WSET Level 3 mock exam: free practice test
A mock exam is the closest thing to exam day: the same mix of topics, the same time pressure and the same traps. Doing several before the WSET Level 3 exam shows you where you lose marks and trains your timing for the 50 multiple-choice questions and the 4 written answers.
Try the mini mock below: 10 questions from different chapters, marked instantly. In the free app you can take full timed mock exams with multiple-choice questions, short written answers and a blind tasting note, as many times as you like.
- Do your first mock exam early, not in the last week: it tells you what to study.
- Recreate exam conditions: timer on, phone away, no notes.
- After each mock, spend more time on the review than on the test itself.
- Track your score by section; aim for a margin above 55% everywhere.
- In the last two weeks, alternate mock exams with revision of your weak points.
Sample questions with answers
1 Which vine species produces nearly all wine grapes?
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Answer: Vitis vinifera
Why: V. vinifera is the main Eurasian species, used to make wine for several thousand years.
2 In which year after planting does the first crop usually come?
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Answer: The third year
Why: Young pre-grafted vines are often protected by plastic sleeves; irrigation is sometimes allowed for establishment.
3 Why does white juice usually spend little time on the skins?
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Answer: To reduce the risk of oxidation
Why: Whole-bunch pressing limits contact further, gently, potentially giving purer, more delicate wines.
4 In red winemaking, when does pressing normally happen?
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Answer: After fermentation
Why: Skins stay in the vat to extract colour and tannin. In reds MLF is standard practice.
5 Between which towns are the Northern Rhône vineyards?
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Answer: Between Vienne in the north and Valence in the south
Why: They are a small share of Rhône production but home to many premium wines.
6 How are inexpensive Spanish reds often made to enhance fruit?
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Answer: Unoaked, with semi-carbonic maceration
Why: The best almost always see oak, partly new; traditionally American, now French too.
7 What climate do most German wine regions have?
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Answer: Cool continental
Why: Baden in the south is noticeably warmer. The long cool ripening gives sugar while retaining acidity.
8 What may appear on the label of a US wine outside any AVA?
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Answer: A state (e.g. California) or county (e.g. Napa County) name
Why: Federal laws set minimum percentages for variety, vintage and AVA; many states have their own laws. Non-AVA rules are often more lenient.
9 In which towns must Sherry be matured?
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Answer: Jerez, Sanlúcar or El Puerto
Why: Current rule: Jerez, Sanlúcar or El Puerto. A reform awaiting EU approval would allow ageing anywhere in the DO, except Fino in Sanlúcar (that is Manzanilla).
10 What are the four key geographical features of Chile's vineyards, west to east?
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Answer: Pacific Ocean, Coastal Range, Central Valley, Andes
Why: Vineyards span over 900 km north-south but rarely 100 km east-west.
Practise all of it in the free app
Your answers are saved to your profile, the app builds your day-by-day study plan up to the exam and brings back your weak points until you master them.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free WSET Level 3 mock exam?
Yes: the mini mock on this page is free, and the app includes mock exams with multiple-choice questions, written answers and tasting.
How long is the WSET Level 3 theory exam?
The theory exam combines 50 multiple-choice questions and 4 short written answer questions; check your course provider for the exact timing of your session.
How many mock exams should I do before WSET 3?
At least three or four full mock exams, spaced out, with a thorough review after each one.
More WSET Level 3 resources
- WSET Level 3 practice questions with answers
- WSET Level 3 short written answer questions: examples and model answers
- The WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT): how to write a tasting note
- WSET Level 3 flashcards: grapes, regions, numbers and key terms
- How to pass WSET Level 3 first time: study plan and tips
WSET 3 questions by region and topic
- Tasting and the SAT
- Food and wine pairing
- Storage and service
- Wine pricing and the trade
- The vine and grape varieties
- Climate and environment
- Vineyard management and pruning
- Winemaking and maturation
- White wines
- Red and rosé wines
- Bordeaux
- Burgundy and Beaujolais
- Alsace and the Loire
- Rhône Valley
- Southern France
- Italy
- Spain
- Portugal
- Germany
- Austria and Hungary
- Greece
- USA and Canada
- Chile and Argentina
- South Africa
- Australia and New Zealand
- Sparkling: Champagne, Prosecco, Cava
- Sherry
- Port and fortified wines