B2 First Review Guide
Cambridge B2 First — Writing Part 2 · 140–190 Words
Master the review format for B2 First Writing Part 2 — engaging readers with vivid description, a balanced opinion, and a clear recommendation, all within the tight word limit.
- Task requirements — how to decode a B2 First review prompt
- Review structure — title, introduction, description, opinion, recommendation
- Vivid language — vocabulary and style to bring the experience alive
- Balanced opinion — why one criticism makes your review more convincing
- Engaging register — enthusiastic but not sloppy
- Word count management — hitting 140–190 precisely
Time management
Planning: 5 min · Writing: 30–35 min · Checking: 5 min · Total: ~40 minutes
Use ← → arrow keys or the buttons below to navigate
Understanding the Task
B2 First Writing Part 2 gives you a choice of tasks. The review asks you to respond to a notice from a specific publication inviting readers to share their experience and opinion of something they have seen, visited, read, or attended.
You have seen this notice on a music website.
Reviews Wanted — Live Music Events
Have you been to a concert or live music event recently? We want to hear about it! Write a review telling us about the event, what you enjoyed or did not enjoy, and whether you would recommend it to other music fans.
The best reviews will be published on our website.
- Describe the event — what it was, where, what the atmosphere was like
- Say what you enjoyed and what could have been better — both positive and negative
- Give a clear recommendation — for other music fans specifically
B2 First reviews are slightly longer (140–190 vs 120–160), expect more vivid detail about atmosphere and experience, and demand a genuinely balanced opinion — not just "mostly good."
Review Structure at B2 First
A B2 First review has five components. With only 140–190 words, every sentence must earn its place.
Title
Specific and catchy — gives the event and a hint of your verdict. Not counted in total.
Introduction
~20–25 words · hook + name the event, venue, and occasion
Description
~40–50 words · atmosphere, setting, what happened
Opinion
~45–55 words · what you enjoyed + at least one criticism
Recommendation
~20–25 words · clear verdict for the target audience
Total: 140–190 words (title not counted)
Aim for 160–175 as your target zone — enough depth without padding.
A review with only praise sounds like advertising. A review with only criticism sounds like a complaint. Including at least one specific criticism makes your opinion credible and your recommendation trustworthy.
Title & Introduction
Your title and opening sentence set the tone for everything that follows. At B2 First, a strong title and a vivid first sentence signal a confident writer.
Event review: "An Unforgettable Night at the Wembley Arena"
With verdict: "The Jazz Festival That Almost Got It Right"
Question hook: "Is This the Best Live Band in the Country?"
What NOT to write: "Concert Review" — too vague, too boring
Vivid scene-setting: "The moment the lights went down and the crowd roared, I knew this was going to be a night to remember."
Bold statement: "Last Saturday's performance by the Mercury String Quartet was one of the most extraordinary evenings I have spent at a concert hall."
Rhetorical question: "How often does a live performance genuinely exceed your expectations?"
Practice: Write your introduction (20–25 words)
The Description: Bring It to Life
The description answers what it was, where it took place, and what the atmosphere was like. This is where vivid, specific language sets a B2 review apart from a B1 one.
"The concert took place at the city's main outdoor arena, which had sold out weeks in advance. Around ten thousand fans packed in under a clear summer sky, the air buzzing with anticipation. A giant screen showed the stage from every angle, and the sound system was impressively powerful."
What to include
Where and when: venue, size, occasion — be specific, not vague ("a big place")
Atmosphere: what it felt like — the crowd, the energy, the setting
What happened: the performance itself — be selective, not exhaustive
Vague — avoid ✗
"The concert was in a big venue. There were many people. The band played many songs and it was loud."
Vivid — aim for ✓
"The sold-out arena held ten thousand fans, and from the moment the lights dropped the atmosphere was electric — the kind of collective energy you only feel at a truly great live event."
Practice: Write your description (40–50 words)
The Opinion: Positive + Critical
This is the heart of your review. Give specific reasons for what you enjoyed — and include at least one genuine criticism to show balance and credibility.
"The headline act was genuinely outstanding — their energy on stage was infectious and the setlist mixed familiar hits with exciting new material. However, the opening act felt underprepared and the sound balance between the instruments was noticeably poor for the first three songs. It was a frustrating start to what became a great evening."
Opinion language at B2 level
Enthusiastic positive: genuinely outstanding · absolutely captivating · particularly impressive · a real highlight
Measured positive: largely successful · for the most part enjoyable · worth noting that
Criticism (concessive): However, · Despite this, · On the downside, · The one disappointment was…
Showing consequence: which meant that… / as a result, / this prevented the evening from being perfect
Practice: Write your opinion (45–55 words)
The Recommendation: Your Verdict
End with a clear, specific recommendation aimed at the target audience named in the task. Vague endings ("some people might like it") lose marks at B2 First.
Target audience + verdict: "I would strongly recommend this event to any fan of live jazz who appreciates technical skill as much as energy."
Conditional: "If you are willing to overlook the occasional sound issues, this is an evening well worth the ticket price."
Forward-looking: "I will certainly be buying tickets for next year's festival and would encourage any music lover to do the same."
After mixed review: "Despite its flaws, this is a concert experience I would recommend — though I suggest arriving early enough to avoid the queue."
If your review was largely positive → strong recommendation · mostly positive with reservations → qualified recommendation · mostly negative → honest negative verdict. The two must be consistent — contradict yourself and you lose Communicative Achievement marks.
Practice: Write your recommendation (20–25 words)
Complete Model Review
You have seen this notice on a music website. Write a review telling us about a concert or live music event, what you enjoyed or did not enjoy, and whether you would recommend it to other music fans.
An Unforgettable Night — Almost
A review for music fans
Introduction (22 words)Last month I attended a sold-out performance by indie band The Harbour Lights at the city's main outdoor arena — my most anticipated concert of the year.
Description (46 words)The venue held around eight thousand fans, and the atmosphere from the moment the gates opened was genuinely electric. A warm August evening, the stage bathed in dramatic lighting, and a crowd that ranged from teenagers to people in their fifties all united by a shared enthusiasm — it was the ideal setting for live music.
Opinion (73 words)The band's performance was for the most part outstanding. Their vocalist commanded the stage with remarkable confidence, and the closing three songs produced some of the most powerful live music I have experienced. However, the first half of the set suffered from noticeably poor sound mixing — guitars dominated and the vocals were frequently lost. For a headline act of this calibre, that was a frustrating and avoidable problem.
Recommendation (26 words)Despite that reservation, I would enthusiastically recommend this concert to any fan of guitar-based music. Book early — this band will be playing much larger venues very soon.
Specific title hinting at a mixed verdict · vivid scene-setting with concrete detail · enthusiastic positive opinion supported by reasons · one clear, specific criticism · recommendation aimed at the target audience · no contractions · engaging throughout · 167 words ✓
Language at B2 Level
B2 First reviews reward vivid, varied language. Examiners expect more than "good" and "bad" — show the range of vocabulary and structures you have.
B1 — avoid ✗
"The concert was very good. The band played well. The crowd was excited. I liked it a lot."
Simple sentences · basic vocabulary · no developmentB2–C1 — aim for ✓
"The band commanded the stage with remarkable confidence, drawing the crowd in from the first song with an energy that never once faded across two full hours."
Complex sentence · precise vocabulary · developed imageVocabulary upgrades for B2 reviews
Instead of "good": outstanding, impressive, captivating, remarkable, genuinely enjoyable
Instead of "bad/disappointing": frustrating, noticeably poor, fell short of expectations, a missed opportunity
Instead of "exciting": electric, exhilarating, infectious, thrilling, genuinely rousing
Instead of "said / played": delivered, performed, commanded, showcased, demonstrated
Instead of "I liked it": I was captivated by… / It left a lasting impression / I found it genuinely moving
Reviews for a website or magazine should be engaging and enthusiastic but not sloppy. No contractions (it is, not it's) · no slang ("the gig was sick") · write as someone who cares about the subject and wants readers to trust their judgement.
The Art of the Balanced Opinion
The most common mistake in B2 First reviews is writing only positive comments. A review without any criticism reads like an advertisement — and loses Content marks.
Concessive clause: "Although the sound quality left something to be desired, the performance itself was exceptional."
Contrast connector: "The setlist was inspired. However, the between-song gaps were unnecessarily long and broke the momentum."
Qualify the problem: "The support act was underwhelming — understandable, perhaps, on such a short notice replacement — but disappointing nonetheless."
Proportion: One paragraph of criticism in a largely positive review signals honesty, not negativity. Your recommendation can still be strong.
Useful concessive phrases
Although… / Despite… / While I appreciated… / On the downside, / The one weakness was… / That said, / Nevertheless, / It is worth noting that… / This aside,
Practice Questions
Choose one and write a complete review (140–190 words, ~40 minutes)
Q1 — Music: A music website asks you to review a concert or live music event you have attended. Describe the event, say what you enjoyed and what could have been better, and give a recommendation for other music fans.
Q2 — Film: An entertainment magazine invites readers to review a film they have seen recently. Describe the film, give your opinion of what worked and what did not, and say who would enjoy it.
Q3 — Restaurant: A food website wants reviews of restaurants. Describe a restaurant you have visited, explain what you enjoyed and what disappointed you, and give a recommendation.
Q4 — Book: A student magazine asks for reviews of books. Describe a book you have read recently, give your opinion, and recommend whether others should read it.
Write your complete review here
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Only positive comments
A review with nothing critical reads like an advertisement and will not convince readers. Include at least one specific criticism — it makes your positive points more credible, not less.
Generic title
"Concert Review" or "A Review" — too vague. Your title should name what you are reviewing and hint at your verdict: "An Unforgettable Night — Almost" or "Why This Festival Needs to Rethink Its Pricing."
Vague description
"There were a lot of people and it was quite exciting." → Name the venue, describe the atmosphere with concrete detail. "A sold-out arena of eight thousand fans" is far more convincing than "many people."
Recommendation that contradicts the opinion
If your review was mostly critical, recommending it strongly will confuse readers and lose marks. Match your verdict to what you actually said.
Using contractions
"It's a fantastic show" / "I didn't enjoy the support act" → Always "It is a fantastic show" / "I did not enjoy the support act."
Under or over the word count
Under 140 — description or opinion is underdeveloped. Over 190 — you have padded. Aim for 160–175.
Checking Your Work
1. Count words — 140–190?
2. Three requirements met — description, opinion (+ criticism), recommendation?
3. Recommendation matches opinion — consistent verdict?
4. Scan for contractions — replace every one
5. Title — specific, not a label?
6. Grammar and spelling — subject-verb agreement, article use
Common grammar errors to fix
✗ "The band they were fantastic" → ✓ "The band were fantastic"
✗ "It's worth to go" → ✓ "It is worth going"
✗ "The musics was loud" → ✓ "The music was loud"
✗ "I didn't expect to enjoy it so much" → ✓ "I did not expect to enjoy it so much"
How Your Review is Marked
B2 First Writing is marked on four equal criteria, each worth 5 points.
Content
- All three requirements addressed (describe, opinion, recommend)
- Both positive and critical comments included
- Specific, developed ideas — not vague statements
- Recommendation is clear and consistent
Communicative Achievement
- Engaging, enthusiastic register throughout
- No contractions or slang
- Reads naturally for a website or magazine audience
- Recommendation matches opinion — no contradiction
Organisation
- Clear structure: intro, description, opinion, recommendation
- Specific, catchy title
- Smooth transitions between sections
- Coherent from first to last sentence
Language
- Vivid, varied vocabulary (B2–C1)
- Range of sentence structures
- Accurate spelling and punctuation
- Errors are minor and do not impede
No criticism included (Content) · recommendation contradicts opinion (Communicative Achievement) · generic title (Organisation) · basic vocabulary with no range ("good," "bad," "nice") (Language)
Quick Reference Guide
Title: Specific, catchy, hints at verdict (not counted)
Introduction (20–25 words): Vivid hook + name the event and occasion
Description (40–50 words): Venue, atmosphere, what happened — concrete detail
Opinion (45–55 words): Specific positives + at least one genuine criticism
Recommendation (20–25 words): Clear verdict for the named target audience
Total: 140–190 words · aim 160–175
Essential language for B2 reviews
Description: the atmosphere was electric / sold-out / packed with… / the venue held…
Positive opinion: genuinely outstanding / particularly impressive / a real highlight / commanding presence
Criticism: However, · On the downside, / left something to be desired / fell short of expectations
Recommendation: I would strongly recommend… / well worth the ticket price / I will certainly return
Must-do checklist
- Specific, catchy title (not a label)
- Vivid opening — no "In this review I will…"
- Description includes atmosphere and specific detail
- Opinion includes both positives and at least one criticism
- Recommendation is clear and matches the opinion
- No contractions anywhere
- 140–190 words — aim for 160–175
Self-Assessment Checklist
Content
- I described the event with specific detail about venue and atmosphere
- I gave specific reasons for what I enjoyed
- I included at least one genuine, specific criticism
- I gave a clear recommendation for the target audience
Communicative achievement
- My register is consistently engaging and semi-formal
- I used no contractions anywhere
- My recommendation is consistent with my opinion
- My opening hooks the reader without "In this review I will…"
Organisation
- My title is specific and catchy
- The structure flows: intro → description → opinion → recommendation
- I used a range of connectors correctly
- My conclusion feels like a satisfying verdict
Language
- My word count is between 140–190 (ideally 160–175)
- I used vivid, varied vocabulary — not just "good" and "bad"
- I used a range of sentence structures
- My spelling and punctuation are accurate
Final Tips for Success
Week 1–2: Practice vivid descriptions and opinion paragraphs (10 min daily)
Week 3–4: Write complete reviews without a time limit — focus on balance and language quality
Week 5–6: Timed practice — 40 minutes per review, then self-assess against the four criteria
Week 7–8: Exam conditions — 40 minutes, no dictionary, strict word count
Good luck with your Cambridge B2 First exam.