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IELTS Cambridge 17 Essay: Taking Risks in Professional and Personal Lives
It is important for people to take risks, in both their professional lives and personal lives.
Do the advantages of taking these risks outweigh the disadvantages?
Some would argue that taking risks, both in terms of one’s private life and one’s working career, is advantageous overall. I am generally in agreement with this contention due to the potential for advancement and growth.
Firstly, risk-taking can expedite one’s career goals. Many workers decide early on that they are content with their position in society and therefore often fail to actualize their potential. Others, however, attempt various business enterprises and transition from field to field in order to find a good match. Although this may lead to short-term setbacks, in the long-term such ambitious individuals are far more likely to become very successful in life. Assuming that these risks are taken early in one’s career, there is a strong likelihood that they will eventually profit the risk-taker in question.
Moreover, an individual who takes risks will also develop more mature personal relationships. In more conservative countries, many young people do not begin to have serious romantic relationships until after university. The result of this is that they are often immature and it can lead to poor and naive choices in terms of marriage and parenting. In contrast, a person who takes risks in their personal life and enters into various relationships throughout high school and university will become a better judge of character. Their allegedly risky behavior can then serve as the foundation for personal growth and increased maturity.
In conclusion, taking risks can be a catalyst for tremendous growth and is therefore advisable. The disadvantages of risk-taking can also be mitigated in most contexts by not being inordinately reckless.
Analysis
1. Some would argue that taking risks, both in terms of one’s private life and one’s working career, is advantageous overall. 2. I am generally in agreement with this contention due to the potential for advancement and growth.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Firstly, risk-taking can expedite one’s career goals. 2. Many workers decide early on that they are content with their position in society and therefore often fail to actualize their potential. 3. Others, however, attempt various business enterprises and transition from field to field in order to find a good match. 4. Although this may lead to short-term setbacks, in the long-term such ambitious individuals are far more likely to become very successful in life. 5. Assuming that these risks are taken early in one’s career, there is a strong likelihood that they will eventually profit the risk-taker in question.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Short sentences can make your writing clearer.
1. Moreover, an individual who takes risks will also develop more mature personal relationships. 2. In more conservative countries, many young people do not begin to have serious romantic relationships until after university. 3. The result of this is that they are often immature and it can lead to poor and naive choices in terms of marriage and parenting. 4. In contrast, a person who takes risks in their personal life and enters into various relationships throughout high school and university will become a better judge of character. 5. Their allegedly risky behavior can then serve as the foundation for personal growth and increased maturity.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Finish the paragraph strong.
1. In conclusion, taking risks can be a catalyst for tremendous growth and is therefore advisable. 2. The disadvantages of risk-taking can also be mitigated in most contexts by not being inordinately reckless.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Some would argue that taking risks, both in terms of one’s private life and one’s working career, is advantageous overall. I am generally in agreement with this contention due to the potential for advancement and growth.
Firstly, risk-taking can expedite one’s career goals. Many workers decide early on that they are content with their position in society and therefore often fail to actualize their potential. Others, however, attempt various business enterprises and transition from field to field in order to find a good match. Although this may lead to short-term setbacks, in the long-term such ambitious individuals are far more likely to become very successful in life. Assuming that these risks are taken early in one’s career, there is a strong likelihood that they will eventually profit the risk-taker in question.
Moreover, an individual who takes risks will also develop more mature personal relationships. In more conservative countries, many young people do not begin to have serious romantic relationships until after university. The result of this is that they are often immature and it can lead to poor and naive choices in terms of marriage and parenting. In contrast, a person who takes risks in their personal life and enters into various relationships throughout high school and university will become a better judge of character. Their allegedly risky behavior can then serve as the foundation for personal growth and increased maturity.
In conclusion, taking risks can be a catalyst for tremendous growth and is therefore advisable. The disadvantages of risk-taking can also be mitigated in most contexts by not being inordinately reckless.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
taking risks making decisions that are not always safe
in terms of concerning
private life personal lives
working career jobs
advantageous overall good in general
I am generally in agreement with this contention I mostly agree
due to because of
potential possible
advancement moving forward
growth becoming a better person
risk-taking making risky decisions
expedite make faster
career goals pursue a good job and career path
decide early on choose from the beginning
content satisfied with
position job
fail to actualize don’t fully achieve
attempt try
business enterprises jobs and businesses
transition from field to field move from job to job
good match good fit
short-term setbacks drawbacks right away
ambitious individuals people with big dreams
are far more likely to become greater chance they will
Assuming given that
risks are taken doing risky actions
career job
strong likelihood good chance of it
profit what you get/earn
risk-taker person who takes risks
in question being discussed here
develop change
mature personal relationships better interactions with others
conservative countries traditional nations
serious romantic relationships boyfriends, girlfriends, partners, etc.
The result of this is that the consequence is
immature not mature, childish
poor not good
naive innocent
in terms of concerning
enters into various relationships throughout have many different relationships during
better judge of character understand people better
allegedly it is assumed that
serve as the foundation for are the basis for
personal growth how a person changes and gets better
increased maturity growing as a person
a catalyst for tremendous the cause of big
advisable a good idea
mitigated weakened
contexts situations
inordinately reckless very risky
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈteɪkɪŋ rɪsks
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ˈpraɪvɪt laɪf
ˈwɜːkɪŋ kəˈrɪə
ˌædvənˈteɪʤəs ˈəʊvərɔːl
aɪ æm ˈʤɛnərəli ɪn əˈgriːmənt wɪð ðɪs kənˈtɛnʃən
djuː tuː
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl
ədˈvɑːnsmənt
grəʊθ
rɪsk-ˈteɪkɪŋ
ˈɛkspɪdaɪt
kəˈrɪə gəʊlz
dɪˈsaɪd ˈɜːli ɒn
ˈkɒntɛnt
pəˈzɪʃən
feɪl tuː ˈækʧʊəlaɪz
əˈtɛmpt
ˈbɪznɪs ˈɛntəpraɪzɪz
trænˈzɪʃ(ə)n frɒm fiːld tuː fiːld
gʊd mæʧ
ʃɔːt-tɜːm ˈsɛtbæks
æmˈbɪʃəs ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz
ɑː fɑː mɔː ˈlaɪkli tuː bɪˈkʌm
əˈsjuːmɪŋ
rɪsks ɑː ˈteɪkən
kəˈrɪə
strɒŋ ˈlaɪklɪhʊd
ˈprɒfɪt
rɪsk-ˈteɪkə
ɪn ˈkwɛsʧən
dɪˈvɛləp
məˈtjʊə ˈpɜːsnl rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪps
kənˈsɜːvətɪv ˈkʌntriz
ˈsɪərɪəs rəʊˈmæntɪk rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪps
ðə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv ðɪs ɪz ðæt
ˌɪməˈtjʊə
pʊə
nɑːˈiːv
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ˈɛntəz ˈɪntuː ˈveərɪəs rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪps θru(ː)ˈaʊt
ˈbɛtə ˈʤʌʤ ɒv ˈkærɪktə
əˈlɛʤdli
sɜːv æz ðə faʊnˈdeɪʃən fɔː
ˈpɜːsnl grəʊθ
ɪnˈkriːst məˈtjʊərɪti
ə ˈkætəlɪst fɔː trɪˈmɛndəs
ədˈvaɪzəbl
ˈmɪtɪgeɪtɪd
ˈkɒntɛksts
ɪˈnɔːdɪnɪtli ˈrɛklɪs
Vocabulary Practice
Some would argue that t________________s, both i____________f one’s p_____________e and one’s w______________r, is a_____________________l. I_________________________________________________n d______o the p_________l for a_________t and g_________h.
Firstly, r__________g can e_________e one’s c__________s. Many workers d______________n that they are c_______t with their p________n in society and therefore often f____________e their potential. Others, however, a_______t various b__________________s and t___________________________d in order to find a g_________h. Although this may lead to s________________________s, in the long-term such a____________________s a_______________________________e very successful in life. A___________g that these r________________n early in one’s c_______r, there is a s_____________d that they will eventually p______t the r___________________________n.
Moreover, an individual who takes risks will also d__________p more m______________________s. In more c____________________________s, many young people do not begin to have s___________________________s until after university. T_________________________t they are often i____________e and it can lead to p____r and n____e choices i________________f marriage and parenting. In contrast, a person who takes risks in their personal life and e____________________________________t high school and university will become a b_________________r. Their a__________y risky behavior can then s_______________________________r p___________________h and i________________y.
In conclusion, taking risks can be a____________________________s growth and is therefore a__________e. The disadvantages of risk-taking can also be m__________d in most c______________s by not being i____________________s.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/passion/202105/how-inspire-yourself-take-risks
Speaking Practice
Life Goals
- How important is it for people to set goals?
- Do people set different goals at different stages of life?
- Are personal goals more important than professional goals?
- What sort of goals do young people today set?
- Are people becoming more pessimistic about their life goals?
Writing Practice
Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always good.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
I see that you mentioned the demerit of taking risks in career aspect, but why did you not discuss the demerits in terms of personal life in your second body paragraph?
There is only so much space and it isn’t necessary in order to fully support my opinion – I can just say that this reason is overwhelmingly more important.
Is that clear, Ailes?
Hi
According to your other post, the advantage outweigh disadvantage question needs both sides of topic.
which one is the correct instruction?
https://howtodoielts.com/ielts-writing-task-2-understanding-questions/
It isn’t absolutely necessary though I would advise it.
The exception is in cases like this question where there is personal and professional – then it makes sense to choose one side so that the development in manageable.
Is that clear?