WSET Level 3 Short Written Answer Questions with Model Answers
Short written answer (SWA) questions are the second part of the WSET® Level 3 Award in Wines theory exam: four questions worth 25 marks each, sat in the same two-hour paper as the 50 multiple-choice questions. You need 55% in each part to pass. This page explains how SWA questions are marked and how to answer them, and links all 22 sets of SWA practice questions on this site (52 questions, 101 parts), each with a model answer and a marking key.
Written by Tomoyuki Tajiri (WSET Level 3, Pass with Distinction, 2021), who wrote every question and marking key on this site. The exam details below were checked against WSET’s Level 3 specification (Issue 2, 2022) in October 2026. All questions are original practice questions, not real exam questions.
Contents
- What are short written answer questions in the WSET Level 3 exam?
- How to answer: command words and marking
- Seven types of SWA question
- SWA practice questions by region and topic
- Multiple-choice questions and the free practice exam
- FAQ
What Are Short Written Answer Questions in the WSET Level 3 Exam?
The Level 3 theory exam is a closed-book paper in two parts. Part 1 tests knowledge with multiple-choice questions; Part 2 asks you to apply that knowledge in writing. In the SWA part you write your answers on the exam paper, and the marks for each question or part-question are printed next to it.
| Theory exam | Format | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: multiple choice | 50 questions, one correct answer each | 50 (1 per question) |
| Part 2: short written answers | 4 questions, each split into several parts | 100 (25 per question) |
| Time | 2 hours for both parts together | |
| Pass mark | 55% in Part 1 and 55% in Part 2 |
Marks are not taken away for wrong answers in either part. The blind tasting of two wines (30 minutes) is a separate unit. Your final grade is based on your aggregate mark: 80% or more with no paper below 65% for a Pass with Distinction, and 65–79% for a Pass with Merit. Source: WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and its specification (Issue 2, 2022), checked October 2026. WSET can change the format, so check with your course provider before the exam.
What the four questions cover
According to the specification, every SWA question includes the natural and human factors in the vineyard and winery (Learning Outcome 1). On top of that, still wines of the world carry 70 of the 100 marks, sparkling and fortified wines 20, and giving recommendations to customers 10. In practice this means you should be ready to explain why a wine from a named region tastes the way it does, and to recommend and serve a wine.
How to Answer: Command Words and Marking
Think of each mark as one correct, relevant point. That is how our marking keys work, and the marks printed next to each part tell you how many points to aim for: a part worth 5 marks needs at least five separate points, and a long paragraph that makes one point well still earns one mark. The command word tells you what kind of point the examiner is looking for.
| Command word | What to write |
|---|---|
| Identify / Name / State | A short, precise answer: a region, a grape variety, a technique, a level (for example “high acidity”). No explanation needed. |
| Describe | What something is or what happens: the style of a wine (sweetness, acidity, tannin, body, aromas), or the steps of a technique. |
| Explain | Why it happens and what effect it has. Link the cause to the result in the grape and then in the wine. |
| Recommend | A specific wine (region and style) and how to serve it, for example the service temperature or glass. |
- Be specific. On our marking keys, “lemon and lime” earns a mark where “green fruit” does not. Name the region, the grape variety and the technique.
- Follow the chain. For “explain” questions, write natural or human factor → effect on the grapes → effect on the wine’s style or quality. Each link is often worth a mark.
- Answer the question that was asked. If the question asks about aromas and body, points about colour score nothing. Read the question twice.
- Plan your time. WSET does not split the two hours between the parts. One way to plan is about one hour for the 50 multiple-choice questions and about 15 minutes for each SWA question.
Worked example: turning a question into marks
One of our Rhône questions asks: “In the Southern Rhône, grapevines are often trained low. Explain why grape growers choose to train vines this way.” (4 marks). Four marks means four points, and “explain” means each point should say why. The marking key gives one mark each for: the strong northerly wind can damage the vines; the wind is called the Mistral; low-trained vines are less exposed to it; and low vines make the most of the heat reflected from the ground, which helps the grapes ripen. A one-line answer such as “to protect the vines from the wind” would get one or two marks at most.
Seven Types of SWA Question
WSET does not publish past exam papers, so it is hard to know what to expect. I went through the sample written questions in the WSET Level 3 study guide and found that every one of them fitted one of seven patterns. They all come back to the same idea: the natural factors (geography, climate) and the human factors (growing, winemaking, maturation) explain the style of a wine. I first wrote this up in Japanese in 2021 (the original article in Japanese).
- Describe the geography, climate or environment of a region (Growing Environment).
- Describe a grape-growing, winemaking or maturation technique (Tokaji Aszú, Eiswein).
- Describe the appearance, aromas, palate and quality of a wine (Bordeaux, Vinho Verde).
- Explain why growers in a region with a given climate choose a particular technique (bush vines in the Southern Rhône, kouloura on Santorini).
- Explain how the geography and climate of a region affect the style or quality of its wines (Chablis, Barolo and Barbaresco).
- Identify the growing, winemaking or maturation methods that give a wine its style (early-drinking Rioja, Muscadet sur lie).
- Explain how to store or serve a wine (decanting a wine with sediment, opening sparkling wine).
When you meet a new question, decide which pattern it is first. Then you know which side of the chain (factor, technique or wine style) you are being given and which side you have to write about. The sample question in the specification, for example, starts from a Chardonnay style and asks for the winemaking techniques behind it (pattern 6). Expect the same question with another grape variety, or turned around so that you start from the technique and describe the wine.
SWA Practice Questions by Region and Topic
There are 22 pages, one for each topic. Each question is split into parts with the marks shown, and every part has a model answer and a marking key that lists the points that earn a mark. Our questions are shorter than the 25-mark questions in the exam, so combine two or three parts when you practise under time. 80 of the 101 parts are free to view: 15 pages are free in full, and on the other 7 pages Question 1 is free and the rest is for members.
The vine and the growing environment
| Topic | What you practise | Free to view |
|---|---|---|
| The Vine 2 questions, 3 parts | New grape varieties, phylloxera and grafting | All |
| Growing Environment 2 questions, 2 parts | Diurnal range, water stress during ripening | All |
France
| Topic | What you practise | Free to view |
|---|---|---|
| Bordeaux 2 questions, 6 parts | Left Bank blends, decanting, Sauternes and noble rot | All |
| Burgundy 3 questions, 5 parts | Spring frost, Chablis quality levels, Beaujolais winemaking and service | All |
| Alsace 3 questions, 5 parts | Vine training on slopes, protecting aromas, foudres | All |
| Loire 2 questions, 3 parts | Chenin Blanc from Vouvray and Savennières, Muscadet sur lie | All |
| Rhône 3 questions, 4 parts | Condrieu Viognier, bush vines and the Mistral, Grenache blends | All |
| Southern France 2 questions, 2 parts | Why IGP wines sell, rosé production methods | All |
Other European regions
| Topic | What you practise | Free to view |
|---|---|---|
| Germany 2 questions, 5 parts | Mosel Riesling, sweetness and acidity, Eiswein, alcohol levels | All |
| Tokaj 1 question, 2 parts | How Tokaji Aszú is made, why Eszencia is expensive | All |
| Greece 2 questions, 3 parts | Kouloura on Santorini, the style of Assyrtiko | All |
| Italy 3 questions, 12 parts | Amarone, DOCG rules, Barolo and Barbaresco, Chianti Classico | All |
| Spain 3 questions, 5 parts | Bush vines, Tempranillo regions, Rioja winemaking, Priorat | All |
| Portugal 1 question, 2 parts | The style of Vinho Verde, high rainfall and the vine | All |
The Americas, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand
| Topic | What you practise | Free to view |
|---|---|---|
| USA 4 questions, 6 parts | Zinfandel, California Chardonnay, Oakville and Howell Mountain, Finger Lakes | All |
| Chile 2 questions, 4 parts | San Antonio Sauvignon Blanc, drip irrigation, Maipo Cabernet | Question 1 (2 of 4 parts) |
| Argentina 2 questions, 4 parts | Torrontés and the parral, hail, Mendoza Malbec | Question 1 (2 of 4 parts) |
| South Africa 3 questions, 5 parts | Natural factors, Chenin Blanc, Swartland dry farming, Breede River | Question 1 (2 of 5 parts) |
| Australia 2 questions, 4 parts | Hunter Valley Semillon, premium Chardonnay, Barossa and Yarra Shiraz | Question 1 (2 of 4 parts) |
| New Zealand 2 questions, 4 parts | Sauvignon Blanc winemaking, screw caps, Central Otago Pinot Noir | Question 1 (2 of 4 parts) |
Sparkling and fortified wines
| Topic | What you practise | Free to view |
|---|---|---|
| Sparkling Wine 3 questions, 8 parts | Blending, Champagne ageing on lees, tank method, Champagne terms, Carneros | Question 1 (3 of 8 parts) |
| Fortified Wine 3 questions, 7 parts | Fino and Oloroso, Ruby and Tawny Port, fortified Muscat | Question 1 (2 of 7 parts) |
Multiple-Choice Questions and the Free Practice Exam
The SWA part only counts if you also pass the multiple-choice part, and the facts you learn for multiple choice are the points you write in SWA answers. Try the free 50-question WSET Level 3 practice exam (no sign-up), or go to the WSET Level 3 practice questions page for the multiple-choice questions by chapter and a 20-question PDF.
Japanese readers: the same practice questions are also available on our Japanese site.
FAQ
Are WSET Level 3 short written answer past papers available?
No. WSET does not publish past exam papers, and real exam questions should not be shared. The specification includes one sample SWA question, and your course provider may give you more. The questions on this site are our own, written to match the style and level of the exam.
How many marks do I need to pass the short written answers?
55 out of 100. The 55% pass mark applies to the SWA part and to the multiple-choice part separately, so a high multiple-choice score cannot make up for a low SWA score.
Where can I find WSET Level 3 short written answer examples with answers?
Every page in the tables above has example questions with model answers and marking keys. Start with a free page for a region you have just studied, write your answer before opening the model answer, and then count how many of the marking points you covered.
Disclaimer
These practice questions are created for wine education and study support and are not affiliated with WSET® (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) in any way. The content of this site does not directly cite, reproduce, or replace any official WSET materials, exams, or lessons. All practice questions are original and independently created. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent WSET’s official views.
WSET® is a registered trademark of Wine & Spirit Education Trust. This site is not endorsed, approved, or sponsored by WSET®.