Band 7 Example
Topic: Describe a risk you took that you thought would lead to a terrible result but ended up with a good result
Example
Starting a New Business When you took the risk I'm going to talk about the time I decided to start my own business, which was about three years ago. I had been working in a corporate job for several years and felt it was time for a change. Why you took the risk The main reason I took the risk was that I wanted to pursue my passion for graphic design more seriously. I had been doing freelance work on the side while working my full-time job, and the feedback from clients was overwhelmingly positive. This gave me the confidence to think that maybe I could make it on my own. How it went The initial months were incredibly challenging. Setting up the business, finding clients, and managing finances were all new to me, and there were many moments of doubt. However, as I started to get more clients and my portfolio grew, things began to stabilize. Now, three years later, I have a steady stream of clients and have even been able to hire a small team to help me. And explain how you felt about it Taking this risk was one of the most nerve-wracking yet exhilarating decisions of my life. There was a lot of uncertainty, and the fear of failure was always lurking in the background. However, the satisfaction of building something from scratch and seeing it succeed has been incredibly rewarding. It has not only improved my professional skills but has also given me a greater sense of autonomy and fulfillment in my work. The journey has been a mix of highs and lows, but I feel proud and grateful for having taken that leap of faith.
Grammar Analysis
The response effectively uses a variety of grammatical structures to convey the narrative clearly and engagingly: 1. **Past Perfect Continuous**: "I had been working in a corporate job," which sets the background of the speaker's experience. 2. **Past Simple and Present Perfect**: Transitioning from past actions to current results, e.g., "I decided to start my own business" and "I have a steady stream of clients." 3. **Conditional Sentences**: Reflecting hypothetical situations and outcomes, such as "maybe I could make it on my own." 4. **Complex Sentences**: These are used to add depth and detail, for example, "Taking this risk was one of the most nerve-wracking yet exhilarating decisions of my life."
Vocabulary
  • - **Pursue**: Indicates a strong intention or goal, enhancing the motivational aspect of the decision.
  • - **Overwhelmingly positive**: Strong phrase that emphasizes the extent of good feedback, boosting the justification for the risk.
  • - **Challenging**: Describes the difficulty faced, which adds to the narrative of overcoming obstacles.
  • - **Stabilize**: Indicates achieving a state of balance, important in a business context to denote success.
  • - **Nerve-wracking**: Conveys intense emotional experience, making the story more relatable and dramatic.
  • - **Exhilarating**: Contrasts with nerve-wracking to show the dual emotions involved in taking risks.
  • - **Autonomy**: Highlights the personal growth and independence gained from the experience.
  • - **Leap of faith**: A phrase that encapsulates the essence of taking a significant risk without a guarantee of success, effectively summarizing the emotional journey.