Wine Courses

Out of the three sections of the WSET Level 3 exam, it is the essay portion that terrified me the most.

Why? Well, a few reasons.

First, WSET multiple-choice exams only have four possible answers, and you can likely deduce the right answer in many cases. Even without that, I'll take a 25% chance of being right over 0% any day.

Second, the WSET Level 3 tasting exam follows the Systematic Approach to Tasting lexicon. Again, simply using the right words and being in the ballpark will get you pretty far in this one (we discuss more about why in the previous article).

But for the essay, you're on your own. And with just “four” questions at 25 points each, well, things can go south in a hurry. Don't worry, though, as we've got some tips to help you prepare!

Note: I took the WSET Level 3 exam in April 2021. Test material and structure can and does change over time. I passed the theory portion with distinction.

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WSET Level 3 is an intense 10-week wine course that dives into many elements of wines of the world.

As we've talked about WSET courses many times on this site, in this one we wanted to turn our attention to the exams specifically. Unlike the exams for WSET Level 1 and WSET Level 2, which have multiple-choice sections only, WSET Level 3 consists of a tasting exam and essay portion as well.

So here, we wanted to dive a bit more into the WSET Level 3 tasting exam- what you can expect and tips and tricks on preparing.

Hint: it involves drinking wine!

Note: I took the WSET Level 3 exam in April 2021. Test material and structure can and does change over time. I passed the tasting portion with merit.

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When it comes to taking WSET wine courses, the fun part is learning about wine (plus tastings, naturally). But as with any good course, there is one aspect of it that most students dread- the final exam.

I know we were afraid of our WSET Level 2 exam after hearing some stories about questions on it, and I was equally afraid of my Level 3 exam for similar reasons.

But in a way, whether you are taking Level 1, 2, or 3 is a bit immaterial as the multiple-choice exam for each level follows a similar setup and logic system (although note that Level 3 has other exam components that we will discuss in separate articles). As far as the exam is concerned, the main difference between levels is simply the sheer number of topics that you may be asked about- Level 3 is more robust than Level 2 which is more involved than Level 1.

Overall, the same basic structure applies. So in this one, we wanted to share a bit more of the logic that goes into the multiple-choice WSET exams, and the best way to approach them independent of the level you are studying for.

Before jumping into things, we have a few upfront notes you need to keep in mind. First, we are not affiliated with WSET other than being students. Likewise, we skipped WSET Level 1 and do not have experience with the exact exam. Finally, we both took our Level 2 in 2020 and I took Level 3 in 2021. Testing structures and content can and does change regularly. As such, any individual concept below should be discussed with your instructor.

Note: Test material and structure can and does change over time. I took Level 2 in late 2020 and Level 3 in early 2021. I passed all theory portions with distinction.

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If you are looking to take a formal wine education course, odds are good you've come across the Wine And Spirit Education Trust– or WSET for short. This London-based school has programs for wine, spirits, and even beer and sake that are taught by instructors all over the world.

One of the highlights of WSET over other courses is that the material is presented in a way that is friendly to both consumers and those employed in the hospitality industry. So whether you're looking to increase your knowledge for personal use or need to learn more for your job, WSET will deliver on both ends.

As Angie and I are past students of WSET Level 2 in wine, and I have completed Level 3 and WSET Diploma (often referred to as Level 4), we thought it'd be appropriate to break down what you can expect in each level. This should not only help guide you on which level you may want to start at (as we skipped Level 1), but also give you an idea of how far you may wish to go based on your interest level in wine.

Let's get started discussing WSET Level 1!

Note: Test material and structure can and does change over time. I took and passed Level 2 in late 2020, Level 3 in early 2021, and WSET Diploma in 2021-2023.

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