This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of luck and a person’s aims from the real IELTS exam.
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IELTS Essay: Luck
Whether or not a person achieves their aims in life is mostly related to luck.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some are of the belief that luck is the determining factor when accomplishing a given goal. In my opinion, luck is pivotal in individual situations but its importance decreases over larger sample sizes.
The main argument for the primacy of luck is highly visible, singular examples. This translates to extremely successful individuals. For instance, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were exceptionally intelligent and hard-working but they would never have become leading figures in history if they had not grown up in California in the 1970s during the computer boom. It is likely they would still be successful regardless of their era and place of birth but the extent of influence would be more limited. This same principle applies for the average individual as there are moments in one’s life that are best credited to good luck or an advantageous situation.
However, the significance of luck decreases over time. Take, for example, an average person. They may be born into a wealthy family and have a good start in life; they are lucky from the onset. Nonetheless, if they are not hard-working, there is a strong chance they will not be able to accomplish their goals in life. The reverse is true of someone born into a bad situation. There are exceptions, where the situation is dire or the period in history precludes success, but most people who apply themselves over a long period of time will ‘make their own luck’. This is because as sample sizes become larger, the influence of variance naturally decreases. It still requires some extraordinary luck to attain huge aims but more modest ones result from repeated action rather than fortune.
In conclusion, luck is decisive in particular instances but not more generally. It is therefore more important to place greater value on working hard in the long-term than on the off-chance of being lucky.
Analysis
1. Some are of the belief that luck is the determining factor when accomplishing a given goal. 2. In my opinion, luck is pivotal in individual situations but its importance decreases over larger sample sizes.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions for IELTS here.
1. The main argument for the primacy of luck is highly visible, singular examples. 2. This translates to extremely successful individuals. 3. For instance, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were exceptionally intelligent and hard-working but they would never have become leading figures in history if they had not grown up in California in the 1970s during the computer boom. 4. It is likely they would still be successful regardless of their era and place of birth but the extent of influence would be more limited. 5. This same principle applies for the average individual as there are moments in one’s life that are best credited to good luck or an advantageous situation.
- Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Start a specific example.
- Develop it.
- Generalise from your example.
1. However, the significance of luck decreases over time. 2. Take, for example, an average person. 3. They may be born into a wealthy family and have a good start in life; they are lucky from the onset. 4. Nonetheless, if they are not hard-working, there is a strong chance they will not be able to accomplish their goals in life. 5. The reverse is true of someone born into a bad situation. 6. There are exceptions, where the situation is dire or the period in history precludes success, but most people who apply themselves over a long period of time will ‘make their own luck’. 7. This is because as sample sizes become larger, the influence of variance naturally decreases. 8. It still requires some extraordinary luck to attain huge aims but more modest ones result from repeated action rather than fortune.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Add specific support such as a hypothetical example.
- Develop the example.
- Very your short and long sentences.
- Add in any exceptions.
- Explain your logic.
- Conclude with a strong, clear statement.
1. In conclusion, luck is decisive in particular instances but not more generally. 2. It is therefore more important to place greater value on working hard in the long-term than on the off-chance of being lucky.
- Repeat your main ideas and your opinion.
- Add a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Some are of the belief that luck is the determining factor when accomplishing a given goal. In my opinion, luck is pivotal in individual situations but its importance decreases over larger sample sizes.
The main argument for the primacy of luck is highly visible, singular examples. This translates to extremely successful individuals. For instance, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were exceptionally intelligent and hard-working but they would never have become leading figures in history if they had not grown up in California in the 1970s during the computer boom. It is likely they would still be successful regardless of their era and place of birth but the extent of influence would be more limited. This same principle applies for the average individual as there are moments in one’s life that are best credited to good luck or an advantageous situation.
However, the significance of luck decreases over time. Take, for example, an average person. They may be born into a wealthy family and have a good start in life; they are lucky from the onset. Nonetheless, if they are not hard-working, there is a strong chance they will not be able to accomplish their goals in life. The reverse is true of someone born into a bad situation. There are exceptions, where the situation is dire or the period in history precludes success, but most people who apply themselves over a long period of time will ‘make their own luck’. This is because as sample sizes become larger, the influence of variance naturally decreases. It still requires some extraordinary luck to attain huge aims but more modest ones result from repeated action rather than fortune.
In conclusion, luck is decisive in particular instances but not more generally. It is therefore more important to place greater value on working hard in the long-term than on the off-chance of being lucky.
Answers
of the belief believe
luck good fortune
determining factor decisive
accomplishing achieving
given goal any random aim
pivotal key
individual situations certain contexts
importance decreases over larger sample sizes value is less important over time and many examples
main argument primary reason
primacy central importance
highly visible well-known
singular unique
translates means
extremely successful individuals people who have done well
exceptionally intelligent really smart
leading figures in history major leaders, people
grown up as they get older
computer boom computers beginning to develop
regardless nonetheless
era time period
extent degree
influence shaping
limited small, not much
same principle applies this translates to
average individual normal person
moments times
best credited is due to
advantageous situation good spot
significance importance
average person normal person
wealthy rich
good start good beginning
onset beginning
nonetheless regardless of
strong chance good odds
accomplish achieve
reverse switch
exceptions situations that don’t fit
dire dangerous
precludes success cancels out the possibility of success
apply also works for
over a long period of time for a while
sample sizes number of examples
influence of variance how important luck is
naturally decreases declines of course
requires needs
extraordinary amazing
modest humble
result from comes from
repeated action doing something over and over
rather than fortune instead of luck
decisive key
particular instances some examples
generally overall
place greater value put more importance on
off-chance sometimes
Pronunciation
ɒv ðə bɪˈliːf
lʌk
dɪˈtɜːmɪnɪŋ ˈfæktə
əˈkɒmplɪʃɪŋ
ˈgɪvn gəʊl
ˈpɪvətl
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃənz
ɪmˈpɔːtəns ˈdiːkriːsɪz ˈəʊvə ˈlɑːʤə ˈsɑːmpl ˈsaɪzɪz
meɪn ˈɑːgjʊmənt
ˈpraɪməsi
ˈhaɪli ˈvɪzəbl
ˈsɪŋgjʊlə
trænsˈleɪts
ɪksˈtriːmli səkˈsɛsfʊl ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz
ɪkˈsɛpʃənli ɪnˈtɛlɪʤənt
ˈliːdɪŋ ˈfɪgəz ɪn ˈhɪstəri
grəʊn ʌp
kəmˈpjuːtə buːm
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs
ˈɪərə
ɪksˈtɛnt
ˈɪnflʊəns
ˈlɪmɪtɪd
seɪm ˈprɪnsəpl əˈplaɪz
ˈævərɪʤ ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl
ˈməʊmənts
bɛst ˈkrɛdɪtɪd
ˌædvənˈteɪʤəs ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən
sɪgˈnɪfɪkəns
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn
ˈwɛlθi
gʊd stɑːt
ˈɒnsɛt
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
strɒŋ ʧɑːns
əˈkɒmplɪʃ
rɪˈvɜːs
ɪkˈsɛpʃənz
ˈdaɪə
prɪˈkluːdz səkˈsɛs
əˈplaɪ
ˈəʊvər ə lɒŋ ˈpɪərɪəd ɒv taɪm
ˈsɑːmpl ˈsaɪzɪz
ˈɪnflʊəns ɒv ˈveərɪəns
ˈnæʧrəli ˈdiːkriːsɪz
rɪˈkwaɪəz
ɪksˈtrɔːdnri
ˈmɒdɪst
rɪˈzʌlt frɒm
rɪˈpiːtɪd ˈækʃ(ə)n
ˈrɑːðə ðæn ˈfɔːʧən
dɪˈsaɪsɪv
pəˈtɪkjʊlər ˈɪnstənsɪz
ˈʤɛnərəli
pleɪs ˈgreɪtə ˈvæljuː
ɒf-ʧɑːns
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Some are o_______________f that l_____k is the d____________________r when a______________________g a g_____________l. In my opinion, luck is p______l in i___________________________s but its i___________________________________________s.
The m____________________t for the p_____________y of luck is h_______________e, s__________r examples. This t_____________s to e______________________________________s. For instance, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were e_________________________t and hard-working but they would never have become l_______________________________y if they had not g____________p in California in the 1970s during the c_______________m. It is likely they would still be successful r________________s of their e___a and place of birth but the e_________t of i__________e would be more l___________d. This s_____________________s for the a_____________________l as there are m_______________s in one’s life that are b_____________d to good luck or an a________________________n.
However, the s________________e of luck decreases over time. Take, for example, an a___________________n. They may be born into a w___________y family and have a g________________t in life; they are lucky from the o______t. N______________s, if they are not hard-working, there is a s______________e they will not be able to a_____________h their goals in life. The r_________e is true of someone born into a bad situation. There are e_____________s, where the situation is d____e or the period in history p__________________s, but most people who a_______y themselves o________________________e will ‘make their own luck’. This is because as s_______________s become larger, the i___________________________________s. It still r____________s some e_________________________y luck to attain huge aims but more m____________t ones r_______________m r_________________n r_________________n f___________e.
In conclusion, luck is d___________e in p_____________________s but not more g______________y. It is therefore more important to p_____________________e on working hard in the long-term than on the o_____________e of being lucky.
Listening Practice
Listen below and take some notes or practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Work
- Why did you choose your job?
- How much work do you do in a week?
- Do you have to work on weekends as well?
Writing Practice
Write about the related topic below then check with my sample answer:
In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?
People tend to think that luck plays a major role in achieving goals. While there are scenarios where people are more fortunate than others, I completely disagree with this statement because there are more important aspects of life that help individuals become successful in their undertakings.
It is undeniable that some people have better life circumstances than others. For instance, most people would consider being born rich, as being lucky. Financial resources allow people to maneuver their lives the way they want in terms of education, career, love, and life in general. Students born in a rich family can study in well-known universities that will open up doors for a bright career while those who are poverty-stricken, would have to work and study harder, to pay for tuition or to get a scholarship.
However, relying on luck does not guarantee success in life. Instead, individuals should put together a concrete plan and discover ways to execute them through dedication and perseverance. Commonly, people view failure as being unfortunate and they blame life circumstances as they give up on their goals when they should be taking failures as part of their journey and consider them as little hindrances that will help them better their craft. As an example, Jeff Bezos who was born in a working-class family, had so many failed businesses in the past before he founded Amazon and his success would have been otherwise impossible, had he stopped when he failed.
In conclusion, there are situations wherein people have better odds than others, however, it is more important to focus on one’s goals and never give up until they are achieved.
Nice writing again, Chris!
Really accurate writing – we don’t usually use ‘commonly’ the way you did to start a sentence. In general, would be better.
Keep it up!
In recent times, there has been an ever-growing trend in competitiveness in order to achieve greater heights. While numerous astrologers claim that success is certainly related to luck, others, including myself believe that hard work and determination is the key to success. This essay will argue why perseverance and working hard play a critical role in acquiring success.
To begin with, there is a growing body of statistical evidence which suggests that achieving success is not co-related to luck. To exemplify this point, a recent retrospective study conducted by Oxford University, who performed a randomised study on UK high school graduates, revealed that two-thirds of students who kept on procrastinating their assignments and relied on luck to get through their final GCSE exams were less likely to attain university places in competitive fields. By contrast, one-third of students who completed their assignments regularly and studied rigorously for their final exams stood a higher chance in getting into a competitive university degree such as engineering and medicine. Based on this, it is not unreasonable to assume that being lucky is not the only marker to gain success in life. It is, therefore, essential for a person to stay focused and persevere in order to attain greater heights in life.
Nonetheless, several experts in astrology believe that a person’s success and accomplishments are all written in destiny. Hence they claim that luck plays a significant role in delivering achievements in one’s life. Despite these claims, I firmly believe that there are several examples which suggest us that luck is not the only factor in achieving success. One such example is of Oprah Winfrey, a popular public figure, who was born to a poor family and lived in the deprived regions of Mississippi. In spite of several obstacles such as lack of schooling and proper shelter, she never gave up hope and continued to work hard. In 2008, she became a millionaire and was listed in the Forbes list of richest women alive. This anecdote suggests that despite the several adversities and challenging situations one may face in life, it is essential to work hard and be determined to attain one’s goal in life. and not completely bank on luck and destiny. Overall, it is clear that luck is not the key determiner to success.
To conclude, if a person wants to achieve a goal in life, the person must put in an effort and work hard persistently. From my perspective, luck plays very little role in one’s achievement and success and it is absolutely critical to continue to persevere to see success in life.
Great work, Bonnie!
It is a little long – how long did it take you to write it?
There is some informal vocabulary but you are obviously at an extremely high level – I hope other students can learn a lot from your writing!
Hey Dave!
Thanks a lot for reading my essay!
I took about 37 minutes to write this essay 🙂
But I feel in order to develop my main body paragraph I need to write more words 🙁
it was really helpful thank you
You’re welcome!
HY DAVE SIR
I am too much poor in writing what can i do? i am ielts student
Practice!
It is true that some people deem luck as the decisive factor that leads people to the threshold of success. I strongly disagree with this opinion since fortune only plays a small part in geting goals accomplished, while there are more important factors that should not be neglected.
Those in favor of luck would point out that it could change the entire status of people. A noteworthy example being lottery represents for luck that could bring people about prosperity. They can use the money to improve the financial background of their family by starting business or sending to banks for later use. However, the probability of wining a lottery is marginally insignificant, so that people should no hold a hopeful expectation on these contingent numbers but devote time on self-development instead.
Indeed, there are many other conditions that define success. Research has shown that there are five chief factors forming success: knowledge, skills, experiences, relationships and luck is the last and also the least important one. Actually, a person could hardly have a decent life if he is ignorant and poor-experienced regardless to his luck. Returning to the previous example, the prosperous status would temporarily persist later in life, in other words, lottery winners would be no longer in wealth unless they have good financial management skills and a clearly profitable use of the money, which only are possessed by well-educated people. That is the reason why the majority of people being stuck in impoverishment after winning a lottery after a short period.
In conclusion, although luck remains one of the prerequisites of becoming successful, its contribution is far inferior to other factors. People should not wait for lucky events to come but take efforts to learn more because success will come as a result of sufficient endeavors.