FCE review sample: a local cafe where students can study
Here is an original Part 2 review task about a cafe for students, a top answer (19/20) and a borderline answer (10/20), with comments on all four criteria. It is part of our B2 First Writing guide; you can find the full method in the FCE review guide.
By Eleanor BennettLast updated:
How to approach this task
The task gives you four things to cover: the place, the food and drink, the atmosphere, and value for money. Tick them off in your plan.
- Title: the name of the place plus a hint of your opinion.
- Paragraph on atmosphere (who goes there, noise, comfort).
- Paragraph on food and drink (one highlight, one weakness).
- Paragraph on prices and value.
- Verdict: who should go, and a rating if you like.
The readers are students, so be friendly but not too chatty. Exclamation marks and "haha" belong in messages, not reviews.
Top answer (19/20)
The task
You see this announcement in a local guide for international students.
Where do you like to study or meet friends? We are looking for reviews of cafés where young people can study or spend time together. Describe the place, the food and drink and the atmosphere, and tell us whether it is good value for money.
Write your review in 140–190 words.
Top answer188 words · estimated 19/20
The Corner: the perfect study spot?
Tucked away behind the university library, The Corner is half second-hand bookshop, half café, and it has quickly become my favourite place to work.
The first thing you notice is the atmosphere. Shelves of old paperbacks cover every wall, soft jazz plays in the background, and there are plenty of power sockets, which any student will tell you is essential. Even when it is busy, the noise never rises above a gentle murmur.
As for the menu, it is short but well chosen. The homemade carrot cake is easily the best I have tasted, and the coffee is strong without being bitter. My only complaint is that the vegetarian options are limited to a single, rather boring sandwich.
Prices are surprisingly reasonable. A large coffee and a slice of cake cost less than at the big chains, and students get ten per cent off before midday. Better still, nobody rushes you to leave.
Overall, I would give The Corner four stars out of five. If you need somewhere calm to revise or catch up with a friend, it is well worth finding.
Examiner-style comments
- Content5/5
- Every required point is covered with detail: the place, atmosphere, food and drink, and value for money, followed by a clear rating and recommendation for the target readers.
- Communicative Achievement5/5
- The register is friendly yet informative, ideal for a student guide. Practical details (power sockets, the student discount, 'nobody rushes you') show the writer is thinking about what readers need.
- Organisation5/5
- One topic per paragraph, with helpful signposts ('The first thing you notice', 'As for the menu', 'Overall'). The question in the title is answered in the final paragraph.
- Language4/5
- Natural, descriptive language ('Tucked away', 'a gentle murmur', 'strong without being bitter') with very few slips. Structures are varied but not highly complex, so a strong 4.
A balanced, practical review that gives student readers exactly the information they need.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
Borderline answer (10/20)
The task
You see this announcement in a local guide for international students.
Where do you like to study or meet friends? We are looking for reviews of cafés where young people can study or spend time together. Describe the place, the food and drink and the atmosphere, and tell us whether it is good value for money.
Write your review in 140–190 words.
Borderline180 words · estimated 10/20
Hi guys!!! Today I am going to review my favourite café, it is called Café Luna and it is in the centre of my town, near the station.
So, the café is small but very cute. The walls are pink and there are many plants and photos of old movie stars. They have wifi but sometimes it doesn't work, which is a problem if you want to study.
The food is amazing!!! They have pancakes, waffles, smoothies, sandwiches and many types of coffee and tea. My favourite is the chocolate pancakes with strawberries, they are so delicious. Also the waiters are very nice and they always smile.
I go there almost every Friday with my best friends after school and we stay there for hours talking and laughing. Sometimes we also do our homework there but normally we talk too much, haha.
The only bad thing is that at the weekend it is always full and you have to wait for a table for a long time.
So I totally recommend you this café, you will love it!!! Five stars!!!
Examiner-style comments
- Content3/5
- The place, the food and some of the atmosphere are described, but value for money is never mentioned, so one of the four required points is missing.
- Communicative Achievement2/5
- The register is far too informal for a published guide: 'Hi guys!!!', 'haha' and repeated exclamation marks make it read like a social media post. Enthusiasm is clear, but the reader gets little useful information.
- Organisation3/5
- Paragraphs are logical and each has a clear topic. Linking is basic ('So', 'Also', 'The only bad thing'), and there is no title.
- Language2/5
- Mostly simple, accurate sentences with some errors ('My favourite is the chocolate pancakes', 'I totally recommend you this café'). Vocabulary is limited and repetitive ('very cute', 'amazing', 'so delicious', 'very nice').
Enthusiastic but too informal, and it misses value for money, one of the required points.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
What to copy from the top answer
- Cover every point in the task. Value for money gets its own paragraph in the top answer, with concrete prices and a discount.
- Balance praise with one criticism. "My only complaint is…" makes the review sound fair and trustworthy.
- Think like the reader. Students want to know about plugs, noise and whether they can stay for hours.
- Control the register. Friendly, yes; "Hi guys!!!" and "haha", no.
Check your own answer
Write your own review for this prompt before you look at the answers again. Then go through the B2 First writing checklist and paste your draft into the writing checker and word counter to make sure you are between 140 and 190 words. More marked answers are in our FCE writing examples.
Questions about this task
How informal can a B2 First review be?
Reviews are usually semi-formal or friendly, depending on the publication. Avoid text-message features such as 'haha', '!!!' or 'guys'.
Do I need to criticise something in a positive review?
It is not required, but one small criticism makes your opinion sound balanced and believable, which helps Communicative Achievement.
Can I use 'recommend you' in English?
No. Say 'I recommend this café' or 'I recommend going there'. 'Recommend you this café' is a very common learner error.
How should I end a review?
Give a clear verdict: who should go, why, and optionally a rating. One or two sentences is enough.