WSET L3 Tasting Exam Grading and how to get full marks
Understanding how the WSET L3 Tasting Exam is assessed can significantly increase your chances of success.
The examination will consist of two blind wines and will assess a candidate’s ability to accurately describe a wine and draw conclusions based on these observations. The tasting examination must be completed in 30 minutes.
In order to get full marks, you need to closely follow the L3 Systematic Approach to Tasting - marks are awarded based on how accurately and consistently you apply it.
This is how marks are distributed:
The tasting exam is worth 41 marks in total. To pass the tasting paper, you need at least 55% (i.e., 23/50).
Key points and tips
There is no negative marking -> make sure to cover all points
There are items with no marks available: clarity, other observations, condition, mousse. While it is important to be aware of them for assessment of wine in general, these are not examinable.
No fortified wines / sparkling wines / faulty wines
No retail price identification
No identification of the origin of wine
No need to write in full sentences (but a good habit to get into)
Marks awarded for descriptors only (e.g. peach, lemon, smoke, ginger. No marks are awarded for listing clusters e.g. stone fruit, citrus fruit, oak)
Use correct terminology: e.g. high acidity. ‘crisp’ acidity = no mark
Not every wine has to have primary, secondary and tertiary characteristics
Some outstanding wines can just have primary characteristics (e.g. Eiswein)
Simple wines (neutral, generic, lacking distinct varietal expression)
Marks awarded for aromas and flavours separately ( writing ’palate the same as nose’=0 marks)
Watch this video for more tips on how to taste wine the WSET way.
Comment if you have any more questions on the subject.