FCE review example: a science fiction film that made me think
This page includes an original Part 2 review task about a science fiction film, a top answer (20/20) and a solid answer (13/20), both marked on the four criteria. It is part of our B2 First Writing guide; the FCE review guide explains how reviews are structured.
By Eleanor BennettLast updated:
How to approach this task
A review has to describe, evaluate and recommend. This task also asks what made you think about the future, so you need four elements:
- A title and an opening that tells the reader what kind of film it is.
- A short plot summary (two or three sentences, no spoilers).
- What made you think: the key content point for this task.
- Strengths and weaknesses, then a clear recommendation: who should watch it?
You can review a real film or an imaginary one. The model answers below use an invented film.
Top answer (20/20)
The task
You see this announcement on an English-language film website.
Reviews wanted: films that make you think Have you seen a film that made you think about the future? Write a review telling us what the film is about, what made you think and whether you would recommend it to other people.
Write your review in 140–190 words.
Top answer187 words · estimated 20/20
Quiet Orbit: small film, big questions
If you are tired of science fiction films that are nothing but explosions, Quiet Orbit could be exactly what you need.
Set in 2090, the film follows Ana, an engineer who is left alone on a space station after the rest of her crew return to Earth. Her only company is the station's computer, which slowly begins to behave more like a friend than a machine. I will not spoil the ending, but the final twenty minutes are genuinely gripping.
What impressed me most was how believable everything felt. There are no aliens or laser battles; instead, the tension comes from loneliness and from Ana's growing dependence on technology. It made me wonder how much of my own life I already share with machines.
The film is not perfect. The middle section drags a little, and some of the dialogue sounds rather stiff. However, the lead actress gives a superb performance and the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful.
I would recommend Quiet Orbit to anyone who enjoys films that stay with you long after the credits roll. Just don't expect non-stop action.
Examiner-style comments
- Content5/5
- Every part of the task is addressed: what the film is about, what made the writer think (dependence on technology and machines) and a clear recommendation with a note on who might not enjoy it.
- Communicative Achievement5/5
- Classic review style. The opening speaks directly to a type of viewer, the writer avoids spoilers, and the balance of praise and criticism makes the verdict trustworthy.
- Organisation5/5
- Excellent organisation: introduction, plot, the thinking point, evaluation, recommendation. Contrast is handled smoothly ('instead', 'However').
- Language5/5
- A wide range of genre-specific language used accurately ('genuinely gripping', 'the middle section drags', 'hauntingly beautiful', 'long after the credits roll') with complex structures such as 'Set in 2090, the film follows…'.
A full-mark review: informative, balanced and written with a wide, precise range of language.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
Solid answer (13/20)
The task
You see this announcement on an English-language film website.
Reviews wanted: films that make you think Have you seen a film that made you think about the future? Write a review telling us what the film is about, what made you think and whether you would recommend it to other people.
Write your review in 140–190 words.
Solid pass186 words · estimated 13/20
Quiet Orbit
Last week I watched the film Quiet Orbit in the cinema with my friends and I want to write a review about it.
The film is about a woman called Ana who works in a space station in the year 2090. All the other people of the crew go back to the Earth and she stays alone. She talks with the computer of the station every day and they become friends. Then there is a problem with the oxygen and the computer must decide if it saves Ana or the station. In the end the computer saves Ana but it destroys itself and Ana returns to the Earth very sad.
The film made me think about the future because maybe in some years we will have friends that are machines. I think it is a little bit scary.
The actress was very good and the music was beautiful, but some parts of the film were boring and too slow.
In my opinion it is a good film and I recommend it to people who like science fiction. I give it seven out of ten.
Examiner-style comments
- Content4/5
- All three points are covered, but the balance is wrong: most of the review retells the plot, while 'what made you think' gets only two sentences. The recommendation is clear.
- Communicative Achievement3/5
- The writer gives away the ending, which a real reader of a film website would not want. Evaluation is generic ('very good', 'beautiful', 'boring'), so the reader learns little about why the film is worth watching.
- Organisation3/5
- Paragraphs follow a sensible order, but the plot paragraph is long and sequential ('Then… In the end…'), and the opening sentence simply announces the task.
- Language3/5
- Mostly accurate, with some errors ('in a space station' → on, 'the other people of the crew', 'returns to the Earth'). Vocabulary is safe and everyday, with few review-specific expressions.
Correct and clear, but too much plot, a spoiler and generic evaluation keep it in the middle band.
Marks are our estimate using the public B2 First writing criteria, not an official Cambridge mark.
What to copy from the top answer
- Keep the plot short. Three sentences are enough; then move on to evaluation.
- Say "I won't spoil the ending". It shows awareness of the reader, which is what Communicative Achievement rewards.
- Use precise evaluative language. "The middle section drags", "genuinely gripping" and "hauntingly beautiful" say much more than "boring" and "good".
- Recommend to a specific audience. "Anyone who enjoys films that stay with you" (and not to people who want non-stop action).
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
Can I review an imaginary film in B2 First?
Yes. Examiners do not check whether the film is real. Inventing one can help you include exactly the ideas the task asks for.
How much of the plot should a review include?
Two or three sentences are usually enough. The examiner is more interested in your opinion and evaluation than in the story.
Should a review include a score like '7/10'?
It is optional. A score can be a nice final touch, but it never replaces a clear recommendation in words.
What are good adjectives for a film review?
Try gripping, thought-provoking, predictable, moving, slow-paced and convincing. Use them with a reason, for example 'the ending is predictable because…'.