WSET Level 3 Award in Sake

An advanced level qualification for professionals working with Sake or Sake enthusiasts.

Qualification Aims

The WSET Level 3 Award in Sake is designed to give a thorough understanding of the factors that account for the style and quality of Sake as well as its commercial importance in the Japanese and export markets. The qualification will assist those who are required to make professional evaluations of Sakes with regard to their quality and commercial value.

Successful candidates will be able to describe the characteristics of the principal Sake categories and give information concerning the key factors influencing style and quality.

What You’ll Learn

• The main techniques that are used in the production of Sake and how they influence style and quality

• The principal and specialty categories of Sake

• The Sake industry and the commercial importance of Sake in the Japanese and export markets

• The principles behind the storage, selection and service of Sake

• How to taste Sake, and evaluate quality, identity and price, using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake® (SAT)

By the end of the course you’ll be able to describe the characteristics of the principal Sake categories and give information on the key factors influencing style, quality and price. You will consequently be in a position to advise Management, to answer customer queries authoritatively, and to make informed selections of Sakes in a variety of situations.

The qualification is ideal for anyone who is required to make professional evaluations of Sakes, or for enthusiasts keen to immerse themselves in a new subject.

What’s Included

The tuition fee is an all-inclusive fee with no additional costs to pay. It covers an online learning module, all course materials, textbooks, Sake tasting samples, examination fees as well as several delicious snacks to assist with the Sake and food pairing sessions.

Tasting Samples

Over the course of the class, a minimum of 32 Sakes will be tasted, several with some exciting paired snacks to enhance the experience.

Assessment

The WSET Level 3 Award in Sake is completed over 3 days. The exam is taken separately with a suitable break after Day 3 to allow for personal study time, as detailed below:

• Tuition: 3 Days of in person classes (total 20 hrs)

• Private Study: 20 hrs (recommended)

• Exam: 100 mins (theory) + 30 mins (tasting)

• Breaks: 90 mins (per session)

The WSET Level 3 Award in Sake is assessed by a closed-book theory examination, comprising two parts, and a tasting examination. In order to gain a pass overall a candidate must achieve a pass in both parts of the theory exam and the tasting exam.

The theory exam must be completed in 1 hour and 40 minutes

• Part 1: multiple choice is made up of 50 multiple-choice questions

• Part 2: short answer questions is made up of four 5-mark questions, two 10-mark questions and one 20-mark question

A Student is required to achieve a minimum mark of 55% in both Part 1 and Part 2 in order to pass.

The tasting examination will consist of a blind tasting of two Sakes and will assess a candidate’s ability to describe a Sake accurately and either to identify production techniques or to write an assessment of quality. The tasting examination must be completed in 30 minutes.

A Student is required to achieve a minimum mark of 55% to pass. Upon successful completion you will receive a WSET certificate and lapel pin and will be able to use the associated certified logo.

Prior Knowledge

You are recommended to have WSET Level 1 Award in Sake or equivalent level of knowledge and potential Students should discuss their current level of knowledge with Sake Matters Education & Training before enrolling on the course, to ensure that this is a suitable qualification to undertake. Please contact us by following this link.

You must be aged 18 or above.

Preparation Needed

Prior to arriving in the classroom, you will complete a monitored online learning module which has been designed to give you a strong grounding in the terminology and culture of Sake - further details and login information will be provided once enrolment is completed. 

We also recommend that Students should read the textbook prior to arriving on Day 1. 

Anyone embarking on a WSET qualification should familiarise themselves with the qualification specification. This document will help you understand what to expect and what you will get out of the course.

Click here for the Level 3 course specification.

Language

All courses will be taught in English. Exams will also be in English only.

Class Size

To keep things personal but also to allow for discussion and group work, class size is kept to a maximum of 14 students.

Under the law of Hong Kong, intoxicating liquor must not be sold or supplied to a minor in the course of business.

根據香港法律，不得在業務過程中，向未成年人售賣或供應令人醺醉的酒類