As someone who’s taken on the Herculean task of passing the WSET’s Diploma of wine program, you’re now facing the summit “Mother-of-all exams” Olympus Mons
To hike this beast, you’re going to need a full rucksack of study tips and resources so that your approach can be as efficient and effective as possible , but also fun because you chose this direction for a reason: for the love of wine. This WSET D3 study guide delivers on those needs with all the insider’s study tips you need to skip the unnecessary learning curves and have every minute of studying paying triple dividends!
We’re the brains, minds, and hearts behind the world’s smartest app for learning about wine. We’ve brought together some of the most accomplished people in the realm of wine, wine education, and WSET test prep to compile a comprehensive collection of study guides and digital flashcards for all FIVE of the WSET Diploma exams.
Together with Master of Wine candidate, Advanced Sommelier, and wine educator Sarah Looper hundreds of hours on making the flashcards yourself. Plus, we’ve formatted them for optimal learning .
Then, combined with our adaptive learning algorithm, which leverages decades of cognitive science research learn the facts 2-5 times FASTER. The WSET Diploma exams are challenging and voluminous enough: you shouldn’t be wasting your time on inefficient learning techniques.
So, now that you know a little more about Brainscape and why wine students all over the world love and trust our certified wine flashcards, let’s empty our complete rucksack of study tips and hacks for passing this truly enormous exam!
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WSET Diploma D3 exam prep: Before you start Tip # 1: Refresh your WSET D1 module content The first of the WSET Diploma’s modules establishes the essential foundation for everything you’ll be learning about the still wines of the world (as well as sparkling and fortified wines in those latter modules), which is why you should begin with a refresher of the WSET D1 Wine Production content.
Understanding how wine is made—from seed to cellar and grape to grocery store—at the level of detail demanded by the WSET Diploma is crucial for establishing a powerful foundation for you to then build your knowledge of the still wines of the world.
Pro Tip: The easiest, most seamless way to complete this review is to spend a little time every day working through Brainscape’s WSET D1 flashcards
Tip # 2: Create a detailed study schedule to stay on track Of all the WSET Diploma’s modules, D3 is the most knowledge intensive and demanding in terms of memorization. To make sure you cover everything in time and avoid the awful possibility of arriving at your exam date not fully prepared and confident, it’s essential that you map out a detailed study schedule .
(Hey, you should totally use one of Brainscape's free study planner or exam countdown templates we've made for exactly this purpose!)
Decide upon your study milestones so that you stay focused and on track in the months, weeks, and days leading up to the exam. This’ll also quickly alert you to when you’re falling behind, giving you a chance to adapt your schedule to compensate for time lost, whether it’s because a topic took you longer than anticipated or you had to take a half-day off because, oops , there wasn’t a spittoon at the wine tasting.
Pro Tip: Cushion your study schedule with plenty of extra days here and there to account for the above-mentioned circumstances.
Tip # 3: Strictly stick to the content covered by the WSET While you may be seduced into reading external resources out of interest or, perhaps, the ambition to substantiate your knowledge, don’t invest a lot of time actually ingraining/memorizing that content. You will only ever be tested on the content that comes up in the WSET textbook. (Brainscape's WSET Diploma flashcards focus explicitly on drilling you on this content, too.)
Time is a precious resource and considering the amount you need to learn to pass the WSET D3 Diploma exam, you can’t afford to be anything less than razor focused.
Tip # 4: Understand how the exam is structured Going into the WSET Diploma D3 exam without knowing how it’s structured and what’s expected of you wouldn’t be your smartest move yet. You need to know where the goal posts are in order to kick for them, right?
Here are the basics…
The WSET Diploma D3 exam consists of a theory and a tasting exam held on consecutive days. (Awesome news: if you pass one and fail the other, you only have to retake the one you failed.)
The theory paper is then split into two papers:
Paper 1 (2 hours): four open-response questions, of which you can cherry-pick three to answer for a total of 300 points (100 points per question)Paper 2 (1 hour, 20 minutes): three open-response questions, of which you can cherry-pick two to answer for a total of 200 points.Please note that there are NO compulsory questions, short-form questions, or compulsory essay-format questions, although you are encouraged to write in essay format where appropriate (more advice on this later).
The tasting portion is split into two examinations and a total of 12 wines:
Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes): Question 1: three wines of one common grape variety Question 2: three wines from one countr y of origin Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes): Question 3: three wines from one region of origin Question 4: three unspecified wines … all for a total of 50% of your total Diploma assessment. I know, right? No pressure.
WSET Diploma D3 study tips Now let’s talk about the inescapable task of memorizing the truly staggering amount of information you’ll need to learn and understand about the principal still wines of the world…
Tip # 5: Use flashcards to efficiently understand & memorize the facts This is where Brainscape’s legendary study tool and collection of WSET Diploma D3 Wines of the World flashcards will help you (1) prioritize the most important information, (2) learn and understand the facts, (3) efficiently memorize them , and (4) conveniently review anytime, anywhere, and on any device; even offline. They also save you from the incredibly arduous task of distilling the WSET textbook down into flashcards yourself.
Brainscape’s WSET Level 4 Diploma collection features 2,600+ engaging flashcards, neatly organized into 46 different decks, tackling EVERYTHING you need to know to ace the D3 Wines of the World exam! This comprehensive collection of 2,600+ flashcards (neatly organized into 46 decks) has been created by our experienced team of wine experts led by Master of Wine candidate Sarah Looper, who has run the gauntlet of the Diploma exams herself!
Together, we broke down the most current WSET 4 D3 curriculum into individual adaptive flashcards, which leverage the learning power of spaced repetition, metacognition, and active recall to help you absorb and permanently ingrain the facts in your brain as fast as humanly possible.
(We also have flashcards for the other four modules in the WSET Diploma constellation and upgrading to Brainscape Pro will get you access to them all.)
Through its engaging and colorful user interface, Brainscape’s flashcards deliver facts in short question-and-answer pairs (shown in the image above: question on the left; answer in the middle; 10-flashcard-round summary of progress). By rating how well you know the answer to the question on a scale of 1 to 5, you tell Brainscape’s spaced repetition algorithm how often to repeat that flashcard. Each flashcard delivers a nugget of crucial information in the form of a question and an answer (as you’ll see in the picture above). And to ensure that you understand how that answer weaves into the greater tapestry of wine production, where applicable, footnotes provide more detailed explanations.
What happens next? You rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 5 on how well you knew that particular piece of information, and this determines how frequently you’ll see that card again. It’s called spaced repetition how your brain is hardwired to learn information.
By leveraging it, therefore, Brainscape’s adaptive flashcards are able to help you learn TWICE as efficiently while drilling you on your knowledge weaknesses until they become strengths. Our app won’t let you forget anything either—even those concepts you’ve rated a 5. Now and then, those flashcards will pop up to make sure that knowledge is fresh.
So, get Brainscape’s WSET 4 D3 flashcards to help you study more efficiently. And if you upgrade to Pro WSET Diploma flashcards . We also have free wine study guides (like this one) for these modules so make sure you check ‘em out ahead of your other exams, too:
Tip # 6: Do NOT learn the facts in isolation! Dry facts are not enough to do well on the WSET Diploma exams
Remember, the WSET Diploma requires skills of analysis and logical thinking . So when writing about a wine, you must be able to explain not just how this wine tastes but why
Tip # 7: Use maps and other visualization techniques to ingrain the facts Context is everything. any wine region, you should be able to mentally picture a map of that region and the various mountains, rivers, lakes, and coastlines that shape its landscapes.
The human brain learns quicker when picturing or conceptualizing things in HD. That’s why reading a textbook is probably the least effective way to actually remember information. Sure, you might learn something and remember a little bit of it but a few days later, 90% of that information would have leaked out of your ears.
Of all the visualization tools you can use, studying fine-grained regional maps to commit the various wine regions to memory (down to individual notable vineyards) is probably chief of all. In fact, many WSET Diploma students actually draw (and redraw) these maps themselves, coloring them in, and sticking them up all over their house so that the constant exposure literally carves those maps’ contours into their brains.
Pro Tip: Search for your chosen winemaking region in Google Maps and activate the “terrain” filter (top left-hand drop-down menu). Then, zoom in and explore the region’s topography, identifying how its features influence viticulture (see example below) .
Google Maps image (with terrain filter applied) of the southwestern Cape of South Africa, showing some of the region’s best-known wine routes, including Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek. These winelands’ proximity to the nearby mountain ranges shown in relief, not to mention the enormous Atlantic Ocean, plays a huge role in the quality and style of the wines produced there. Tip # 8: Practice WSET Diploma D3 questions as early on in your prep as possible By now, you should have some experience with how the WSET Diploma lays out its exams, which is helpful… but there’s much more work to be done. The more WSET Diploma D3 questions and past exams you can get your hands on, the better. Answering these is a skill in itself (and we’ll tackle some of the tips you can take into the exam with you in the next section).
The great news is that the WSET does
This is a start but since every student will be making use of these same WSET Diploma D3 questions, you might even consider them the bare minimum of practice. At this level, it is up to you dear reader to be resourceful. Google is your friend.
Speaking of which, a simple search coughs up all kinds of resources, like this PDF of WSET Diploma practice questions
Our advice is to cherry pick a few and read them in your free time . In other words: do not consider them a part of your prep or else you might sink too much time into reading blog after blog after blog.
Also, remember to treat these resources as subjective! These are posts written by other WSET Diploma candidates from the perspective of their own personal experience . What they have to say is incredibly helpful but what works for them may not work for you. Just bear that in mind.
Tip # 9: Join a study group with other WSET Diploma candidates When it comes to the memory-intensive work of ingraining the WSET Diploma content into your brain, solo study is without peer . It’s nearly impossible to work at deeply internalizing the facts when there are people around you. However, there is most certainly a time and place for group study —particularly during WSET Diploma D3 exam prep—and it can really break the monotony of solo study.
So, gather together a few other students—no more than 5—and set up weekly meetings during which you can:
Perform a high-level review the material covered Address any areas of difficulty Practice your wine-tasting methodology and notes Just be sure to read this article on group study
Tip # 10: Memorize a wine elements grid Make it a priority to memorize a simple grid that lays out all of the elements involved in wine production . It could look a little something like this:
Then, when the exam starts, quickly jot this grid onto a piece of paper and use it as a totally legal reference tool when you compose your responses to each question. This grid will (1) inform the structure of your responses, (2) ensure you cover every conceivable element, and (3) prevent you from leaving marks on the table.
For example, let’s say you get a question about site selection for a new vineyard. A quick look over your grid would immediately help you isolate keywords like location, heat, soil, water, nutrients, laws, and pests . Right off the bat, that’s seven coherent concerns you can discuss in your answer, which is WAY better than getting flustered and forgetting something.
Pro Tip: You can even use Brainscape to help memorize such a grid by making a flashcard that reads “What are the important factors to consider when writing about viticulture?” To which the answer would be “Land, location, water, heat, pests, soil, nutrients, ripeness, flavor, sugar, harvesting.” And then repeat that for the other three columns.
Tip # 11: Devise and lean on useful acronyms Additionally, or alternatively to the aforementioned tip, you could memorize a suite of acronyms designed to jog your memory every time you’re faced with a particular WSET Diploma D3 exam question. Brainscape’s fearless wine educator Sarah Looper weighed in with the acronyms she engineered and memorized in order to pass her exam:
For questions about the vineyard: WESTCLIDS W ater availability
E levation
S unlight interception
T opography/geography
C limate
L atitude (length of growing season)
I nfluences (proximity to water, temperature, air flow)
D iurnal shift (yes/no?)
S oils
For questions about grape-growing options: TMHMP T rellising / planting
M anagement: water, canopy, pest & disease
H arvest dates
M echanization vs hand-pick
P runing
For questions about the winery: AAY FFM PMBP A rrival -- sorting, chilling, destemming, crushing, pre-fermentation skin contact
A djustments -- acid, tannin, sugar, deacidification
Y east -- cultured or native
F ermentation temperature -- cool (54-61F), mid-range (63-77F), warm (70-90F)
F ermentation vessel -- inox (reductive), cement, wood (oxidative), pump overs or punchdowns
M alo -- lowers acidity, adds body and aromas and flavors
P ost-fermentation soak -- extracts more tannins
M aturation -- lees, oxygen, wood
B lending -- is it typical for the region?
P ackaging -- can indicate price and quality
Feel free to grab these or make up your own!
WSET Diploma D3 tips for exam day! At this point in your adulthood, you’ve probably learned the importance of good sleep, nutrition, hydration, and exercise. In spite of that, all it really takes to knock someone off course is a dose of good old fashioned exam stress and since the WSET Diploma D3 exam is a real doozy , you’d be forgiven for a few all-nighters and subsisting off ramen noodles and caffeine for three weeks straight.
Here’s the thing though…
Your brain is your ultimate weapon against the WSET Diploma D3 exam. And if you want to pass or—I daresay—do really well , you need your brain to be in its best possible condition. So in the weeks leading up to your exam (and DEFINITELY in the three nights prior), prioritize:
Getting good sleep Eating nutritious, protein-rich foods (the more colorful your plate, the better) Drinking enough water Movement every day, even if it’s just a light walk Limiting alcohol consumption If you’ve been a bit of a hopeless case in the weeks before the WSET Diploma D3, at least try your hardest to get these right the three nights prior to the exam. Trust me. You will perform so much better if your brain is well-rested, fed, and hydrated. Check out this guide for all the “tea” on caring for your noggin: Optimize your brain health for effective studying
Tip # 13: Manage your time carefully We already mentioned in tip # 4 that the WSET Diploma D3 theory exam consists of two papers, one with three open-ended questions (2 hours) and one with two (1 hour 20 min). With a little math magic it’s clear that the examiners allocate 40 minutes per question so right there is your goal post. Keep an eye on the clock and if you don’t finish in 40 minutes, move on to the next question and try to make up a little time so you can come back to the previous one when you’re done.
Likewise, for the tasting portion, there are two papers, each 1 hour and 30 min long, covering six wines apiece. That gives you 15 minutes per wine to fully capture your tasting notes. Stay dialed in to your time allocation and you won’t have to contend with the howling disappointment of not getting through everything in time.
Two bits of advice that can help with this is to (tip # 14) know the command words so that you explicitly answer the questions without getting off track and (tip # 15) answering the easy questions first…
Tip # 14: Know the “command words” and what they require of you In other words: answer the damn questions!
What exactly is the WSET Diploma D3 examiner asking you? Look for the command words in the questions, like “define”, “describe”, “explain”, or “compare”. These will tell you exactly how you should answer the question and the level of detail you should provide.
If the question says “describe”, it’s obviously expecting you to explain a single concept in as much detail as possible (and you can use the grid and acronyms above to guide how you lay those answers out). But if the question asks you to “compare”, then you’ll have to define TWO different or similar things and relate them to each other in as much detail as you can.
The take-home here is to make sure you understand exactly what the examiners are asking you to do by explicitly identifying the command words , and then delivering on that using your extensive knowledge base.
Tip # 15: Answer the question you’re most confident in first As soon as the starter gun for the WSET Diploma D3 theory exam goes off, scan the four exam questions and spend no more than a couple of minutes deciding which you are the most confident
Why? Because the question you find easy—easy because you know your sh*t—is likely to contribute the most points in the least amount of time to your results! Also, you’ll work out your exam jitters much quicker on a question you know you can ace. Then, by the time you tackle the harder questions, you’ll have one solid answer done, perhaps a little extra time on the clock, and your nerves thoroughly in the rearview mirror!
Don’t pass up on easy points by leaving the “easy questions” for last!
Your personal Everest, conquered So there you have it! 15 Tips for preparing to take on the WSET Diploma D3 exam: the “Mother-of-all-exams”, your personal Mount Everest, and the Olympus Mons of the WSET solar system. Just remember that there’s no shortcut around learning, understanding, and memorizing all the WSET Diploma D3 information, so the earlier you start and the more efficiently you study , the better.
Brainscape’s WSET Diploma D3 flashcards make the theory portion easy for you because they:
Have already broken down the entire WSET Diploma 3 (D3) curriculum into the most essential facts you need to know; Organize all of this information into 33 neatly labeled decks, which you can study independently or in one great mix; Use spaced repetition and other proven cognitive science principles (like metacognition and active recall) to help you learn more efficiently; and Come in an app on your phone, device, and laptop, which you can take with you any and everywhere you go, sneaking in quick study sessions in any free time you may have. So now there’s nothing left to say except that the team here at Brainscape wishes you all the best with your studies! And when you’re ready to move onto your next module, know that Brainscape has got your back with these awesome resources:
Certified Flashcards: WSET Diploma D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5
And our other study guides:
*Disclaimer: Brainscape has worked with top wine experts to supplement the official publications and preparation offered by WSET.
