A review (reseña) is an evaluative comment on a work: a book, a film, a series, a play or an experience. In the DELE B2 writing test it's one of the text types you may be asked for in Task 2. To write a good one you need a short title, an introduction that gives context without giving your opinion yet, a body of two or three paragraphs that follows the order of the instructions, and a conclusion where you recommend the work or not. In this article I explain it as an examiner, with a real example from a student who got top marks in the writing test.

If you prefer to watch it, here's the video (in Spanish):

What a review is and what readers expect

A review is subjective: readers want your opinion and, above all, to know whether the play, book or activity is worth it. They also expect a comment on what they'll find, but without too many spoilers.

Even though it's subjective, I recommend going from the most objective to the most subjective: facts and context first, evaluation afterwards.

Before writing: where it's published and who reads it

Writing a review on your personal blog, with regular readers and a friendly tone, is not the same as writing it for a newspaper or an art magazine. The instructions always tell you this, and it shapes your register and tone.

In the example from the video, the instructions say you run a theatre blog, you went to see a play yesterday and today you're writing the review on your blog. That's why the text can open with a friendly “Queridos lectores” (Dear readers).

The instructions give you the structure

In the DELE, the points in the instructions come before anything else you'd put in a free review. In this example they asked you to:

  • Write a short introduction about the importance of going to the theatre.
  • Comment on and evaluate your experience at the performance.
  • Evaluate the actors' and musicians' performance.
  • Describe how the audience reacted.
  • Give your personal opinion of the play.

The points usually come in a logical order, so you can almost write one paragraph per point. And even if it isn't stated, it's understood that you should say whether you recommend the play.

Sometimes you're also given a synopsis. Use it to include details that show you understood it, but don't copy sentences word for word: rephrase them in your own words or with synonyms.

The structure of a DELE B2 review

1. Title

It has to be there and it has to be short. It can be a noun phrase (no verb) that plays with the name of the work. If you can't think of anything original, something as simple as “Reseña de” plus the title works.

2. Introduction

Give context: what you saw, when, what it's about and who it's for. No opinion yet. This is how the example begins:

Queridos lectores: como ya os anuncié en una entrada anterior, el pasado 10 de junio tuve la oportunidad de asistir a una obra teatral sobre la apasionante vida de la pintora mexicana Frida Kahlo, un espectáculo para todos los públicos del que os vengo a hablar hoy.

In a single sentence we get the date, the topic (a biographical play), who the main character was and the target audience. Readers already know whether they want to keep reading.

3. Body: two or three paragraphs

Don't write a one-paragraph body. Spread your ideas over balanced paragraphs, neither too long nor too short. This is where the points go: your experience, the performances and the audience's reaction. An extract from the example:

Cabe resaltar que la puesta en escena fue muy creativa. Por un lado, las coreografías asombrosas de los bailarines, sincronizados al milímetro con los músicos, dejaron al público con la boca abierta. Por otro lado, los actores mantuvieron una presencia escénica impecable y todos se metieron de lleno en su papel.

4. Conclusion with a recommendation

This is where you reveal your final verdict and whether you recommend the play:

Para concluir, me gustaría recomendaros esta obra, dado que, a través de un guion ágil, permite descubrir con naturalidad la personalidad de una artista que pintaba sentimientos. En mi opinión, fue una obra emocionante y os aseguro que no os dejará indiferentes.

Why this text got top marks

  • Discourse markers: para empezar, sobre todo, cabe resaltar que, por un lado, por otro lado, para concluir. Aim for at least four.
  • Idioms and collocations: dejar a alguien con la boca abierta (to leave someone speechless), meterse de lleno (to throw yourself into something), un aplauso apoteósico (a thunderous ovation), no dejar indiferente a nadie (to leave no one indifferent).
  • Varied ways of giving an opinion: para mí and en mi opinión, without repeating the same formula.
  • Topic-specific vocabulary: puesta en escena (staging), coreografías, presencia escénica (stage presence), guion (script), público (audience).
  • Balanced paragraphs: the organisation is clear at a glance.

To widen your range of connectors, read discourse markers for the DELE and connectors for the DELE B2.

How to improve your reviews

Read lots of reviews written for Spanish-speaking readers: of books, films, plays, restaurants or products. Every writer has their own style, and you can pick up structures from all of them. The expressions in this example also work for film or book reviews.

FAQ about the review in the DELE B2

Which DELE B2 task can the review appear in?

It's one of the text types that can come up in Task 2 of the written expression and interaction test, alongside others such as the article or the blog post.

How many words should it have?

Whatever the instructions say, which at B2 is usually 150 to 180 words. Stick to it: if you write too little, you won't cover all the points.

Do I need a title?

Yes. It's part of the genre. It just needs to be short.

Can I copy sentences from the synopsis?

I don't recommend it. Use its information, but in your own words. Copied sentences are very easy to spot.

Do I have to recommend the work?

Even if the instructions don't always say so, review readers expect to know whether you recommend it. Do it in the conclusion.

Summary

  • A review goes from objective to subjective.
  • Consider where it's published and who reads it.
  • Follow the order of the points: almost one paragraph per point.
  • Short title, an introduction without opinion, a body of two or three paragraphs and a conclusion with a recommendation.
  • Use at least four discourse markers, an idiom or two and topic-specific vocabulary.

Resources to prepare for the DELE B2

If you want to prepare the DELE B2 task by task, with recorded lessons, notes, commented examples, a community, a chat for your questions and a group call before each exam session, it's all here: online DELE B2 course.

To practise with full exams: A por el DELE B2, 4 exam models with answers.

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