FCE Writing: PART 1 (Essay)

STYLE: neutral / semi-formal

WORD LIMIT: 140-190 words

TASK TYPE: You’re given an essay title and two ideas clearly linked to the title. You write an essay giving your opinions about the title, using the ideas given. You must also add a third, different idea of your own linked to the title. The title will be a subject of general interest – you won’t need any specialised knowledge.

TIME: 40 minutes

The question: Is it better to start your own business rather than work for a company? Things to write about: 1) which is more secure 2) which will bring a person more money 3) your OWN idea

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Many people value their freedom and independence, so they place it above everything when they hunt for the job of their dreams. But in the end, they realize a mundane job cannot provide these things, so they feel like they're sandwiched between two extreme choices: starting their own business or working for the Man.

Working for a big company is considered a secure job that guarantees a stable income and a predictable career path. If one gets fired or the company goes bankrupt, they can easily find a new job fairly quickly.

Although running a business can earn its proprietor a good income — often several figures, it's quite risky and competitive especially in the early stages. Statistics show that only 10% of entrepreneurs can build a successful business with a decent bottom line.

Besides, what's most important to people is being happy in what they do. Owning a business can be extremely stressful and eats into a huge amount of personal time, trying to orchestrate all the moving parts, which affects one's private life and makes it difficult to find the time to relax.

To recap, finding a regular nine-to-five job is not a bad idea at all in terms of stability and simplicity, even though there's a probability that a business could take off and make one a millionaire. As they say, money can't buy you happiness and it's better to cry in a Porsche than in the subway.

(249w/59m)