In one line: A review gives a verdict — is it any good? — and backs it with reasons and examples, all in a lively voice that helps you decide.
A review has one job: help you decide, with style.
📝 “The film is two hours long. I felt every one of them. On the plus side, the popcorn was excellent.”
That's a verdict (bad), evidence (it dragged), and a voice (dry, funny) — all at once. A review judges, proves and entertains. Analyse how it does all three.
What to look for
A clear verdict
It takes a side — great, awful, mixed — you're never left guessing the opinion.
Evidence for the judgement
Specific reasons and examples back the verdict, so it's not just ‘I liked it’.
A strong, often witty voice
Reviews entertain as they judge; the voice is half the pleasure.
Guidance for the reader
It helps you decide — is this for me? worth my time or money?
The key move: Ask ‘what's the verdict, and how is it proved and performed?’ A review persuades through judgement, evidence and voice — analyse how they combine.
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Why it matters in the exam: A review can appear in Paper 1. Examiners reward you for analysing how the verdict, evidence and voice work together to judge and entertain — not just whether the reviewer liked the thing.
Analyse this review line: “The restaurant calls itself ‘rustic’. My chair wobbled, my soup was cold, and the bill was anything but. ‘Rustic’, it turns out, is French for ‘unfinished’.”
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Watch out: Don't just say ‘the reviewer liked/disliked it’. The marks come from how the verdict is proved with evidence and performed in the voice.