Some people like to do only what they already do well. Other people prefer to try new things and take risks. Which one do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
Sample Response
Since time immemorial, some men have thought differently, accepted challenges to solve a problem or taken a different course of action and have come up with great inventions or novel discoveries as a result. Broadly speaking, there are two types of people: first - those who prefer to take risks and try and build new things; and second - those who do what they do best and are content with the regular results. I prefer the first type of people and always aspire to learn new things and take on challenges.
In today's world, where there is an ocean of information available at our fingertips, remaining the same and doing the same things is pretty mundane and a matter of setback. Through technology, we are exposed to different cultures and global events. This motivates me to feed my hunger to know and learn more, to visit places that are daring and daunting to many, and take up challenges to solve problems. The Internet is also a great medium for learning and gaining skills and finding out our true potential. For instance, I was doing well in an investment bank but was always intrigued by the payments industry specifically the digital wallet space. I took a risk a year back and changed my career path in the Digital wallet industry. I am learning new things every day and enjoying my work to the fullest.
To look at it from a different perspective, without taking the risk, we would not know what is lying beyond. There can be a rainbow of possibilities which might open up only if we take the first step forward. This does not mean that you would be successful on your first attempt and thus demands consistent pursuit. To supplement this with an example, a friend of mine was stagnant in his career and was unhappy with his monotonous job. With the advice of friends he took risks and ventured into a new business. He realised that he was doing very good and took the business as a full-time career. Thus, according to me trying new things and taking calculated risks is always beneficial.
To conclude, I believe that we are in this world to create and transform things from their present state to make the world a better place. While trying new things sharpens our creativity, it teaches us new skills as well. I prefer a life full of challenges, possibilities and excitement to having a banal and monotonous life.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Fix list punctuation Original: first - those Suggested revision: first, those Why it matters: A comma, rather than a spaced hyphen, should introduce the first item in this paired list.
- 2. Use infinitive structure Original: and Suggested revision: to Why it matters: Try to build is the standard construction for attempting an action.
- 3. Clarify predictable outcome Original: the regular results Suggested revision: predictable results Why it matters: Predictable expresses the contrast with risk-taking more precisely than regular.
- 4. Remove repeated noun Original: the first type of people Suggested revision: the first type Why it matters: People is already understood from the preceding classification.
- 5. Use academic metaphor Original: an ocean of information Suggested revision: a wealth of information Why it matters: A wealth of information is a conventional formal expression for abundant knowledge.
- 6. Use formal intensifier Original: pretty mundane Suggested revision: rather monotonous Why it matters: Rather is more appropriate than conversational pretty in an academic essay.
- 7. Fix setback collocation Original: a matter of setback Suggested revision: a source of stagnation Why it matters: A matter of setback is not idiomatic, while stagnation matches the idea of remaining unchanged.
- 8. Refine desire phrase Original: feed my hunger to know and learn more Suggested revision: satisfy my desire to learn more Why it matters: The revised collocation is natural and avoids repeating know and learn.
- 9. Fix place description Original: places that are daring and daunting to many Suggested revision: places that many people consider daunting Why it matters: A place can be daunting, while daring describes a person or action.
- 10. Keep infinitives parallel Original: and take up challenges Suggested revision: and to take on challenges Why it matters: The added to keeps this item parallel with the preceding infinitive phrases.
- 11. Clarify coordinated activities Original: learning and gaining skills and finding out Suggested revision: learning, developing skills, and discovering Why it matters: The revision creates a clear parallel list and uses more precise verbs.
- 12. Use standard time phrase Original: back Suggested revision: ago Why it matters: A year ago is the standard expression for a past point in time.
Suggested Rewrites
- first - those first, those
- and to
- the regular results predictable results
- the first type of people the first type
- an ocean of information a wealth of information
- pretty mundane rather monotonous
Why this response received Band 7.5
The essay’s strongest feature is its clear, sustained preference for trying new things, supported by two specific career examples that demonstrate learning, fulfilment, and new opportunities. Its main limitation is occasional overstatement and awkward figurative phrasing, which makes an otherwise persuasive argument less precise; prioritise concise causal explanation and natural academic wording while retaining the concrete personal evidence.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response fully answers the choice question, maintains a clear preference, and develops relevant reasons through detailed personal and observed examples.
Acknowledge briefly that calculated risks require preparation, then explain how that condition strengthens rather than weakens the preference.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay progresses logically from its position through two complementary examples to a focused conclusion, with only occasional repetitive or cumbersome linking.
Shorten transition phrases such as “To look at it from a different perspective” and “To supplement this with an example” to make progression more direct.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is broad and flexible, including effective choices such as “intrigued,” “stagnant,” and “monotonous,” though several collocations and metaphors are awkward.
Replace phrases such as “a matter of setback,” “feed my hunger to know,” and “a rainbow of possibilities” with precise, restrained alternatives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide variety of complex sentences is generally accurate, with occasional parallelism, article, preposition, and reference errors.
Maintain parallel verb forms, add needed commas after opening phrases, and use forms such as “changed careers to enter” and “was doing very well.”
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
IELTS Writing Task 2
Some people like to do only what they already do well. Other people prefer to try new things and take risks. Which one do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.