
• Plot summary
• Actors and characters
• Conclusion/Recommendation

As I always say, this isn’t set in stone, but the most common outcome is 4 or 5 paragraphs in this type of B2 Cambridge Writing. So now let’s look at a Review example for the B2 First Writing:

Why is this a good answer?

This B2 review example meets all the necessary requirements:

• Attractive title: «A Film Worth Watching» captures the reader’s attention from the beginning and indicates that the film is worth watching.
• Well-defined paragraphs: The review is clearly organised into 5 paragraphs, each with a specific function:
  • Paragraph 1 (introduction): Uses a question to engage the reader and introduces the film in a personal and attractive way.
  • Paragraph 2 (plot): Summarises the plot without revealing too much, giving enough information for the reader to understand what the film is about.
  • Paragraph 3 (actors): Talks about the main actors and how they play their roles, fulfilling one of the task requirements.
  • Paragraph 4 (personal opinion): Clearly expresses what the writer liked most, adding depth to the review.
  • Paragraph 5 (recommendation): Concludes with a clear recommendation, as expected in every review.
• Language appropriate for B2: The vocabulary is varied and suitable for the level (comedy-drama, retired, intern, successful, wisdom, valuable, touching, positive message), without being excessively advanced. Moreover, natural connectors are used (at first, but, also, at the same time) which give the text fluency.
• Personal and informal tone: The review addresses the reader directly (Have you ever…? If you’re looking for…) and uses the first person to express opinions (What I loved most, I definitely recommend), creating an engaging and approachable text.
• B2-level grammar: Varied structures are used such as relative clauses (a film that completely surprised you), comparatives (older people), and different verb tenses (present simple, past simple, present perfect), demonstrating the expected level.
• Meets all requirements: The plot, actors and a clear recommendation are mentioned, covering all the points requested in the instructions.

Another B2 Review example for Cambridge FCE

Let’s look at another B2-level review example, this time about a restaurant.

Instructions:

Sample answer:

Analysis of this answer:

This second review also perfectly meets the requirements of B2 First:

• Eye-catching and personal title: «Pizza Paradise – My New Favourite Place!» is enthusiastic and personal, inviting the reader to find out more.
• Clear structure in 5 paragraphs:
  • Introduction: Direct question to the reader to create connection.
  • Location and atmosphere: Describes the place and its décor.
  • Food: Details the gastronomic experience with personal opinions.
  • Service: Mentions both positive and negative aspects (important balance in a review).
  • Conclusion: Clear and justified final recommendation.
• Positive-negative balance: A good review doesn’t only talk about the good things. This example mentions that the service was a bit slow, which makes the review more credible and realistic. However, it also explains that the staff compensated for this problem.
• Descriptive B2-level language: Uses varied adjectives (warm, cosy, traditional, fresh, melted, crispy, friendly, helpful, reasonable) and appropriate expressions (right next to, just the way I like it, a nice touch, well worth a visit).
• Engages the reader: Uses direct questions (Are you a pizza lover like me?), imperatives (you absolutely must visit) and the second person (make you feel), typical review techniques.
• Varied grammar: Includes passive voice (ingredients were fresh), comparatives (one of the best I’ve ever had), and contrast connectors (although, however, despite), demonstrating mastery of B2 level.

Will I be penalised if I write less than 140 or more than 190 words?

This is the most common question in this part of the exam and the answer is: yes and no. Let me explain. Examiners don’t count the words and penalise you based solely on the number of words. There’s a rumour amongst candidates and teachers that you lose marks for every 10 words, but that’s not true. However, think about it: if you’ve gone over by 40 or 50 words, or more, you’re probably including information that’s not very relevant to the task, and that is indeed penalisable. Similarly, if you write less than 140 words you’re probably missing important information or not covering it with the detail that’s required.

For this reason, I always recommend going over by no more than 15-20 words. That way, you probably won’t lose marks unnecessarily if the task covers the aspects you’re asked about. 🙂

Guide for B2 First Writing with examples and useful expressions

Although I have more articles on the website explaining how to do each type of task for B2 First (such as B2 Essay, B2 Article, B2 Report or B2 Informal Email), the best thing you can do to have plenty of information and practice is to get the B2 First (FCE) Writing Guide.

This comprehensive guide includes everything you need to master B2 First Writing:

• 3 complete examples of each type of writing (essays, articles, reviews, reports and emails/letters)
• Over 300 useful expressions ready to use in your writings
• Step-by-step strategy to approach any writing task with confidence
• Assessment criteria and mark sheets so you can self-assess
• Detailed description of each type of task and what’s expected of you

With this guide, you’ll have all the necessary material to practise and improve your B2 First Writing effectively and achieve the mark you need.

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I hope this article on how to write a review for B2 First Writing has been really useful. If so, don’t forget to share it with your friends and classmates.

See you in the next post. Until then, don’t forget to keep smiling! 🙂