Q&A: HOW TO STUDY FOR LEVEL 3 WSET EXAM?
Q: Hi Rachel, I've got my Level 3 WSET exam coming up in three weeks and don't feel ready for the theory portion. We tasted a lot in class and I feel good about my tasting ability. After procrastinating for so long on theory maybe I should just reschedule the exam. What do you think, can I still pass?
A: Thanks for your question! I can definitely relate to your situation. When I was studying for Level 3, it was while I was on a summer contract as a yacht chef. I stayed up late to get an hour or two of reading and flashcards each night, but the exam was coming up fast.
If you can devote a solid block of time each day to your studies, and even more for the week prior to the exam, here's an intensive, fast track plan for your studies.
The #1 challenge here will be to maintain a consistent study practice. This schedule is rigorous but doable, if you are doing a bit each day. If you miss a few days, it will be very difficult to catch up without losing sleep.
Reading & Note Schedule (WSET Understanding Wines textbook)
Below is the full schedule, but before you jump in, I wanted to share a sample of my notes from the latest WSET textbook for Level 3. I allow myself 5 minutes per page, and that means writing fast! I jot down only the key information from each page.
For this note on Beaujolais, I spent less than 5 minutes for the two pages. Yes, that's really quick but you'll need to be going at a pace like this to get through the ~200 pages of material.
Title your sheet with the region name, and reference the page numbers.
Give your notes headings so you can easily review later on. Also, draw graphics, such as the hierarchy for Beaujolais. Making sketches like this help you to retain the information.
Drawings and sketches in your notes help you to retain the information
Week 1 - Read Section 3: Still Wines of the World & Take Notes
This week, you'll cover the still wines of the world from Understanding Wines.
Day 1: pg 77-89 (Introduction to France, Bordeaux, Dordogne & SW France, Burgundy)
Day 2: pg 90-107 (Beaujolais, Alsace, Loire, Rhône, Southern France)
Day 3: pg 108-119 (Germany, Austria, Tokaj, Greece)
Day 4: pg 120-138 (Italy, Spain)
Day 5: pg 139-155 (Portugal, USA, Canada, Chile)
Day 6: pg 156-172 (Argentina, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand)
Day 7: Flex Day - Take a break or review your notes!
Week 2 - Read Sections: 4, 5, 1, 2 & Take NOTES
This week, you'll work through the remaining sections from Understanding Wines.
Day 1: pg 173-183 (Sparkling Wine)
Day 2: pg 184-195 (Sherry, Port, Fortified Muscats)
Day 3: pg 1-18 (Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine, Wine with Food, Storage & Service of Wine)
Day 4: pg 19-32 (Vine, Growing Environment)
Day 5: pg 33-54 (Vineyard Management, Common Elements in Winemaking & Maturation)
Day 6: pg 55-70 (White & Sweet Winemaking, Red & Rosé Winemaking)
Day 7: pg 71-76 (Factors that Affect the Price of Wine, Wine & the Law)
Week 3 - REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW
Devote as much time as possible to your review this week. Remember to get up from your chair each hour to stretch and drink water. Most importantly, get proper sleep each night to be in your best form for exam day.
Below is a sample of how I review before an exam. Taking the WSET Level 3 Specification, open it to the topic you are reviewing. Take a blank page of paper and brainstorm what you can remember for the given subject. Check against your syllabus, and review your notes from weeks 1 & 2 to refresh your memory.
Refer to the Level 3 Specification as you review
Day 1: Review Section 3 - France, Germany, Austria, Tokaj, Greece
Day 2: Review Section 3 - Italy, Spain, Portugal, USA, Canada, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Day 3: Review Sections 4, 5, 1 - Sparkling, Sherry, Port, Fortified Muscats, Wine & the Consumer
Day 4: Review Section 2 - Factors Affecting the Style, Quality & Price of Wine
Day 5: Review Sections 3 & 2
Day 6: Review Sections 3 & 2
Day 7: Exam Day
EXAM WEIGHTING BY LEARNING OUTCOME
Some of the WSET material reads like a stereo manual, so I've parsed through it to decipher what exactly they'll be focusing on in the exam. The five major topics (aka 'Learning Outcomes') are:
Learning Outcome 1: ID the principal natural and human factors in the vineyard and winery that are involved in the production of still wines of the world, and explain how they can influence the style, quality and price of these wines.
Learning Outcome 2: {STILL WINES OF THE WORLD} ID & describe the characteristics of the still wines produced in the principal wine producing regions of the world and explain how the key natural and human factors in the vineyard, winery, law and commerce can influence the style, quality and price of these wines.
Learning Outcome 3: {SPARKLING WINES} ID & describe the characteristics of the principal sparkling wines of the world and explain how the key natural and human factors in the vineyard, winery, law and commerce can influence the style, quality and price of these wines.
Learning Outcome 4: ID & describe the characteristics of the principal fortified wines of the world and explain how the key natural and human factors in the vineyard, winery and law can influence the style, quality and price of these wines.
Learning Outcome 5: {WINE RECOMMENDATIONS/WINE FAULTS/FOOD & WINE PAIRING/SOCIAL & HEALTH ISSUES} Demonstrate the ability to provide information and advice to customers and staff about wines.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
There are four short answer questions on the exam, at 25 marks a piece. Below, you'll see the possible topics.
Takeaways:
-Short answer questions relating to Sparkling and Fortified can appear on only one of the four questions (Weighting 20%)
-Vineyard/Winemaking topics will come up on all four questions (Weighting not specified, assume 100%)
-Still Wines of the World topics can come up on three of the questions (Weighting 70%)
-Wine Recommendations/Wine Faults/Food & Wine Pairing/Social & Health Issues can come up on two of the questions (Weighting 10%)
These are the materials being tested for the short paragraph questions in WSET LEVEL 3 exams
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Remember, you only need 55% to pass, and a third of your theory mark will be made up of multiple choice questions. This means that if you have a familiarity with the textbook, this section should be straightforward (and yes, you should go with your first instinct for multiple choice, unless you are sure you should not change your answer).
There are 50 multiple choice questions on the exam. Below you'll see WSET's breakdown of the exam topics.
Takeaways:
Outcome 1: 16% or 8/50 questions
Outcome 2: {STILL WINES OF THE WORLD} 56% or 28/50 questions
Outcome 3: {SPARKLING WINES} 10% or 5/50 questions
Outcome 4: 10% or 5/50 questions
Outcome 5: {WINE RECOMMENDATIONS/WINE FAULTS/FOOD & WINE PAIRING/SOCIAL & HEALTH ISSUES} 8% or 4/50 questions
These are the weightings for the multiple choice questions in the WSET LEVEL 3 exams
The lesson here if you are very short on study time, is to cover everything, but in particular give focus to Outcome 1: & Outcome 2: {STILL WINES OF THE WORLD}.
If you would like more help with your studies, be sure to check out my Level 3 Theory Prep course, which is chock full review quizzes for the curriculum.
Best of luck with your studies and let me know how it goes!
Cheers & Cin Cin,
Rachel