How to Write a Review

What is a review?

A review states what you liked and disliked about a place, event, film, book etc... . It is written for the general public so is usually informal or neutral in tone and should be interesting to read. This means a catchy title, the use of adjectives, adverbs and other interesting exressions. It should include a brief description of what you're reviewing, what you specifically liked and disliked, and lastly your overall recommendation.  

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General information

Cambridge 140-190 words

However you should write at least 180 words and maximum 200

Trinity 150-180 words

However you should write at least 170 words and maximum 190

You need to write this much otherwise you won't be including enough detail or including enough variety of grammar in your writing!

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How to start writing a review

Create a plan

1. Think of something you know well related with the task.

2. Make a note of 3 or 4 areas that you liked and disliked. The ratio should correlate to how much you liked the film. If you LOVED it, you might not include any negative points. However, if you feel like something could have been improved, write it down!

3. List a few specific reasons for each area as to why you liked or disliked it.

Structure

Introduction - 2 or 3 sentences

• Introduce the general theme and give some background information. This could include:

  • a short description or history of the place/event/person/etc...

  • why you were in that situation/place

  • who you were with, when, etc...

  • your expectations before the experience

    
    

Main body

Your review should follow a logical order. This could be chronological (by time) or by area, eg: what you liked then what you didn't like, it's up to you. Here's an example of a chronological review.

1. How you felt when you arrived and why. What grabbed your attention first?

2. What you liked/disliked during the experience and why.

3. Your opinions as the experience was ending.

Conclusion - 2 or 3 sentences

• Give your final verdict (recommendation), should people also have the experience?

• You may want to give a prediction about the future.

• How did it compare to your expectation?

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Example review

Plan

Dua Lipa - O2 Arena

Huge crowds

Liked

1. Connection with audience

   1. encouraged us to sing

   2. told personal stories

2. Performance

   1. Stage design and coreography

   2. great voice

   3. choreography

   4. vibrant lights & special effects

3. Calvin Harris!

   1. everyone went wild

Disliked

1. Sound quality of first few songs

   1. resolved quickly

Electric Energy: Dua Lipa Lights Up the O2

Last weekend, I had the chance to attend Dua Lipa’s concert at the O2 Arena in London, and it was absolutely unforgettable. The venue was packed to the brim with fans of all ages, creating an electric atmosphere even before the music had started.

What I liked most was Dua Lipa’s energy and connection with the audience. She really encouraged everyone to sing along dance and occasionally told a heartfelt story. Her voice sounded just as strong live as it did on her albums, and the stage design, complete with vibrant lights and special effects, made the whole performance visually stunning. The choreography was impressive too, I could never have done what those dancers did.

However, one thing I didn’t enjoy as much was the sound quality during the first few songs—it was slightly distorted, which made it difficult to hear the lyrics clearly. Thankfully, this issue was quickly resolved.

What really grabbed my attention was the surprise guest appearance by Calvin Harris at the end, which no one was expecting. Everyone went wild!

Overall, the concert was a fantastic experience. I’d give it 9 out of 10 and would definitely recommend seeing her live if you get the chance.