A review has to do two jobs at once: inform (what, where, how much) and evaluate (good, bad, for whom). Level 2 tasks usually set it for a website, a newsletter or an intranet, and the marks go to balanced judgements backed by specific detail. This free pack gives you two review tasks in exam layout, the grids explained, and an annotated model review.
Free to download, print and share for personal or classroom use. Answers included.
What’s in this worksheet
- Know-the-format box for this text type
- Task 1 in Pearson exam layout (Information box, bullet points, word count, marks)
- Task 2 in Highfield exam layout (notes stimulus)
- Planning grid and lined answer space for both tasks
- Plain-English version of the official marking grids
- Indicative content list for Task 1
- 297-word model answer with examiner notes
Common mistakes on this topic
From our tutors’ marking and the most recent examiner reports – check your work against these:
- All praise or all complaint. A review with no ‘however’ cannot reach the top band.
- Missing the information bullet – no cost, no location, no opening times.
- Vague adjectives (‘nice’, ‘good’, ‘bad’) with no example to show why.
- Forgetting the recommendation. The last paragraph must say who it suits.
How to use it
- Read the ‘Know the format’ box, then do Task 1 under exam conditions – 5 minutes planning, the rest writing, timed as the task box says.
- Mark yourself against the grid and the indicative content list. Be honest about which band each strand lands in.
- Read the model answer and its notes, then rewrite your weakest paragraph. Do Task 2 a few days later without looking at the model.
Related free resources
- Report – Exam-Style Writing Tasks (Functional Skills Level 2)
- Blog Post – Exam-Style Writing Tasks (Functional Skills Level 2)
- Plan a Functional Skills Writing Task in 5 Minutes – Free Planning Sheet
- All free Functional Skills English Level 2 resources
Frequently asked questions
What must a Level 2 review include?
The basics (what, where, when, cost), at least one positive and one negative with specific examples, and a verdict saying who it suits and whether you would go back. A title with a rating and a byline gives the format marks.
Can a review be written in the first person?
Yes – reviews are personal by nature. ‘I’, ‘my family’, ‘we’ are all expected. Keep the tone lively but fair, and back every opinion with a detail.
How do I structure a review in the exam?
Basics → best thing → weakest thing → value for money or another aspect → verdict. One paragraph each, and the task’s bullet points fit neatly into that order.
Want a tutor to mark your work? Not sure where you stand? Take the free 15-minute mini mock test. Ready to get qualified? Our live 10-week Functional Skills Level 2 English course runs in small groups with a mock exam included, and the 5-day revision course is there if your exam is close.