FCE – essay

Paper 2 Writing – Part 1 (compulsory)

Have a look at a sample question for an essay.

FCE essay model question

An essay
① is always written for the teacher.
② should answer the question given… ③ by addressing both content
points and providing a new content point of the writer’s own.
④ should be well organised, with an introduction and an appropriate conclusion and
should be written in an appropriate register and tone.
While it is possible to argue only one point of view (i.e. either agreeing or disagreeing on
a topic) as long as you bear in mind the other point of view and back up your points, it is
probably easier to have a balanced discussion comparing advantages and
disadvantages, or ideas for and against a topic.
IMPORTANT!
 Read the rubric, essay question and prompts (①, ②, ③ and ④) very
carefully in order to understand what you are expected to do. This is vital!
  It is important to keep the focus of the topic question ① and that all your ideas
and opinions are relevant to the question.
 Support your opinions with reasons and examples.
 Think of a third idea of your own in addition to the two given prompts ③. If any
of the three essay prompts is missed out, then the target reader will not be fully
informed and the candidate will be penalised.
 Ideas need to be expressed in a clear an logical way, and should be well
organised and coherent. It is advisable to use up to 5 paragraphs:
1. Introduction
2. Prompt 1 development + reason(s)/example(s)
3. Prompt 2 development + reason(s)/example(s)
4. Prompt 3 development + reason(s)/example(s)
5. Conclusion (you may include your opinion here)
 Use the task input to help you plan but try to avoid copying phrases from the input.
Use your own words.
 Varying the length of the sentences and using a variety of structures and
vocabulary may all help to communicate ideas more effectively.
 DO use a relatively formal register and an objective tone. Do not be too emotional.
 The correct use of linking words and phrases (e.g. but, as a result, however, on the
other hand, etc.) and the appropriate use of cohesive devices (e.g. using pronouns for
referencing) is especially important in essays.
 In the exam, allow yourself time
to check your grammar, spelling and punctuation thoroughly.

HINTS
Introduction
 State the topic clearly. Give a brief outline of the issue, saying why it is
important or why people have different opinions about it.
 DO NOT express your opinion in the introduction!
Paragraphs 2,3 & 4 (Content points)
 Start with a topic sentence which states the main idea of each paragraph.
 Include relevant details to support the main idea: these might include
examples, rhetorical questions (do not overdo it), controversial or surprising
statements… if you include a drawback, give a possible solution too.
 DO NOT express your opinion in this part of the essay!
Conclusion
 Try to connect in the conclusion what you stated in the introduction (the topic of
the essay).
 DO NOT include any new points in the conclusion. The conclusion should be
drawn from what has been expressed in the essay.
 You may include your opinion.
Linking words and phrases. Present your ideas clearly
Make sure you know how to use connectors appropriately (register, punctuation…). If
you have any doubts, you should use a good dictionary to check.
 To express personal opinions: In my opinion, I believe (that) / I feel (that) / it
seems to me / in my view /as I see it / I think / personally…
 To show purpose: to / in order to / so as to / so that / in order that
 To list ideas: Firstly / secondly / finally / In the first place / Lastly
  To contrast ideas: However / although / in contrast / whereas / but / nevertheless
/ in spite of / despite
 To describe a cause: Because / since / as / due to
 To show a sequence: First of all / then / after that / eventually / in the end / finally
 To add information: In addition / moreover / what is more / besides / too /
furthermore / and
 To describe a consequence: Consequently / as a result / therefore / thus / for
this reason / that is why
 To conclude the topic: In conclusion / to sum up / in short / all in all

Model questions and answers

Essay 1 – Model question
TASK
In your English class, you have been talking about the subject of cultural heritage. Now
your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
 

Is is a good thing that countries spend a lot of money on their heritage?

Notes
Write about:
1. preserving the past
2. investing in the future
3. ________ (your own idea)

Write your essay in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Essay 1 – Model answer
Most countries spend large sums of money protecting their national heritage. However,
there is strong argument that we should look forwards and not backwards, spending less
money on preserving the past and more on securing our future.

On the one hand, it is important that we remember our heritage. Once it is lost, it is lost
forever. Caring for important monuments helps with this. It also attracts tourists, which
has an economic benefit for everyone.

On the other hand, governments spend a lot of money on museums and keeping historic
sites in good condition when poor people need houses to live in and businesses need
better roads for transporting their goods.

Another argument is that by making heritage sites attractive for tourists -for example, by
putting on entertainment- we give a very untrue picture of the past and sometimes
damage the local environment.
To conclude, while there are strong arguments for not spending too much on preserving
the past, I believe it is important to protect the most famous sites for the future
generations but it is not realistic to try and save everything. We need to invest in the
future too.

(+/- 190 words)

Essay 2 – Model question

TASK
In your English class, you have recently had a discussion about science and young
people. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
 

Science is very important in the 21st century. How do you think it could be made
more appealing to young people?
Notes
Write about:
1. television programmes
2. interactive museums
3. ________ (your own idea)

Write your essay in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Essay 2 – Model answer
Although young people love gadgets and technology, some see science as uninteresting
and ‘uncool’. Over time, the number of young people, particularly girls, pursuing science
and technology studies and careers has dropped.

One way in which science could be made more attractive would be to have lively
television programmes presented by celebrities, with subjects which were relevant to the
experience of the young. We live in a celebrity culture and children identify with well-
known young people.

Another idea would be to set up interactive science museums in every town, where
parents could take their children. It is much better to teach children the principles of
science through hands-on experiments than to lecture them in a classroom.

Of course, there would be more incentives if the average scientist were better paid and
young people were made aware of the range of jobs available. A lot of people are put off
a scientific career because they think it means working in a badly paid job in a boring
laboratory.
Whichever way we choose, it is vital that more young people are attracted to science,
since society’s prosperity depends largely on continuous scientific progress.

(+/- 190 words)

Essay 3 – Model question

TASK
In your English class, you have recently had a discussion about relationships. Now your
teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
 

Is it better to live alone or with someone else?

Notes
Write about:
1. independence
2. money
3. ________ (your own idea)

Write your essay in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Essay 3 – Model answer
Nowadays more people are deciding to live by themselves. Some people claim this is
more enjoyable and in young people it develops a sense of responsibility, whereas
others disagree.

The main advantage of living alone is that there is nobody to tell you what to do, so you
can live your life in your own way. What is more, you can organise or decorate your
house as you want. There is no one else to disagree with.

On the other hand, it can be quite lonely for some people. By nature, we are social
animals. Secondly, it is more expensive because you have to pay all the rent and bills
yourself, so you have less money to enjoy yourself. Last but not least, it can be quite
hard to find a nice flat for one person, so you might not be able to live in the best area.

To sum up, there are strong arguments on both sides. In conclusion, I believe that living
alone is better for older people who have more money and like privacy but not for young
people who need to share the costs.

(+/- 180 words)

Essay 4 – Model question
TASK
In your English class you have been talking about happiness. Now your English teacher
has asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.
 

Whether you are happy or not depends on the personality you are born with. Do
you agree?
Notes
Write about:
1. money
2. health
3. ________ (your own idea)

Write your essay in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Essay 4 – Model answer
Some people claim they are naturally cheerful. However, in my view, how we lead our
lives is the main reason we are either happy or unhappy.

Take money, for example. Money does not automatically make us happy. In fact, it
makes some people very unhappy because they are frightened of losing what they have
got. On the other hand, if we are not greedy and do not spend it foolishly, it can reduce
stress and give us security.

Then consider health. If we eat badly, get too little sleep and do not exercise, our health
will decline and make us miserable. Eating well and going for lovely long walks in the
countryside can make us feel better generally.

The third thing I think is important is to have a positive outlook on life. We should all
enjoy things like music and being with our friends. At the same time, it is important to
spend time alone and live as simply as possible, which is not easy in the 21st century!

All these make a big difference to our happiness, no matter what our natural
temperament.

(+/- 170 words)

FCE – article
Paper 2 Writing – Part 2
An article
is usually written for an English-language magazine or newsletter, and the reader is
assumed to have similar interests to the writer. The main purpose is to inform, interest
and engage the reader, so there should be some opinion or comment.

HINTS
 Add a short title to catch the reader’s attention. Make sure it is relevant. You can
use the one in the question or invent one of your own.
 Introduce the topic. Although you don’t know the readers personally, you can
address them directly and ask them a rhetorical question: it helps to involve them.
 Divide your report into sections according to the input. One or two paragraphs
will do.
 Develop the ideas in the task input. Remember:
 Use a personal or more neutral style, but not formal (you might use
contractions).
 It is important that you show a range of structures.
 Give examples where appropriate to bring your article to life
 Use humour where appropriate.
 Give a conclusion and summary in the last paragraph.
Useful language for an article
Involving the reader
 Just imagine…
 Have you ever…?
 How would you feel if …?
 Are you one of those people who …?
 If the answer is …, you should….
 What would life be like if…
 …
Making the article lively and interesting
 I was absolutely terrified when I realised…
 More importantly, it was something I…
 Not surprisingly, it’s a good way of raising money.
 The tent was worryingly small for three people!
 It was the most amazing experience I have ever had.
 …
Developing your points
 Let’s start with …
 Another advantage of …
  On top of that, …
 …
Giving your own opinion
 I think that / In my opinion …
 It seems to me that …
 If you ask me, …
 To my mind…
 …

Model questions and answers

Article- Model question 1

TASK
You see this announcement on an English-language website.

Articles wanted

A charity event to remember

What is the most unusual way you’ve raised money for charity? How did you do it? What
did you have to do? Was the event a success? Would you do it again?
Write us an article answering these questions.
We will publish the best articles on our website.
Write your article in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Article – Model answer 1

A charity event to remember

So why did I decided to do a 90-km walk in six days along the Great Wall of China? Well,
the reason was that our local children’s hospital needed to raise money or it would be
closed. However, I didn’t realise how big a challenge it would be.

Before I went, I thought that I would be walking along a flat surface but when I saw the
Great Wall, my heart sank. Part of the time we would be trekking up hundreds of high
steps and, worryingly, some of the paths had steep falls on either side and there was
nowhere to go because we were surrounded by mountains and forests. However, after a
while, I started to love the experience. I was in one of the most amazing places on earth
and the views were incredible.

In the end, the adventure was a great success. The hospital was delighted because a
group of us managed to raise several thousand pounds.

Would I be keen to help the hospital again next year? Yes, but I think I’ll try and find an
easier challenge next time!
[+/- 190 words]

Article- Model question 2

TASK
You see this announcement in an international magazine.

Articles wanted

Life on a desert island

Imagine you were on a desert island. What important object, person or place in your life
would you miss most? What would be the reasons?
Write us an article answering these questions.
We will publish the best articles in the magazine.
Write your article in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Article – Model answer 2

Life on a desert island

How would you feel about living on a desert island? I can’t imagine anything worse! I’d
miss a lot of things but most of all, I would miss my home.

My home is a small house on the outskirts of a city. It was built about 50 years ago and
has a small garden. In the summer, our country gets very hot but our house is always
cool. You’d probably think our house is nothing special, but I have lived there all my life
and all my friends live nearby. It’s a happy place, where I feel completely safe. Whenever
I go away, I look forward to coming back, lying on my bed, reading a book and listening
to my brother and sister arguing downstairs!

I love travelling and meeting new people, but if I were on a desert island, I’d be away
from the place I love most: my home; and I would hate that.

[+/- 160 words]

Article- Model question 3

TASK
You see this announcement in an international magazine.
Articles wanted

Lucky winners
What would you do if you won a large sume of money. How would your life change?
Write us an article answering these questions. Give reasons.
We will publish the best articles next month.
Write your article in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Article – Model answer 3

Don’t throw it all away!

Have you ever dreamt of becoming rich unexpectedly? Just imagine what your life would
be like! However, some people who get rich quickly are very careless with their money
and end up being poorer than they were before.

That’s why I’d be very careful. I wouldn’t want a completely different kind of life, so I’d
start by putting some of it away, in case everything went wrong – set up a kind of
“emergency fund”. Then I would buy my hard-working parents a new home. They
deserve it because they have always provided me with everything I’ve always wanted,
even if it meant they had to go without. I would also give some money away to needy
people who are struggling in the world and have no food. It would not be right to just
spend the money on myself. Then I think I would take a year off from studying and travel
round the world in great comfort. I’ve spent most of my live travelling on a limited budget
and sleeping in hostels.

After that, who knows? I’ll see, but I certainly won’t be buying any luxury cars!

[+/- 190 words]

 Welcome text
 About me
 Contact
FCE – informal letter/email
Paper 2 Writing – Part 2
An informal letter or email
is usually between people who know each other fairly well. In addition to giving news,
they are often used to request information, congratulate people, give advice and ask
questions. There are a lot of similarities between informal letters and conversation.
Informal letters ask a lot of questions, show interest and enthusiasm, and imagine a lot of
shared information.

In many exam questions, you will be told what to include in your reply. Make sure that
your reply answers any questions that you were asked in the task and takes into
account any additional information that you have been told to mention. It is
important that you include these in order to get a good grade.

How to write informal letters or emails

Salutation or Greeting
 Start with Dear followed by the first name of the person to whom you are writing.
In emails, you can also start with Hi (and the person’s name). Dear Ben,  or  Hi
Ben,
(Don’t forget to use only the first name of the person you are writing to and
not Dear Mr John, which is never used, or Dear Mr John Brown, which sounds too
formal.)
 Informal letters sometimes have a comma after the person’s name, and the letter
starts on the line below. The important thing is to be consistent with the style that
you choose to use (so if you use a comma after the person’s name at the start of
the letter, use a comma after the closing statement at the end).
Body
Openings
When writing an informal letter, you are usually replying to another letter. You
would normally start with a greeting, then acknowledge the letter to which you are
replying. It is often a good idea to acknowledge some key information given in the
original letter too. You can also make a comment on your own reply.
Useful phrases for the opening
 How are you? / How have the family been? / I hope you are well.
 Thank you / Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter / postcard.
 It was good / nice / great to hear from you again.
 I was so surprised to hear that…
 I’m sorry I haven’t written / haven’t been in touch for such a long time.
  It’s ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you’re well / you and your family are
well.
 How are things? / How’s it going?
Other useful phrases
Referring to news

 Great news about … Glad to hear that … Sorry to hear about …

Giving news

 Listen, did I tell you about …? You’ll never believe what …

 Oh, and another thing … This is just to let you know that …
 I thought you might be interested to hear about / know that …
 By the way, have you heard about / did you know that …?
Apologies

 I’m writing to apologise for missing your party but I’m afraid I was with flu.
 I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday card but I was busy with my
new job.
Invitations

 I’m / We’re having a party on Friday 19th and I / we hope you’ll be able to come.
 Would you like to come / go to see ‘Room With a View’ with me at the weekend?
 I was wondering if you’d like to go to the theatre / come on holiday with us.
 Could you let me / us know if you can come / you’d like to join us?
 Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come.
 Thank you for asking / inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …
Requests

 I’m writing to ask for your help / you (if you could do me) a favour.
 I wonder if / I was wondering if you could help me / do me a favour.
 I hope you don’t mind me asking but could you (possibly) …?
 I’d be very / really / terribly grateful if you could …
Thank you / Congratulations / Good Luck

 I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality / the wonderful present.
 It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you.
 I really appreciated all your help / advice.
 Congratulations on passing your exams / your excellent exam results!
 I wish you good luck / Good luck in / with your exams / your driving test / your
interview.
 Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do well / pass.
 Do be on time, won’t you, and don’t forget to …
Making suggestions and recommendations

 Why don’t you …? / Maybe you could …? / How about …?

 You can’t leave New York without (…doing sth)
 I’m sure you will enjoy (…doing sth). If you like, we can …
 Do visit … / Don’t forget to …
Closing
The end of your letter is as important as the beginning. There are some standard ways of
finishing an informal letter or email.

 Give a reason why you’re ending the letter: Anyway, I must go and get on with
my work! / I guess it’s time I got on with that studying I’ve been avoiding.
 Send greetings and/or make reference for future contact: Give my love /
regards to… / Say hello to… / Anyway, don’t forget to let me know the dates of
the party. / I’ll try and phone you at the weekend to check the times. / We must try
and meet up soon. / I can’t wait to hear from you / Look forward to seeing you
again / Hope to hear from you soon / See you soon / Write soon
 Closing statement such as Love, Lots of love, All the best, Take care, Best
wishes, should be written on a new line. If you used a comma after the opening
greeting, use a comma here too.
 Signing off: Your first name then follows on another new line.
Additional information on how to end a Letter o Email
 How To Sign Off Your Emails [external resource ⇨ digital.com/blog/]

Other things to consider

Range: It is important that you use grammatical expressions and vocabulary appropriate
to the level of the exam. Even if there are no mistakes in your writing, you will not be able
to get a good grade if you use only the language and vocabulary that you learnt at
elementary level. Even in informal writing, there is a good range of language you can use
(conditional sentences, a range of perfect and continuous tenses, indirect questions…)
Informal language, including phrasal verbs, informal vocabulary (“I guess you loved the
pics“), contractions, question tags.
Simpler sentence structure: I’ll be late for the party. It’s because of my French exam.
Connectors: All good writing makes good use of connectors. However, many of the
connectors you have learnt for other styles of writing are inappropriate in an informal
letter or email. For informal writing, you need to use some of the connectors that are
more specific to spoken language.
 To introduce a topic: Well, you’ll never guess who I bumped into yesterday. / I
know how much you love tennis, so I’ve got us some tickets to Wimbledon. / By
the way, did you know that John’s got a new job?
 To go back to a previous topic: Anyway, as I was saying earlier, I really wasn’t
very happy there. / Now where was I? Oh yes, I nearly forgot, Mary asked me tell
you about the cinema.
 To introduce surprising or bad news: Actually, he came to the party after all. /
I’m really sorry but I can’t make it. / To tell you the truth, I don’t really like sports
much.
 To summarise what you’ve already said: Anyway, we had a really nice time in
the end. / Well, to cut a long story short, we didn’t get there on time.
Model questions and answers
Informal email/letter 1 – Model question
TASK
You have received this email from an English-speaking boy called Simon.

Hello,
I would like to get to know someone from your country and a friend has told me that you
would like to practise your English. Perhaps we could email each other. Could you tell
me a bit about yourself and your family? Could you suggest how we might meet
sometime in the future?
Thanks,
Simon
Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Informal email/letter 1 – Model answer
Hello Simon,

I’m glad you’re interested in my country. As your friend said, I’d like us to email each
other to help me improve my English.

Let me start by telling you a bit about myself and my family. My name’s Ivo and I live in
Kutna Hora, which is about 45 minutes from Prague by car. I used to work for a medical
company but now I’m learning to be a salesperson. In the future I want a job where I can
travel for my work. I’ve already been to a few places in Europe but I’ve never been to an
English-speaking country.

I live at home with my parents, which is convenient as I don’t have to do much

housework and my meals are cooked for me. My younger brother is studying at
university. Although he’s four years younger than me, we get on quite well. We both
enjoy snowboarding and music.

What about you? Have you ever been to the Czech Republic? It would be great if you
could come over one day and we could fix up a meeting. Why don’t you let me know
your plans?

Anyway, I must go and get on with my work! Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes,

Ivo

(+/- 190 words)

Informal email/letter 2 – Model question
TASK
You have received this email from your English-speaking friend, Jean.

I hear you organised a surprise birthday party for your mother. I’d love to hear about it.
What kind of party did you organise? Who did you invite? How did it go? Do tell me.
Love,
Jean
Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Note: The following model answer includes some notes to help

Informal email/letter 2 – Model answer

Open with an informal greeting
Hi Jean,
Start your reply by referring to the sender's email/letter
Good to hear from you again. I hope you’re still enjoying your job.
Give reason for replying
I’m glad you asked me about the party I planned for my mother’s birthday. Well, I have to
say it was a fantastic success. I told my mother we were taking her out for a quiet meal
at a local restaurant with just the family, but in fact I’d (1) hired a large room in a hotel and
invited all her old friends!(2)
Start a new paragraph as the topic has changed slightly
Use an informal linking word/phrase
Anyway, I picked my mother up and told her I’d changed my mind. We were going to
have a meal in a hotel. You should have seen her face when she walked into the room
and everyone cheered! She just couldn’t believe it and burst into tears (3). Then the party
got going and it didn’t finish until four in the morning. We were absolutely exhausted, but
my mother had had a wonderful time.
When you close, make an excuse to finish
Must dash now – I’ve got to go to college. Hope to hear from you  (4).
Make sure you finish with an informal phrase
Love,
Tania

(1) Use contractions

(2) Use some exclamation marks (but not too many) to express emotion
(3) Use a range of appropriate vocabulary and informal expressions
(4) Short sentences are acceptable
(+/- 150 words)
Semi-formal email/letter 3 – Model question
TASK
Your recently helped organise a college ski trip and you have received this email from a
parent of one of the students who went.

I understand you were one of the organisers of our son’s ski trip. I have to say my
husband and I were extremely dissatisfied with the arrangements. My son has informed
us that the ski slopes were poor, the lessons were fewer than promised and the
accommodation was inadequate.
Can you please give us a satisfactory explanation?
Yours sincerely,
Nora White
Write your email in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Note: As you are writing to a parent the register of this letter should be semi-formal,
which is characterized by:
 The use of less colloquial language – e.g. Thank you very much for your letter
(instead of: Thanks a million for your letter.)
 Less frequent use of short forms, phrasal verbs and idioms – e.g. I am writing to
request information about… (instead of: I thought I’d drop you a line to ask
about…)
 A polite, respectful tone – e.g. I was wondering if you had … (instead of: Do you
have…)

Semi-formal email/letter 3 – Model answer

Dear Mrs White,

First, let me apologise for any disappointment your son experienced on our ski trip. It is
true that there were several concerns. Since we had been led to believe by the company
that there would be sufficient slopes for both beginners and advanced skiers, we were
extremely upset when this turned out not to be the case. It was also unfortunate that lack
of snow meant that artificial snow had to be used instead.

As for the question of lessons, if you look at the letter we sent you, you will see that only
five one-hour ski-lessons were included in the price and that extra hours would have to
be paid separately.

In relation to accommodation, I am not quite sure what you are referring to. I know that in
one room there were not enough beds but this was not the case in your son’s room.

We would like to assure you that we take all complaints seriously. We have already
decided that next year we will change the company and the location for our trip and we
hope that your son will consider joining us again.

Yours sincerely,

Waylon Smithers

(+/- 190 words)

FCE – review
Paper 2 Writing – Part 2
A review
is usually written for an English-language magazine, newspaper or website. The main
purpose is to describe and express a personal opinion about something which the
writer has experienced (e.g. a film, a holiday, a product, a website etc.) and to give the
reader a clear impression of what the item discussed is like. Description and
explanation are key functions for this task, and a review will normally include a
recommendation to the reader.

HINTS
 It is a good idea to give your review an interesting title.
 In the first paragraph, say what you are reviewing and try to get the reader’s
interest.
 Give your opinion of what you are reviewing linked to the question in the
second paragraph. Remember a review is not just a list of facts – it’s largely your
opinion.
 Give more details of what your are reviewing linked to the questions in the input
in one or two more paragraphs, but only focus on those you’ve been asked to
develop.
 Summarise your view, using different words from the introduction, and include
a recommendation.
 Remember.
 Use a personal or more neutral style, according to the target reader.
 It is important that you show a range of structures in the language of
opinion, description and recommendation.
 Add vivid language to add interest.
Useful language for a review
What I liked
 What I liked most was …..
 The thing I liked most was ….
 I was pleasantly surprised by …..
 ….. would appeal to …..
 If you get a chance to ….
What I disliked
 What I disliked most was …..
 I was disappointed by/with ……
Reviews of books
 main character
 is set in
 Fiction: science fiction / thriller / fantasy / mystery / historical / romance …
 Non-fiction: cook book / travel book / textbook / manual / coffee-table book …
 atmosphere / plot
 author
 written by
 chapter
 factual
 unbelievable
 bestseller
 ending
Reviews of concerts
 artist / band / musician / (bass/lead/rhythm) guitarist / (backing/lead) singer /
drummer / soloist / trio / orchestra
 auditorium / hall / venue / lyrics / (catchy) tune / score / gig
Reviews of exhibitions
 painting / sculpture / handicrafts
 gallery / catalogue / display
Reviews of films
 lead role
 star role
 star
 star actor/actress
 starring
 secondary role
 He plays a …….
 written by ….
 cast / director / producer
 is set in …..
 based on a true story …..
 believable
 true to life
 not very believable
 far-fetched
 (As for fiction books +): animation / adaptation / comedy
 Costumes / design / photography / script / special effects / soundtrack
 ending
Reviews of TV programmes
 Chat shows / current affairs programme / debate / documentary / series / soap
opera/ sitcom (situation comedy)
 Host / presenter
Reviews of hotels, restaurants, etc
 location
 service
 setting
  attractive / disappointing setting
 owned by
 run by
 head chef (restaurant)
 waiters (restaurant)
 staff …….
 staff at reception …….(hotel)
 hotel facilities ….
 reasonable prices …..
 good/excellent/poor value for money …..
 (a bit/somehow) expensive
 overpriced
 not worth the money
 always fully booked
 book in advance
Criticism
 The script seemed rather conventional/predictable to me.
 The plot struck me as completely bizarre/absurd/incomprehensible
 The characters are appealing and true to life
 The dancers were quite brilliant/amateurish
Recommendations
 Judging from this CD / show …
 Overall, if you like …, you’ll love / you should …
 Although some of … he/she/it’s still a great…
 You really must/should buy/see/read/visit …
 I would definitely recommend seeing/visiting/reading/having a look at …

Model questions and answers

Review- Model question 1

TASK
You have seen this announcement in your college English-language magazine.

Music reviews wanted

Have you been to a great music concert recently?

Write us a review of the concert, telling us about the band or singer and their
performance. Say whether you would recommend seeing them perform live.
We will publish the best reviews next month.
Write your review in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Review – Model answer 1
A gig to remember
Without doubt, the British rock band Arctic Monkeys have given this year’s best live
show. As teenagers a few years ago, they made the fastest selling album ever but
seemed shy and awkward on stage. Now they have matured and become an amazing
live act.

Since the frontman Alex decided to cut his hair and dress like a skinny rock star of the
1950s, he moves confidently around the stage, waving his arms and encouraging us to
shake our hips. The crowd were ecstatic!

The set began with their hit, ‘Do you wanna know’. The guitar playing was tight, as
always, and the rhythm supported by Matt’s powerful drumming. The band were on top
form throughout, winning fans with a list that combined older with new hits.
My only reservation is that although the songs have clever lyrics and great melodies and
sound fresh every time, some lack the emotional and poetic force of their best.

But this is a minor criticism. Overall, it was a performance to remember and all fans
should try and catch them while they’re on tour.

[+/- 185 words]

Review- Model question 2

TASK
You have seen this announcement in an international magazine.

Book reviews wanted

Have your read a book recently with a story that has held your attention? Write a review
of the book, explaining what the story is about and whether the characters are
convincing. Tell us whether or not you would recommend it both to younger and older
readers
The best reviews will be published in the magazine.

Write your review in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.

Review – Model answer 2

Animal Farm, by George Orwell

This is an unusual book, set on a farm. The characters, led by the pigs, are mainly
animals, who get rid of the cruel, drunken human owner and take over the farm. They set
up a government of their own.
The story isn’t exciting but it’s clever. At first, after the revolution, the animals are equal
but later the pigs become more powerful and start to change everything. By the end of
the novel, the animals realise they have gone back to where they started.

In one way, the story is obviously not a true story but in another way, it is meant to tell
the story of communism from a satirical point of view.

The characters are very convincing. Napoleon, the leader of the pigs, is strong and
corrupt. Other animals are honest but weak. They all represent people and the events in
Russia in the 1920s and 30s.

Although I enjoyed this book, I can imagine older people who were brought up when
communism was still strong in the world and have probably read a lot about the Russian
Revolution, would enjoy it even more.

[+/- 190 words]