W2 presents a situation and two options. You must choose one and explain why. The task rewards clarity of position and structured reasoning more than fancy vocabulary.
The template
- P1 — Position: state clearly which option you pick and preview your 2 reasons.
- P2 — Reason 1 + example: 'To begin with, …'
- P3 — Reason 2 + example: 'In addition, …'
- P4 — Concession + restate: 'While the other option has merit, …'
The 5 linking phrases graders love
- 'To begin with…' / 'First of all…' — introduces reason 1
- 'In addition…' / 'Furthermore…' — introduces reason 2
- 'For instance…' / 'A clear example is…' — introduces an example
- 'While it is true that…' — introduces the concession
- 'For these reasons…' / 'All things considered…' — concludes
Worked example
Prompt: Your company is considering either (A) offering all employees an extra week of vacation, or (B) giving a 5% salary bonus. Which do you recommend?
I recommend offering employees an extra week of vacation (Option A) rather than a 5% salary bonus. This choice is better for long-term productivity and staff retention. To begin with, additional vacation time directly reduces burnout. After a relaxing week, employees return to their roles more focused and creative. A clear example is my previous workplace, which introduced an extra rest week and saw sick days drop by nearly 20% over the following quarter. Furthermore, time off is often valued more than a small raise. A 5% bonus, while pleasant, is quickly absorbed into routine expenses. A week of vacation, on the other hand, creates meaningful memories with family and is remembered long after. While it is true that a bonus offers immediate financial benefit, the gains to health and motivation from additional vacation last far longer. For these reasons, I strongly recommend Option A.
Common W2 mistakes
- Choosing both options or sitting on the fence — automatic score drop
- Writing under 150 words — underdevelopment penalty
- Using only one reason and padding it — graders count 2 distinct reasons
- Skipping the concession paragraph — it's a signal of CLB 9+ thinking