WSET, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, is a London-based awarding body whose wine qualifications run in four levels: Level 1 for complete beginners, Level 2 for keen drinkers and new trade staff, Level 3 for serious enthusiasts and professionals, and the Level 4 Diploma for those aiming at expert status. WSET writes the syllabus and exams, while approved programme providers around the world teach the courses, in classrooms and online.
Below, each level gets its own section: who it suits, what you learn, how long it takes and what the exam looks like. Figures come from WSET's published course pages and specifications, which change from time to time, so confirm details with your provider.
What is WSET?
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust was founded in London in 1969 and is an awarding body, which means it writes the syllabus, sets the exams and issues the certificates. In England its qualifications are regulated by Ofqual, the government exams regulator. Approved programme providers, from wine schools to colleges, run the courses in many countries and languages.
WSET offers qualifications in spirits and sake too, but the wine route is the one most people mean. It is built around knowledge: what makes a wine taste the way it does, where it comes from and how to describe it. Each level uses a version of the Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine, or SAT, a fixed checklist for judging a wine's look, smell and taste. If tasting notes feel like a foreign language, our guide on how to taste wine covers the basics.
Level
Best for
Typical study time (WSET minimum)
Exam format
Prerequisite
Level 1 Award in Wines
Complete beginners, new hospitality staff
6 hours, often a single day
30 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes
None
Level 2 Award in Wines
Keen drinkers, people starting in the wine trade
28 hours, including 16 taught hours
50 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour
None
Level 3 Award in Wines
Serious enthusiasts, sommeliers, trade buyers
84 hours, including 30 taught hours
50 multiple-choice and 4 short written answers in 2 hours, plus a blind tasting of two wines
Level 2 or equivalent knowledge recommended
Level 4 Diploma in Wines
Wine professionals, future Masters of Wine
500 hours over 18 months to 3 years
Six units: written exams, blind tastings and a research assignment
Level 3 Award in Wines (or Wines and Spirits)
WSET Level 1 Award in Wines
Who it is for: anyone new to wine. It suits curious drinkers and people starting a job in a bar, restaurant or shop.
What it covers: the main types and styles of wine, common grapes and what they taste like, how to store and serve wine, the basic principles of food and wine pairing, and how to describe a wine using the Level 1 SAT. If you have read our wine for beginners guide, you will recognise a lot of the ground.
Study time: WSET puts the total at 6 hours, all of it guided learning with a provider, and that includes the 45-minute exam. In a classroom this is often a single day; online versions spread it over a few days or weeks.
Prerequisites: none. You do need to be of legal drinking age in the country where you take the course to join in any tasting.
Exam: a closed-book paper of 30 multiple-choice questions, completed in 45 minutes. The pass mark is 70 per cent, so 21 correct answers, and the result is simply pass or fail. There is no tasting in the exam.
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines
Who it is for: beginners who want more depth and people building on Level 1. WSET calls it a beginner to intermediate qualification for both the trade and enthusiasts, and it is a popular choice for people working in wine shops and restaurants.
What it covers: tasting with the SAT, then eight principal grapes in detail: Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris), Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah (Shiraz). Around them sit 22 regionally important grapes and more than 70 geographical indications, which are legally protected place names such as Rioja or Chablis. You also meet sparkling wines like Champagne, fortified wines like Port, label terms, storage, service and food pairing.
Study time: a minimum of 28 hours: 16 hours with a provider, 11 hours of personal study and revision, and the 1-hour exam. Classroom courses often run over three days or a series of evenings, while online courses tend to last several weeks.
Prerequisites: none. Level 1 helps, but you can start here.
Exam: one hour, closed book, 50 multiple-choice questions and no tasting. You need 55 per cent to pass, 70 per cent for a merit and 85 per cent for a distinction.
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines
Who it is for: serious enthusiasts and people working in wine, such as sommeliers, buyers and educators. WSET describes it as an advanced qualification, and the jump in workload from Level 2 is large.
What it covers: the reasons behind a wine's style and quality. You study how location, grape growing, winemaking, maturation and bottling shape still, sparkling and fortified wines, and you learn to explain your conclusions in writing. Our page on how wine is made is a gentle preview. Tasting moves up a gear too, with the Level 3 SAT asking you to judge quality and readiness for drinking, not just describe what you find.
Study time: a minimum of 84 hours, of which 30 are taught by a provider. The rest is reading and tasting at home.
Prerequisites: WSET recommends holding Level 2 or showing equivalent knowledge. Some providers set their own rules, so ask before you book.
Exam: two parts. The theory paper lasts two hours and contains 50 multiple-choice questions plus four short written answer questions, and you need at least 55 per cent on each section. The tasting paper is a blind tasting of two still wines in 30 minutes: you write a full tasting note on each without knowing what is in the glass, and need 55 per cent across the two. Merit and distinction grades are available.
The written answers are where Level 3 catches people out. Practise explaining why, not just what: why a cool climate gives high acidity, why oak changes texture.
WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines
Who it is for: people who want expert-level knowledge, usually wine professionals. WSET calls it a key milestone for anyone hoping to become a Master of Wine, a separate title awarded by the Institute of Masters of Wine.
What it covers: six compulsory units, each examined separately:
D1 Wine production (20 per cent): grape growing and winemaking, assessed by a 90-minute written exam.
D2 Wine business (10 per cent): how the trade works, pricing and marketing, assessed by a one-hour written exam.
D3 Wines of the world (50 per cent): still wines, examined over two days with written theory and a blind tasting of 12 wines.
D4 Sparkling wines (5 per cent) and D5 Fortified wines (5 per cent): each a written exam plus a blind tasting of three wines.
D6 Independent research assignment (10 per cent): a 3,000-word assignment on a set topic.
Study time: at least 500 hours, made up of 116 taught hours, 370 hours of personal study and almost 12 hours of exams. It normally takes 18 months to three years.
Prerequisites: the Level 3 Award in Wines, or Level 3 Wines and Spirits. Non-native English speakers are strongly advised to have an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent. Graduates may use the letters DipWSET after their name.
Online or classroom, how long it takes and what it costs
Every level up to Level 3 is widely offered both ways. A classroom course gives you a tutor, a group and the wines poured for you. Online courses fit around work and are often self-paced, but you usually buy wines or a tasting kit yourself. For Levels 1 and 2, depending on your provider, the exam may be taken in person at an exam centre or online at home with a remote invigilator watching by webcam.
As a rough guide to calendar time: Level 1 takes a day or a few evenings, Level 2 three days to a couple of months, Level 3 anything from an intensive week or two to several months, and the Diploma 18 months to three years. Results for Levels 1 and 2 often come back fairly quickly, while Level 3 results usually take several weeks because the written answers and tasting notes have to be marked.
On cost, WSET does not set a single price. Each provider sets its own fee, and it varies a lot by country, city and format. Before you book, check what is included: the study pack, the wines, the exam fee and the cost of a resit if you need one. Tasting on these courses is for adults of legal drinking age, and wine is best enjoyed in moderation.
WSET vs Court of Master Sommeliers
The two names come up together whenever people search for sommelier certification, but they do different jobs. WSET is knowledge-focused and open to everyone, from home drinkers to importers. The Court of Master Sommeliers, which runs through regional bodies such as those in the Americas and Europe, is service-focused and built for restaurant sommeliers. Its four levels are Introductory, Certified, Advanced and Master Sommelier, and from Certified onwards each exam tests theory, blind tasting and practical service at the table. If restaurant work is your goal, read our guide on how to become a sommelier.
From Certified level, deductive tasting to identify the wine
Taught online?
Yes, at most levels
The Introductory course can be taken online; higher levels are examined in person
Highest title
DipWSET
Master Sommelier
Other routes exist. The Wine Scholar Guild runs in-depth regional programmes such as French Wine Scholar, Italian Wine Scholar and Spanish Wine Scholar, assessed by multiple-choice theory exams. The Society of Wine Educators offers the Certified Specialist of Wine, a 100-question multiple-choice exam taken at a testing centre or online, with the Certified Wine Educator above it. Our round-up of the best online wine courses compares these with informal options.
How to study and which WSET level to choose
Whatever the level, the same habits help. Read your study pack early, taste alongside it so the words attach to real wines, and learn the SAT vocabulary until it feels natural. Our list of words to describe wine and the wine glossary are useful for that, and practising tasting at home pays off from Level 2 upwards. For multiple-choice papers, short daily quizzes beat one long cram. Winelingo is not affiliated with WSET, but you can try our own unofficial practice questions, written in the style of Level 1.
Choosing is simpler than it looks:
Brand new to wine, or want a quick certificate for a hospitality job: Level 1.
Enjoy wine and want real understanding, or work in a shop or restaurant: Level 2. Many people skip Level 1 and start here.
Already at Level 2 standard and ready for serious study: Level 3.
Building a career in wine, or aiming for Master of Wine: the Diploma.
Want to work the floor as a restaurant sommelier: consider the Court of Master Sommeliers, alone or alongside WSET.
WSET stands for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, a London-based awarding body founded in 1969. It writes the syllabus and exams for qualifications in wine, spirits and sake, and approved programme providers teach the courses worldwide, in classrooms and online. The wine route has four levels, from the one-day Level 1 Award for beginners to the Level 4 Diploma, which normally takes 18 months to three years.
How much does WSET Level 1 cost?
There is no single price. WSET sets the syllabus and exam, but each approved provider sets its own fee, and it varies by country, city and format, with online and classroom courses often priced differently. When comparing providers, check whether the fee includes the study materials, the wines for tasting, the exam itself and any resit, since these can make a real difference to the total.
Can you do WSET Level 1 online?
Yes. Many providers offer WSET Level 1 Award in Wines online, usually self-paced over a few days or weeks, with the same syllabus as the classroom version. Depending on the provider, the 45-minute exam of 30 multiple-choice questions may be taken online at home with a remote invigilator or in person at an exam centre. You will usually need to buy a few wines to taste along the way.
What is the pass mark for WSET Level 2?
The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines exam is a one-hour, closed-book paper of 50 multiple-choice questions. You need 55 per cent to pass, 70 per cent for a pass with merit and 85 per cent for a pass with distinction. There is no tasting in the Level 2 exam. For comparison, Level 1 has 30 questions in 45 minutes and a pass mark of 70 per cent.
Do I need WSET Level 1 before Level 2?
No. Neither Level 1 nor Level 2 has entry requirements, so you can start at Level 2 if you already drink wine with some curiosity and want proper depth. Level 1 suits complete beginners or people who need a quick certificate for work. For Level 3, WSET recommends holding Level 2 or showing equivalent knowledge, and the Level 4 Diploma requires Level 3.
Which is better, WSET or the Court of Master Sommeliers?
Neither is better overall; they suit different goals. WSET is knowledge-focused and open to everyone, from enthusiasts to importers and retail staff. The Court of Master Sommeliers is service-focused and built for restaurant sommeliers, with exams from Certified level that test theory, blind tasting and practical table service. Some sommeliers hold qualifications from both, using WSET for depth of knowledge and the Court for service skills.
What are the sommelier certification levels?
The Court of Master Sommeliers has four levels: Introductory Sommelier, Certified Sommelier, Advanced Sommelier and Master Sommelier. From Certified onwards, each exam covers theory, blind tasting and practical service. WSET is often listed alongside it as a wine certification, with Level 1, 2 and 3 Awards and the Level 4 Diploma, although WSET focuses on knowledge and tasting rather than restaurant service.
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