Welcome to our WSET questions and answers hub. If you are thinking about a WSET course in Manchester, or you have already booked and want to know what to expect, this is the place to get clear, honest answers.
Below you will find the questions our students ask most, covering the different levels, the exams, pass marks, revision and booking. Founder and WSET Certified Educator John Callow and our team teach these courses week in and week out, so everything here reflects how WSET really works in the classroom, not just on paper.
Looking for actual practice questions to test yourself? Go straight to our WSET practice questions and study guides, or read on for answers to everything else.
WSET stands for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, the world’s leading provider of wine, spirits and sake qualifications. Its awards are recognised across hospitality and the drinks trade around the globe. When you pass, you earn a qualification that employers and fellow enthusiasts genuinely respect.
For most people, yes. A WSET qualification is recognised worldwide, so it can open doors at work and give you real confidence when you talk about wine. Whether you want a career step or simply deeper enjoyment of what is in your glass, there is a level to match.
You can study four drink categories with us under one roof. Take a look at our wine courses, spirits courses, sake courses and beer courses. Most people begin with wine, but you are welcome to start wherever your curiosity takes you.
No. The WSET Level 1 Award in Wines is designed for complete beginners, with no entry requirements at all. Even Level 2 welcomes newcomers, as it does not assume you have taken Level 1 first.
Level 1 is your gentle introduction to the main styles of wine and how to taste. Level 2 goes deeper into grape varieties, regions and the factors that shape style, quality and price. Level 3 is the advanced level for serious study and trade roles. If you already know your way around a wine list, Level 2 is often the better place to begin.
Yes. You do not need Level 1 to enrol on Level 2, although Level 2 does build on those foundations. Plenty of our students with a real interest in wine start at Level 2 and do very well.
Level 2 gives you confident, working knowledge across the world’s main wines. Level 3 is a clear step up in depth and challenge, with detailed study of how wine is made and a professional blind tasting element. You should hold Level 2 or have strong existing knowledge before taking it.
They are very achievable with a little preparation. Level 1 is a gentle thirty-question paper, Level 2 steps up the detail, and Level 3 is genuinely challenging with its blind tasting and written sections. Most people who attend the sessions and use the revision resources pass comfortably.
The Level 1 Wines exam is a thirty-question multiple-choice paper, and you need 70 percent or above to pass. Classroom students sit it at the end of the day, and online students take it remotely. It is a friendly first step rather than something to fear.
The Level 2 Wines exam is a fifty-question multiple-choice paper lasting one hour, and you need 55 percent to pass. Higher scores earn a pass with merit or a pass with distinction, so there is plenty to aim for. Curious what you will taste along the way? Our blog on the wines you taste at Level 2 gives you a flavour.
Level 3 has a two-part exam that must be taken in person. The first part is a blind tasting of two wines. The second is a fifty-question multiple-choice paper plus four short written answers, and you need 55 percent in every section to pass.
They follow their own structures, though the principle is similar. The spirits exams at Levels 1 and 2 use a multiple-choice format much like the wine awards, and you can see the detail on our spirits courses pages. Sake has its own pathway too, from the WSET Level 1 Award in Sake through to the Certified Sake Sommelier.
Level 1 is graded as a pass or a fail. Level 2 and Level 3 are graded as a pass, a pass with merit or a pass with distinction, which gives you something to push for if you enjoy a challenge.
You can resit. For Level 1 and Level 2, resits can be taken online, which keeps things flexible. If exams make you nervous, our study guides are built to get you exam-ready and calm on the day.
Yes. Everyone who passes receives an official WSET certificate and lapel pin, along with the right to use the matching WSET Certified logo. It is a recognised mark of what you have achieved.
We created our own WSET practice questions and revision resources to help you prepare with confidence. You can also explore our wines study guides, spirits study guides and sake study guides, each packed with mock tests and chapter-by-chapter activities. Our A to Z wine glossary is a handy companion, too, whenever a tricky term comes up in your reading.
No, and we are always upfront about this. WSET does not release its real exam questions. Our guides are written by our own educators to mirror the style of the real thing, drawing on years of teaching these courses week after week.
They are free for Northern Wine School students who book a course with us, which is one of the reasons so many learners come back for the next level. If you are studying elsewhere, you can buy access on a monthly basis instead.
Level 1 can be completed in as little as a day, while Level 3 asks for at least fifty four hours of private study because of the depth involved. The more demanding the level, the more your revision pays off, and our guides help you make that time really count.
Most of our Manchester classroom courses run at The Castlefield Hotel in the city centre, a short walk from Piccadilly station. We also run selected courses in Liverpool and through the WSET online classroom, so you can learn in the room with us or from the comfort of home.
Prices start from around £260 for Level 1 Wines, from £530 for Level 2 Wines and from £970 for Level 3 Wines. Always check the course page for the latest pricing and dates, as these can change. You can also save when you book ahead with our course bundle deals.
Yes. Level 1 and Level 2 are available through the WSET online classroom, and you can sit those exams remotely too. It is a flexible way to learn around work, family and everything else.
Yes. There is wine tasting involved in our courses, so you need to be eighteen or over to take part.
For anything practical we have not covered here, from gift bookings to payment options, our main FAQs page has you covered.
Ready to begin? Find your level on our wine courses page, or contact us with any questions at all. If you would rather dip a toe in first, a relaxed wine tasting evening is a lovely way to start, and our blogs on wine tasting etiquette and storing wine at home help you build confidence along the way. Bring yourself and a sense of fun and adventure, and we will bring the rest.
Wine tasting in Manchester comes in many forms, from a fun evening with friends to a professional WSET qualification. At...
