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.
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.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
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