WSET Level 3 Results

So I had been waiting patiently for my Level 3 Results all summer and got home last week to see a large envelope waiting for me outside my flat...

My stomach turned flips as I wondered, 'would send me an envelope that large if I had only passed half of the exam?'

I put my bags down and stood at the kitchen counter and gently opened the envelope.

I slid out two pieces of paper and a small pin badge. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I saw I had passed the exam WITH MERIT!!!

Whilst I was pretty sure I had passed the tasting and the multiple choice questions, as you know from my post directly after the exam, I was really worried about the essay questions part of the exam. But obviously it was unfounded.

So I opened a bottle of Cotes Du Rhone (my celebratory Ridgeview not being chilled to the correct temperature) called my parents, text my friends and shared on Facebook - whilst basking in my glory!

Level 3 was tough in places for me - just the sheer amount of things to remember was the toughest part I would say. However I would definitely recommend the course (and all of the WSET courses) if you are a keen/serious amateur.

WSET has taught me so much about wine, and I feel I am making much better choices now in the wine I buy for myself at home and in restaurants and bars. Before I buy or try by looking at where in the world it is from, I now have much more of an idea about what it will taste like and whether I will like it. Even if I don't like it, I can appreciate that it is a good example of it's type (Beaujolais I'm talking about you). I almost always ask to try wine before I get a glass in a bar, and don't mind asking for something else if it isn't for me. I also have the slightly daunting task of being given the wine list by friends wherever we go...

Whilst the Diploma (Level 4) looks amazing, it's not something I want to do to at the moment. At over 18 months (if you do it for an evening a week) and over £3000, it is a serious commitment. Knowing how I struggled to remember all of the regions for Level 3, I do wonder if it would be too tough. Maybe in the future?

For now I am going to keep on enjoying new wines and new regions whilst continuing to expand my knowledge on wines. Oh and I also have to plan trips to Porto and Bordeaux next year...

For more information on WSET Level 3 go to:
https://www.wsetglobal.com/qualifications/wset-level-3-award-in-wines/

WSET Level 3 Exam

So I had my WSET Level 3 exam this week - Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

I had done a fair amount of prep for the exam, but am so out of practice for exams, (having left university 20 years ago now) that I found it quite hard going.

As I've mentioned before the Level 3 course is quite a step up from the Level 2 in terms of intensity and how much you have to remember. With only one set of mock essay questions and mock multiple choice questions in our study material, it was hard to get into the zone. I really would have appreciated more mock questions, and probably a mock essay exam in the classroom under examination conditions to help me prep. There were a few videos in the online classroom, but again it would have been useful to have a video to watch at least for every week of the course.

How anyone does this course and passes in 5 days I don't know. I would definitely recommend the 16 week, one night a week option as the best way to go (particularly if you aren't in the industry and you have a full time job as there is a lot to remember).

I genuinely don't know if I passed, although of course I hope I did. I think the tasting went ok, as did the multiple choice paper, but I found some of the essay questions difficult. Some of them because I couldn't remember facts (bloody Italy is my nemesis), but mainly I struggled to articulate all the salient facts into very small answer boxes.

I guess I'm just out of practice of writing exams...Anyway only 8 weeks till I find out the result, which I will share on here whether it's good news, or if I have to retake...

Keep your fingers crossed for me. In  the mean time, it frees me up to try more wines and go to different wine bars in the city now summer has arrived.

https://www.wsetglobal.com/qualifications/wset-level-3-award-in-wines-and-spirits/