TRUCS & ASTUCESReview

Answer the task's points

Every review task names aspects to cover: the acting and the storyline, the content and teaching methods, whether it was good value. Make sure each one gets real attention, ideally a paragraph of its own.

You may invent what you review, or change the facts to fit the task. A made-up exhibition that lets you answer every point is better than a real one that does not.

Balance description and evaluation

Readers need just enough description to picture what you are reviewing: the genre, the setting, the premise. Then move on; a long plot summary eats words and earns little.

The heart of a review is evaluation: what works, what does not and why. Back up each judgement with a specific detail, such as a scene, a dish or a feature.

Engaging but controlled

Hook the reader with a catchy title and an opening that raises curiosity: a rhetorical question, a bold claim or a striking detail. Address readers directly now and then (if you enjoy...).

Stay semi-formal: expressive vocabulary and a personal voice, but no slang, text-speak or strings of exclamation marks. Think of a well-written magazine column, not a message to a friend.

Precise evaluative vocabulary

Replace tired words with exact ones. Instead of good, try gripping, thought-provoking, well-paced, beautifully designed; instead of bad, try predictable, clumsy, overpriced, underwhelming. Modifiers such as somewhat and utterly add nuance.

Mix in C1 structures naturally: a cleft sentence (What makes it special is...), a concession (Much as I admired..., ...) or an inversion (Rarely have I...). One or two per review is plenty.

One aspect per paragraph

Use a title, an introduction that names what you are reviewing, one paragraph per aspect and a final paragraph with your verdict and recommendation. Each paragraph needs a clear focus.

Link your evaluation with contrast and addition: that said, on the other hand, what is more, even so. Say who the review is for, too: fans of slow-burning thrillers will love it.

Marks and common traps

Content: every aspect in the task covered, with a recommendation. Communicative Achievement: engaging and suitable for the publication's readers. Organisation: logical paragraphs and smooth links. Language: range and accuracy.

Common traps: retelling the whole plot, giving opinions without reasons, forgetting to recommend, and a tone that drifts into slang.

Structure

1. 1TitleCatchy and informative: the name of what you review plus a hint of your opinion.
2. 2IntroductionWhat you are reviewing, where or how you came across it, and a hook to keep people reading.
3. 3Body paragraph 1The first aspect in the task: a brief description followed by your evaluation, with a specific example.
4. 4Body paragraph 2The second aspect, handled in the same way. Balance strengths against any weaknesses.
5. 5VerdictYour overall opinion and a clear recommendation: who would enjoy it, and who might not.

Strategy

1. 1Analyse the task (2 minutes). Where will the review appear, who reads it, and which aspects must you comment on?
2. 2Choose your subject (3 minutes). Pick something you can describe and judge easily, or invent one that fits every point.
3. 3Plan (5 minutes). Title, hook, one paragraph per aspect with a key detail, and your final verdict.
4. 4Write the introduction (5 minutes). Name the subject, give essential context and hook the reader.
5. 5Write the body (18 minutes). Describe briefly, then evaluate each aspect with specific examples and precise adjectives.
6. 6Write the verdict (5 minutes). Weigh up strengths and weaknesses and say who should, or should not, try it.
7. 7Check (7 minutes). Word count, register, variety of adjectives, tenses and spelling.

Expressions utiles

Modèle de réponse

A culture website is inviting reviews of an exhibition you have visited recently. Describe the exhibition, comment on how the exhibits were presented and say whether it is worth visiting.

Deep Blue: a dive worth taking Have you ever wished you could explore the ocean floor without getting wet? That is exactly what the Harbour Science Centre's new exhibition, Deep Blue, sets out to offer, and for the most part it succeeds brilliantly. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey from sunlit coral reefs down to the darkest trenches, one gallery at a time. Each level becomes gradually dimmer and quieter, so that by the time you reach the bottom you genuinely feel you have descended thousands of metres. The collection itself is impressive, featuring real specimens, a life-size model of a giant squid and footage filmed by deep-sea robots. What really sets Deep Blue apart, however, is the way the information is presented. Rather than long panels of text, there are short, clearly written captions and interactive screens that let you steer a virtual submarine. Children were queuing to try them, but plenty of adults seemed equally captivated. My only reservation is that the final room, devoted to ocean pollution, feels somewhat rushed. Such an important message deserved more space and a less hurried tone. Overall, Deep Blue is an imaginative, beautifully designed exhibition that manages to be both informative and thoroughly entertaining. At twelve pounds, tickets are not cheap, but I would wholeheartedly recommend it to families and to anyone curious about the natural world. Just allow at least two hours: you will not want to rush back to the surface.

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