To get the best results from your WSET training, it’s important to start preparing not just for the exam, but even before your first classroom session begins.
Here are five simple tips to help you get the most out of your WSET educational journey, laying the foundation for achieving your goals.
1. Understand What You’ll Be Assessed On
Start on the Right Foot by Understanding the Exam Criteria To begin your course in the best way, you need to have a clear understanding of the topics you’ll be assessed on during the exam. The first step is to read the Specification Guide. This document outlines the learning objectives required to pass the exam, explains the exam structure, and details the assessment process.
You don’t need to enroll in a course to access the Specification Guides—they are all available online on our website. Each guide is published on the page dedicated to its respective qualification.
Important: Knowing which topics you’ll be assessed on is the best way to plan your studies effectively, focusing on the real priorities.
2. Read the Textbook Before the Course Begins
For Level 1 qualifications, no prior reading is required, as all the material is covered during the course itself.
For higher levels, however, reading the textbook before attending in-person or online lessons is essential. This will help you maximize your learning and get the most out of your qualification.
For Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, both a textbook and a workbook are provided. Wine School Italia will supply all this material in advance, before the course begins. The textbook covers all the theoretical content assessed in the exam. Keep in mind that WSET classroom lessons are structured with the expectation that students arrive having already read the relevant chapters for each session, whether in-person or online. The lessons are designed for reviewing, refining knowledge, and applying tasting techniques to what has been learned through self-study.
Important: Read the entire textbook before the course begins. Then, before each lesson, review the relevant chapters to reinforce your understanding.
3. Start Building Your Sensory Memory
Even though wine tasting is only assessed in the Level 3 and Level 4 exams, tasting techniques are fundamental across all WSET qualifications. The WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT) is incorporated into every level, progressively helping students develop the ability to assess a wine’s style and quality, while also expanding their descriptive vocabulary.
Tasting is often the most intimidating part for new students. However, practicing is easier than it seems—after all, everyone already has the necessary tools: your nose and your mouth!
Pay closer attention to every glass you pour and take the time to identify whether the aromas remind you of fruits, flowers, spices, grains, or other familiar scents.
If you struggle to connect wine aromas with familiar scents, you’re not alone. The human brain needs to be trained to recognize and associate aromas found in beverages and foods with those in the world around us.
That’s why it’s a great idea to start building your own sensory memory. A walk in the park or a visit to a farmers’ market are excellent places to begin. For a more structured approach, refer to the Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT) for your qualification level and its supporting aroma and flavor lexicon. Using this lexicon will help you familiarize yourself with the key aromas and tastes you’ll encounter in the wines relevant to your course.
Important: Go for a walk, relax, and take in the scents of flowers… and everything else around you!
4. Set Realistic Goals
Time management can be tricky in any task, and procrastination is a common temptation. Try not to fall into this trap.
Before enrolling in a course, make sure you have enough time to dedicate to studying. Each WSET qualification includes a recommended minimum number of study hours to develop the necessary skills to pass the exam. All these requirements are published on our website and in the course specifications.
From Level 2 onwards, some of the study hours are spent in classroom lessons, while the rest require independent study. Create a study schedule and make sure it is realistic based on the recommended study hours for your qualification.
Important: Plan your study schedule by setting specific times each day to dedicate to studying.
5. Find Your Study Method
Maybe you’re one of the lucky few with a photographic memory, but if not (like most people!), it’s important to plan your studies based on your own needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Finding the study method that works best for you will help you save time and energy—and make learning more effective!
If you struggle to stay focused for long periods of reading or revision, plan your study sessions in short but highly focused intervals. If you need a quiet, distraction-free space, make sure it’s available when you study. Your study plan should be tailored to your personal needs to maximize efficiency.
Important: Enjoy the learning process. As Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life!”
By applying these five tips during your pre-course preparation, you’ll lay the best foundation to get the most out of your WSET study journey. Learning about wine and spirits is certainly a challenge, but it’s also an enjoyable journey—and without a doubt, one of the most rewarding experiences many of us have had the pleasure to embark on.
