Review Writing Guide
IGCSE ESL — Writing 120–160 Words
Master the format, descriptive language, and opinion techniques for engaging IGCSE ESL reviews — from attention-grabbing introductions to clear, specific recommendations.
- Review structure — master the format for IGCSE ESL reviews
- Title & introduction — hook readers with engaging openings
- Descriptive language — use vivid vocabulary to describe experiences
- Personal opinion — express your views clearly and convincingly
- Recommendation — end with a clear judgement and advice
- Word count management — stay within 120–160 words
Time management
Planning: 2–3 min · Writing: 15–20 min · Checking: 3–5 min · Total: 20–25 minutes
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Understanding the Task
IGCSE ESL reviews require you to write an evaluation of something you have experienced (book, film, restaurant, event) in 120–160 words. Reviews should be informative, engaging, and include your personal opinion.
Typical review questions
"Your school magazine has asked for reviews of books. Write a review of a book you have read recently. In your review: describe what the book is about, say what you liked or disliked, and recommend whether others should read it."
"A student website wants reviews of restaurants. Write a review of a restaurant you have visited. Include: what type of food they serve, what the experience was like, and whether you would recommend it."
"Write a review of a film you have seen recently for a youth magazine. Describe the film, give your opinion, and say who would enjoy it."
- Tone: Semi-formal, engaging, and personal
- Language: Descriptive vocabulary, opinion expressions
- Structure: Title · Introduction · Description · Opinion · Recommendation
- Purpose: Inform readers and give your judgement
Review Structure
A successful IGCSE ESL review follows a clear structure that engages readers and provides useful information.
Title
Catchy, names what you are reviewing — not counted in total
Introduction
~15–20 words · hook the reader and introduce the subject
Description
~35–45 words · describe what it is about — no spoilers!
Opinion
~35–45 words · personal views with specific reasons
Recommendation
~20–30 words · final judgement and advice to readers
Total: 120–160 words (title not counted)
Introduction: ~15–20 words · Description + Opinion: ~70–90 words · Recommendation: ~20–30 words
Giving away too much of the plot (spoilers) · being too vague ("it was good") · not giving reasons for your opinion · forgetting to make a recommendation · using only positive or only negative comments
Title & Introduction
Start your review with an eye-catching title and an engaging introduction that makes readers want to continue.
Book: "A Thrilling Adventure: The Hunger Games"
Film: "Spider-Man: Action-Packed Entertainment"
Restaurant: "Delicious Italian Food at Mario's"
Event: "An Unforgettable School Concert"
Start with a question: "Looking for an exciting read?"
Make a bold statement: "This is the best film I have seen this year."
Set the scene: "Last weekend, I visited a fantastic new restaurant."
Create intrigue: "I was not expecting to enjoy this book, but…"
Example 1 (17 words): "Looking for an exciting adventure book? The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an absolute must-read for teenagers."
Example 2 (19 words): "Last weekend, I watched the latest Spider-Man film and it exceeded all my expectations. This review explains why you should see it."
Example 3 (18 words): "Mario's Italian Restaurant opened last month in the town centre, and I was eager to try their famous pizza."
Names what you are reviewing · grabs the reader's attention · sets a positive or intriguing tone · 15–20 words
Writing the Description
The description section gives readers essential information about what you are reviewing. Be informative but avoid spoilers.
Book/Film: Genre, main characters, basic plot (no spoilers)
Restaurant: Type of food, atmosphere, location, price range
Event: What happened, who performed, venue, date
Game/App: What it does, features, how it works
Review of: The Hunger Games (book)
"The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a brave teenager who volunteers to compete in a deadly survival competition. Set in a dystopian future, the book explores themes of courage, sacrifice, and rebellion against an oppressive government."
Practice: Write your description (35–45 words)
Gives essential information · avoids major spoilers · uses descriptive vocabulary · 35–45 words
Writing Your Opinion
The opinion section is where you express your personal views. Give specific reasons and examples to support your judgement.
Positive: I loved… / I was impressed by… / The best part was… / It exceeded my expectations
Negative: I was disappointed by… / The main weakness was… / Unfortunately… / I found it tedious
Mixed: While I enjoyed… / However… / On the one hand… / On the other hand…
Review of: The Hunger Games (book)
"I was completely captivated by the fast-paced action and complex characters. Katniss is a strong, relatable protagonist. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat until the final page. However, some violent scenes might be disturbing for younger readers."
Practice: Write your opinion (35–45 words)
Giving balanced opinions
"While the special effects were amazing, the plot was predictable."
"The food was delicious, although the service was rather slow."
"I loved almost everything, but the ending felt rushed."
Writing the Recommendation
End your review with a clear recommendation. Tell readers whether they should experience it and who would enjoy it most.
Strong positive: I highly recommend… / You must… / Do not miss… / It is definitely worth…
Positive: I would recommend… / You should… / It is worth trying…
Mixed: If you enjoy…, then… / It might appeal to…, but not…
Negative: I would not recommend… / Save your money… / Avoid…
"I highly recommend this book to teenagers who enjoy action and adventure. It is a thrilling read that will keep you hooked from start to finish."
Practice: Write your recommendation (20–30 words)
Don't be vague ("some people might like it") · don't contradict your earlier opinion · don't introduce new information · don't forget to specify the target audience
Complete Model Review
Task
"Your school magazine has asked for reviews of books. Write a review of a book you have read recently. In your review:
- describe what the book is about
- say what you liked or disliked
- recommend whether others should read it"
A Thrilling Adventure: The Hunger Games
Introduction (17 words)Looking for an exciting adventure book? The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an absolute must-read for teenagers.
Description (44 words)The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a brave sixteen-year-old who volunteers to compete in a deadly survival competition to save her younger sister. Set in a dystopian future where children fight to the death on television, the book explores themes of courage, sacrifice, and rebellion against an oppressive government.
Opinion (43 words)I was completely captivated by the fast-paced action and complex characters. Katniss is a strong, relatable protagonist who faces impossible choices. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat until the final page. However, some violent scenes might be disturbing for younger readers.
Recommendation (27 words)I highly recommend this book to teenagers who enjoy action and adventure. It is a thrilling read that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Engaging title · strong question hook · clear description without spoilers · specific detailed opinion · balanced view (positive with caveat) · clear recommendation with target audience · 155 words ✓
Using Descriptive Language
Reviews should be engaging and vivid. Use descriptive vocabulary to help readers imagine the experience.
Weak — avoid ✗
"The film was good and I liked it."
"The food was nice."
"The book was boring."
"It was interesting."
Vivid — use ✓
"The film was captivating and exceeded all my expectations."
"The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented."
"The book was disappointingly slow-paced and failed to hold my attention."
"It was thought-provoking and intriguing."
Vocabulary upgrades
Instead of "good": excellent, outstanding, brilliant, captivating, impressive
Instead of "bad": disappointing, weak, unconvincing, tedious, forgettable
Instead of "interesting": captivating, engaging, thought-provoking, intriguing
Instead of "exciting": thrilling, exhilarating, action-packed, gripping
Excellent · outstanding · brilliant · captivating · impressive · delightful · spectacular · engaging · thrilling · memorable
Descriptive adjectives — negativeDisappointing · boring · predictable · confusing · tedious · dull · unconvincing · forgettable
Expressing Opinions Effectively
Your opinion is the heart of the review. Express it clearly and support it with specific reasons and examples.
Opinion expressions
Strong positive: I absolutely loved… / I was blown away by… / It exceeded all expectations / The highlight was…
Moderate positive: I really enjoyed… / I was impressed by… / I found it engaging…
Mixed: While I appreciated… / Although… / On the positive side… / However… / Despite…
Negative: I was disappointed by… / Unfortunately… / The main problem was… / I found it frustrating that…
Supporting your opinion
Give specific examples: "The special effects, particularly the battle scenes, were spectacular."
Explain why: "I loved the main character because she was brave and relatable."
Compare: "Unlike other action films, this one had a meaningful message."
Mention impact: "The ending left me thinking about it for days."
Managing Your Word Count
Too short — under 120 words
Add more detail: "the homemade pasta and fresh seafood" instead of "the food"
Expand opinion with specific examples of what you liked or disliked
Describe the atmosphere, setting, or characters more fully
Elaborate on who the recommendation is aimed at and why
Too long — over 160 words
Remove unnecessary details — focus on the most important points
Combine sentences using connectors (although, however, while)
Cut repetition — don't say the same thing twice
Keep plot summaries very brief
- Introduction: ~15–20 words
- Description: ~35–45 words
- Opinion: ~35–45 words
- Recommendation: ~20–30 words
- Total: 120–160 words (title not counted)
Practice Questions
Choose one and write a complete review (120–160 words, ~20 minutes)
Q1 — Film: A youth magazine wants reviews of recent films. Write a review of a film you have seen. In your review: describe what the film is about, give your opinion, and say who would enjoy it.
Q2 — Restaurant: Your school website is collecting restaurant reviews. Write a review of a restaurant you have visited. Include: what type of food they serve, what you thought of it, and whether you would recommend it.
Q3 — App/Game: A technology magazine wants reviews of apps or games. Write a review. In your review: describe what it does, explain what you liked or disliked, and recommend whether others should download it.
Q4 — Event: Write a review of a concert, sports event, or show you attended for a student magazine. Describe what happened, give your opinion, and say whether others should attend similar events.
Write your complete review here
Checking Your Work
Always leave 3–5 minutes to check your review carefully.
Step 1: Count words — 120–160?
Step 2: Check all required points are addressed
Step 3: Verify you have included a clear recommendation
Step 4: Check for descriptive vocabulary
Step 5: Review tone — engaging and informative?
Step 6: Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Common errors to fix
Vague language: "good" → "excellent/impressive" / "bad" → "disappointing/weak"
Missing recommendation: Always end with clear advice and a target audience
Too many spoilers: Keep plot details minimal — describe the setup, not the resolution
Unsupported opinions: "I loved it" → "I loved it because…"
Contradictions: Make sure recommendation matches your opinion
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Too vague
"The book was good and I liked it. Other people should read it." → Use specific, descriptive vocabulary and give reasons: "The book was captivating with complex characters and a gripping plot. I highly recommend it to fans of dystopian fiction."
Too many spoilers
Revealing the ending or major plot twists loses marks. Focus on the setup and premise, not the resolution.
No clear recommendation
"Some people might like it, some might not." → Make a definite judgement: "I highly recommend this to teenagers who enjoy action-packed adventures."
Unsupported opinions
"The film was terrible." → Always explain why: "The film was disappointing because the plot was predictable and the acting was unconvincing."
Contradictory conclusion
If you say you mostly disliked something, don't then say everyone should see it. If mixed, say "recommended for X but not Y."
Quick Reference Guide
Title: Catchy title naming what you review (not counted)
Introduction: Hook readers (15–20 words)
Description: What it is about — no spoilers (35–45 words)
Opinion: Your views with specific reasons (35–45 words)
Recommendation: Clear judgement + target audience (20–30 words)
Total: 120–160 words
Essential language
Describing: The story follows… / Set in… / It features… / The main character is…
Opinions: I loved… / I was impressed by… / Unfortunately… / The highlight was…
Recommending: I highly recommend… / You should… / It is worth… / Perfect for…
Must-do checklist
- Include an engaging title
- Use descriptive, vivid vocabulary
- Give specific reasons for opinions
- Avoid major spoilers
- Make a clear recommendation with target audience
- Stay within 120–160 words
Self-Assessment Checklist
Content & task achievement
- I addressed ALL required points from the question
- I described what I am reviewing clearly
- I gave my personal opinion with specific reasons
- I made a clear recommendation with a target audience
- I avoided major spoilers
Structure & organisation
- I included an engaging title
- I wrote an interesting introduction
- I organised content into clear sections
- I ended with a strong, definite recommendation
- My review flows logically
Language & style
- My word count is between 120–160 words
- I used descriptive, vivid vocabulary
- My tone is engaging and informative
- I supported my opinions with examples
- My spelling and grammar are accurate
Final Tips for Success
Week 1–2: Practice writing descriptions and opinions (10 min daily)
Week 3–4: Write complete reviews on different topics (20 min, 3× per week)
Week 5–6: Focus on improving weak areas from self-assessment
Week 7–8: Timed practice under exam conditions (20 minutes per review)
Good luck with your IGCSE ESL exam.