WSET Level 3 Award in Wines: top tips for success

I passed the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines back in 2018 and immediately jumped into the Diploma. Fast forward to today, and I am in stage 2 of the Master of Wine program, as well as a certified WSET educator. Over the years, I have compiled a number of tips and hints to help my students feel more confident heading into their exams, and I figured I might as well share with you all as well!

First, a quick overview of the exam. Level 3 is the first time WSET students encounter tasting as part of the exam, although they have been introduced to the Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT) at levels 1 and 2 as well -- each level builds on the one before, adding more options and depth to the resulting tasting notes. I'll be the first to say that the SAT is not a perfect solution to taking an incredibly subjective experience (tasting wine) and trying to make it objective enough for a marker to grade. However, the SAT does supply a common language for my students and I to use when discussing a wine, and students have the opportunity to calibrate (learn high acid from medium+ acid, for example) throughout the course. So, for the exam, students taste wine wines and write a tasting note based on the SAT, and they have 30 minutes, or 15 minutes per wine, to do so. As the exam proctor, I also taste the wines and write my notes so that marking is based on how the wine presented on the day of the exam, not how it should theoretically taste. Most students focus a lot on the tasting portion of the exam, but really, it has a pretty decent pass rate -- more on this in a bit.

The theory part of the exam is a mix of multiple choice and short answer questions (to be completed within a two hour time frame). The short answer part is where many students struggle, so that's where I've focused a lot of my advice.

Theory

Everyone focuses on the tasting portion of the exam – this is the first time in the WSET curriculum that you’re tested on tasting, and that can be intimidating. However, you’ll have all semester to practice tasting and to calibrate with your instructor (for in person classes).

Students need to focus much more on theory instead of focusing almost exclusively on tasting. The level 3 exam consists of a multiple choice section and a short answer section. I have heard many students share that the multiple choice was tougher than they’d anticipated. While the questions are fair, and come straight from the text, they are meant to be tricky. The short answer section is the most challenging for students. Preparing for these by doing practice answers and getting instructor feedback is one of the best ways to ensure success on the exam. Understanding what the WSET is asking and testing you on, and how they want you to answer, is really key – exam strategy is almost as important as understanding the material.

WSET 3 is all about understanding the ‘why’ and how the decisions made in the vineyard and winemaking related to the quality, style, and price of the wine.  

Things to think about when connecting factors to final style:

-Natural factors in the vineyard (climate, latitude, altitude, water, soil, etc.)

-Human factors in the vineyard (managing the vine and maintaining hazards and pests, etc.)

-Human factors in the winery (winemaking, blending, aging, packaging, etc.)

Also, good to note -- there is always a short essay question focused on fortified or sparkling, so make sure you spend time reviewing the different styles and how they are achieved.

Tips for passing the WSET Level 3 Short Answer

• Take time to think about the question and make sure you understand what you’re being asked.

  • Try circling or underlining the command verbs and any other relevant terms in the question.

  • Take a moment to outline the key points you want to cover to help you stay on course.

  • Pay attention to how many marks are assigned to each section, and try to say that many relevant things on the topic. This will help guide the length of your response and help you stay on topic.

• Answer the question! This isn’t time for a brain dump on everything you know on the topic – make sure your answers are relevant to the question.

• Tie your answers to style, quality, and price whenever possible (this is how to reach distinction level marks).

• Deciphering the command verbs in the question:

  • Discuss – a simple, surface level discussion

  • Explain – going deeper

  • Evaluate – think pros and cons

  • Compare and contrast – make sure to do both!

• Here’s some good guidance from the WSET directly.

• Don’t panic!

A few quick notes on the multiple choice – take time to read the question carefully and don’t jump to conclusions. Answer the questions you feel most confident right away in order to be efficient with time. For the questions you’re unsure about, start by eliminating the answers you know are wrong and work from there. Be sure to mark the correct space on your answer sheet! (Sounds obvious, but when you’re skipping around the paper and under exam pressure, it can be easy to mismark and get off track.)

Study tips – look at the specification and understand how the material is broken down (by learning outcome), and make sure to allocate time accordingly!

Tasting Tips

Pay attention to how many points are allocated for each section (appearance, nose, palate, and so forth) -- this is a good way to check yourself and make sure you're not forgetting to comment on something, and thereby leaving points on the table.

Assessing age-ability

For a wine to be ageable, it must improve with time in the bottle. For that to happen, it needs to start with some basic structural components.

• Concentration and Complexity – is there enough flavor now to hold up as it fades with time in the bottle? Will tertiary notes that emerge as the wine ages add to the interest and enjoyment of the wine?

• Preservation – tannin, acidity, and/or sugar – Two or more is ideal, one may work

• Intention – is this meant to be refreshing and enjoyed young? 

If the wine is concentrated, complex, and has the structure required, it is suitable for aging. If it is simple, fresh/refreshing, and lacking in these components, it is meant to drink now, not suitable for aging. Furthermore, consider if the wine has already developed tertiary notes -- is it fully developed, or can it continue to improve?

Assessing quality – the BLIC method

B – balance – does any element stand out, making the wine less pleasant? Examples includes acidity so high it is harsh, acidity too low, making the wine flabby, high alcohol that is not well integrated, making the wine seem ‘hot,’ sweetness not balanced by acidity and becoming cloying

L – length – how long is the finish? If the finish is long, is it long and interesting, or does one element linger but in an unenjoyable manner?

I – intensity – did the wine earn a medium+ or above on both aromatic and flavor intensity?

C – complexity – are there primary, secondary, and tertiary notes? Several (3+) flavor clusters? Or is it ‘simple’?

(T) – typicity – reference the above first, but if you feel strongly that a wine is a higher quality but not meeting these standards (mainly, it is simple) you may be able to award a point for typicity. Example: an Italian Pinot Grigio may be simple, but that is exactly what the winemaker intended and it is an excellent benchmark example of the style – then it could get a point for typicity.

None of the above: Poor (will not be used on an exam)

One: Acceptable

Two: Good

Three: Very Good

Four: Outstanding

I hope these tips and tricks help you feel more confident ahead of upcoming exams! Students can book time with me through Vine Lab (the local WSET provider where I freelance teach). If you have something particular to discuss, reach out and we'll come up with a plan!

WSET L3 is a deep dive into wine, and can be a suprising step up from level 2 (I know I felt overwhelmed at first!).