‘It was great, I’d recommend it’ scores almost nothing. A review has to inform (what, where, how much) and evaluate (good and bad, for whom, and why) with specific detail. This free writing frame shows the structure, gives you a vocabulary bank for balanced judgements, an exam-style task for a staff intranet, and a 284-word model review annotated to show what earns the marks.
Free to download, print and share for personal or classroom use. Answers included.
What’s in this worksheet
- What a review must do, and the features examiners look for
- Template with rating, byline and five paragraphs
- Vocabulary bank: positive, fair-negative, balancing and verdict phrases
- Exam-style task: review a place for your workplace’s ‘Days Out’ page
- Planning grid, lined answer space and self-marking checklist
- 284-word model review with commentary
Common mistakes on this topic
From our tutors’ marking and the most recent examiner reports – check your work against these:
- All praise, no criticism (or the reverse) – the mark scheme wants a balanced evaluation.
- Vague adjectives: “good”, “nice”, “bad”, “fun” – with no example to show why.
- Forgetting the basics (where it is, what it costs) – the review must inform as well as give an opinion.
How to use it
- Read the format guide and template so you know exactly what the examiner expects to see on the page.
- Fill in the planning grid for the exam-style task (five minutes), then write your answer in the lined space, timed at 20 minutes.
- Mark yourself against the checklist, then compare your answer with the model answer paragraph by paragraph. Where does yours fall short – format, detail, tone or SPaG?
Related free resources
- Functional Skills Level 2 Article and Report Writing Frame (with Model Report)
- Functional Skills Level 2 Web Forum and Online Post Writing Frame (with Model Answer)
- Functional Skills English Level 2 Persuasive Writing Techniques Worksheet
- All free Functional Skills English Level 2 resources
Frequently asked questions
What should a review include for Functional Skills English?
The basics (what it is, where, when, cost, who it suits), at least one positive and one negative each backed by a specific example, and a verdict that says who should go, whether you would return, and a rating.
Does a review need both positives and negatives?
Yes. The mark scheme rewards a balanced evaluation. All praise or all criticism reads as one-sided and loses communication marks. Be fair – say if the weak point was a small thing.
How long should a Level 2 review be?
Follow the task’s suggested word count, typically 250–300 words. Five short paragraphs – basics, best thing, weak point, value, verdict – gets you there naturally.
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.