Describe a time you took a risk that ended well.
This test has appeared in 5 seasons · 2 reported by test takers
- May–Aug/2025
- Jan–Apr/2025
- Sep–Dec/2024
- May–Aug/2024
- Jan–Apr/2024
Reported by test takers Forecast only
Part 1
The examiner asks about you and two familiar topics. About 4–5 minutes.
Your home town
- Where is your home town? (Tell me more about that.)
- What do you like most about it? (Tell me more about that.)
- Has it changed much since you were a child? (Why is that?)
- Would you like to live there in the future? (Why is that?)
Jewellery
- Do you wear any jewellery? (Why is that?)
- What kind of jewellery do people in your country like? (Tell me more about that.)
- Have you ever been given jewellery as a present? (Why is that?)
- Do you think jewellery is a good gift? (Why is that?)
Borrowing and lending
- Do you often borrow things from other people? (Why is that?)
- What kind of things do you lend to your friends? (Tell me more about that.)
- Have you ever lent something and not got it back? (Why is that?)
- Do you think it is a good idea to lend money to friends? (Why is that?)
Part 2
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a time you took a risk that ended well.
You should say:
- what the risk was
- why you decided to take it
- what could have gone wrong
and explain how it turned out well.
Follow-up question after your talk: Would you take a similar risk again? / Did anyone advise you against it?
Part 3
A broader, more abstract discussion of the Part 2 topic. About 4–5 minutes.
why people take risks
- Can you explain why some people are much more willing to take risks than others?
- In general, what kinds of risks do young people in your country take?
- How would you contrast the way young people treat risk and the way older people do?
risk and safety rules
- Can you describe the small risks children should be allowed to take as they grow up?
- In general, how far should a government go to keep people safe?
- Can you speculate on how people's attitude to risk will change as daily life becomes safer?
Test titles follow test-taker reports and each season's forecasts — IELTS does not publish its papers. "Reported" means someone reported meeting this topic in a dated test. The questions are written by us in the format of the real test.