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

362 words · Illustrative target band

Taking risks in both professional and personal lives is crucial for people. If you don’t take risks, you are taking the risk of not progressing faster in life. Taking risks will get what you want especially when your preparation is adequate for future opportunities. So I would argue that its advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The main distinction is between a proportionate challenge and an unacceptable gamble. I…

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AI-completed learning example

372 words · Illustrative target band

Taking risks in both professional and personal lives can lead to new opportunities and experiences, but it can also be stressful and challenging. In my opinion, the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages. One of the main advantages of taking risks is the opportunity to discover new talents and experiences. For example, after working in one role for several years, a person may try a different responsibi…

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AI-completed learning example

357 words · Illustrative target band

Based on my personal preferences and opinion, I personally think that taking the risk could be advantageous, and the result might come as a life-changing and give a significant fulfillment for the risk takers. As the saying goes, there are two sides of a coin. When there is a risk involved, there are always rewards that are possible rather than guaranteed. In professional life, uncertainty can accompany a useful opp…

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