If you’re preparing for a tasting exam like the WSET Level 3 or the WSET Diploma, Level 4, adjusting your approach can be crucial, especially for neurodivergent individuals. Here’s how to optimize your tasting strategy to help you pass your WSET tasting exam with confidence.
Dopamine and Focus in the WSET Tasting Exam
For ADHD minds, the key to passing the WSET tasting exam—whether for Level 3, Diploma Level 4, or other certifications—is to manage your dopamine levels carefully. During study sessions, dopamine is your ally. Enjoy learning, experiment with tasting techniques, and use methods that engage your unique learning style as you can read about in this blog post.
However, during the actual WSET tasting exam, you have to shift your focus: now, dopamine is the enemy! Keep your exam mantra simple: “Dopamine is the enemy!” This mindset can help you focus more effectively during the high-stakes setting of a WSET Level 3 or Level 4 tasting exam.
Avoid the Temptation to Chase the Right Answer
There’s plenty of advice on “how to pass the WSET tasting exam” with techniques for guessing a wine’s grape, region, or country. While these tips can be useful for neurotypical students, they can distract neurodivergent minds by introducing excitement and a luring dopamine rush. This focus on “getting it right” can way to easily divert your attention from the actual analysis needed to pass a WSET tasting exam.
Instead, approach the WSET tasting exam as a technical exercise, focusing solely on completing the Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT). Treat each wine as a technical subject to analyze, filling out the SAT form systematically. Everything you need to pass is in the glass—no tricks or hidden challenges.
Use Structured, Systematic Notes
To pass the WSET tasting exam and oppress the dopamine, keeping your notes systematic is essential. Approach them as a checklist, and don’t let dopamine disrupt your flow.
- Aroma Notes: Record aromas detected on the nose and transfer these notes directly to the palate section. When tasting, focus on structure and consistency, only adding aromas to the palate if they enhance your notes on the nose.
- Group Aromas Effectively: Always pair aromas. For instance, if you detect “apple,” add “pear”; for “lemon,” add “lime.” This structure will make sure you don’t miss out on an easy point! For example, use phrasing like, “Citrus fruits such as lemon, lime; orchard fruits like apple, pear; stone fruits like apricot, nectarine, and peach”. Just remember, naming the cluster such as ‘Citrus’ gives no points, you have to add the actual aromas!
Use the BLIC Framework for Quality Analysis
The BLIC (Balance, Length, Intensity, Complexity) framework is a great tool for the WSET tasting exams:
- Balance is a top priority in any wine quality assessment. If a wine lacks balance, it won’t rank above “good” in your tasting analysis.
- For each BLIC criterion, assign “points” to the wine. Scoring 3–4 points generally indicates outstanding quality.
- Remember, most wines you’ll encounter will be rated as “good” to “very good.” As wine lovers we are so used to drinking high quality wines that it can be easy to forget that the exam is about all wines in all levels. So even supermarket wines will often be either ‘good’ or even ‘very good’!
- Write in clear sentences, explaining why the wine qualifies for its rating and which attributes were lacking for higher scores.
Using this approach aligns your tasting notes with the SAT, helping you pass the tasting component of your WSET exam.
Stick to the Technical, Resist the Guesswork
The WSET tasting exams (especially WSET Diploma) assess your ability to analyze the wine, not guess its origin or grape accurately. Focus on filling out the SAT form as technically as possible. If you have time at the end, you can glance back at your notes for any hints toward grape variety or origin, but avoid this during the main analysis to prevent misinterpretation.
Your SAT form is the primary tool for achieving a high score in the WSET tasting exams. Many students pass—and even earn “distinction”—without guessing the grape or region correctly. The SAT analysis is what counts most.
Final Advice for WSET Success
So fellow neurodivergent students preparing for the WSET Level 3 or Diploma tasting exams: stick to the structured SAT approach, control the dopamine, and focus on filling out the SAT form accurately. This focused, systematic approach will help you pass your WSET tasting exam with confidence.
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