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

366 words · Illustrative target band

It is important to make some risky moves in career as well as in personal life. Although this may harm a person in the short term, it allows them to create new opportunities and I believe this advantage far outweighs any potential disadvantages. Making a risky move may hurt a person short term. Take, for example, someone who leaves a familiar role for a new opportunity may initially feel uncertain. In professional l…

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AI-completed learning example

359 words · Illustrative target band

Taking risks in both professional and personal lives is crucial for people. If you don’t take risks, you run the risk of not progressing swiftly in life. Taking risks can help you achieve your goals, especially when you are well-prepared for future opportunities. Therefore, I argue that the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages. Preparation determines whether the potential loss is manageable. In prof…

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AI-completed learning example

355 words · Illustrative target band

From entrepreneurs starting their businesses to investing time in a unique topic, risk-taking has perennially been considered advised by many, both in professional and personal lives, but is it worth it? This essay will explore the benefits and disadvantages of risk-taking, and ultimately discuss whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Many people are raised being cautious about unfamiliar situations. In …

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