Task 2 · · 18 samples

It is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal lives. Do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

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Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • A calculated professional risk, such as proposing a new workplace system, can lead to career advancement; even rejection can offer useful experience.
  • Taking an educational opportunity in a new city may involve loneliness at first but can foster independence and broaden a person's perspective.
  • Balance potential rewards against possible financial, emotional and family costs; distinguish careful decisions from impulsive risk-taking.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the topic and state clearly whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
  2. Acknowledge meaningful risks and explain why they are more manageable when decisions are carefully assessed.
  3. Develop a professional-life example, including both its possible downside and potential benefit.
  4. Develop a personal-life example and explain its longer-term effects.
  5. Conclude with a direct judgement that restates the importance of calculated risk.
Useful vocabulary & examples
a calculated risk
A risk taken after considering its possible consequences.

Proposing a new system at work can be a calculated risk if the employee has assessed its likely costs and benefits.

career development
Progress in a person's work skills, responsibilities or professional opportunities.

Taking on an unfamiliar project may support career development.

financial or emotional costs
The monetary or psychological difficulties that may result from a decision.

A move to another city can bring financial or emotional costs during the initial adjustment.

weigh the possible costs
Consider the likely disadvantages before making a choice.

People should weigh the possible costs before committing to a major change.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

357 words · Illustrative target band

It is possible for people to make decisions or actions that put them outside their safe zone in their daily life or even in their occupation. Wondering outside the safe zone which also known as risk taking, would provide opportunities some for fortune, or provide consequences which leads to misfortunes. In my opinion, there are both gains and setbacks to consider. In professional life, uncertainty can accompany a us…

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AI-completed learning example

359 words · Illustrative target band

People tend to back off when they are facing the risks in the life. They find the comfort in their life, but success will not come to them without taking a risk. It is crucial to face your fears in your both professional life and the personal life because it will gain you greater benefit when a challenge is proportionate and carefully planned. In professional life, uncertainty can accompany a useful opportunity. Vol…

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AI-completed learning example

359 words · Illustrative target band

Taking risks in life is very necessary, whether it be in professional life or personal life. Although it comes with some drawbacks, still it has more benefits over the countering drawbacks. Taking risks can lead to traumatic events which might haunt a person for whole life or for a long part of life. I remember trying something unfamiliar and learning from the result. In professional life, uncertainty can accompany …

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