The knowledge required is amazing, there are two people in my life currently doing level 3 and I'm impressed with the amount of information they are learning. But I find it puzzling that, in the snippets I've seen, so much of the exam is trick questions, in the examples I've seen anyway. Questions worded almost to test English comprehension rather than wine knowledge. I understand that there must be a way to decide who has understood the syllabus and who hasn't and the pass level is relatively low. But surely this would be better based on the knowledge required rather than by finding ways to trick people with wording and sometimes odd use of language? Anyway. As you were.
Thanks for your comment. From helping students through this for the past 10+ years we don't really see "trick" questions as such. The "short answer" is challenging for sure as it's so much different to create a legible answer yourself rather than marking "b" when you see a correct answer in front of you. Some think the occasional detailed questions on Tokaji are trick questions but if you consider the historic notoriety of those wines they are relevant to the world of wine, especially given some unique production methods used. There is an element of luck as there are many versions of the exams and each exam will tend to ask for details on an old world and a new world region. So you may need to write in depth on Rioja from vineyard to winery to legal labeling but not anything on Burgundy and then vice versa on the next exam. If you get the topics you are strong on then you can cruise through it, if they hit you in your weaker spots then not so much. Cheers!
OMG! These strategies are so useful!!!! Thank you for these helpful tips!
Great info. Thanks!🍷
We are glad it was helpful! That tip about sparkling and fortified is so important and often missed. Best of luck in your studies!
Extremely helpful! Thank you! Will be taking the exam in Bordeaux where I live, but your school sounds amazing! 😊
Glad it was helpful! You may be able to find a couple of wines to study with there in Bordeaux. :-)
@@winebeerspirits Haha yes, there's a fair chance of that!
The knowledge required is amazing, there are two people in my life currently doing level 3 and I'm impressed with the amount of information they are learning. But I find it puzzling that, in the snippets I've seen, so much of the exam is trick questions, in the examples I've seen anyway. Questions worded almost to test English comprehension rather than wine knowledge. I understand that there must be a way to decide who has understood the syllabus and who hasn't and the pass level is relatively low. But surely this would be better based on the knowledge required rather than by finding ways to trick people with wording and sometimes odd use of language? Anyway. As you were.
Thanks for your comment. From helping students through this for the past 10+ years we don't really see "trick" questions as such. The "short answer" is challenging for sure as it's so much different to create a legible answer yourself rather than marking "b" when you see a correct answer in front of you. Some think the occasional detailed questions on Tokaji are trick questions but if you consider the historic notoriety of those wines they are relevant to the world of wine, especially given some unique production methods used. There is an element of luck as there are many versions of the exams and each exam will tend to ask for details on an old world and a new world region. So you may need to write in depth on Rioja from vineyard to winery to legal labeling but not anything on Burgundy and then vice versa on the next exam. If you get the topics you are strong on then you can cruise through it, if they hit you in your weaker spots then not so much. Cheers!