If you Google “How to pass WSET Diploma” or “How to pass WSET D1”, there will be pages full of student experiences with loads of tips, all very helpful. I scanned a few of these before beginning my dive into it (maybe I should have read more).

If you Google “I failed my WSET Diploma unit” …there are far less results. Has anyone else ever googled this?

When I got my tragic results for D1, I started digging through whatever somewhat related results did pop up on Google. I was kind of looking for advice, but I was more so looking to feel less alone in my failing mark.

SIDE NOTE – This is a post on crushing a Diploma unit the SECOND TIME AROUND… (D1 specifically) but you may still find value in it if you are just getting started, or are taking another relatable exam. This post doesn’t go over what is required in Diploma or tips for getting started, but here are some good articles on those topics if you want to check them out:

1. WSET Diploma Part 1: Where To Start? (Cape of Good Wine)

2. WSET Diploma: Retrospective (Vitamin Vino)

I’ve been sharing my adventures in studying through multiple exams (CMS Certified, CSW, WSET3) through social media, and have always thought to myself …”what if I don’t pass…what if I have to share a failing result with “the whole world” (aka: my valuable community), which has always caused me to quickly change my mentality to “Nah…that won’t happen…I am a great test taker…I will pass”. Reality check: WSET Diploma does not care if you are a great test taker or if you’ve passed other exams with flying colors. This is exam is truly unlike any other. There are layers and layers to it, and you have to be “all in”, fully understand the material, and most importantly, understand the exam conditions (my downfall). I finally got my first exam fail the first week of January 2024. Huge curveball to the start of the year.

Ouch. 

If this is you right now for any exam, I want you to know that you probably knew your stuff, you studied hard, you are smart, your brain is not broken, and you are certainly not alone.

It’s painful to see this word on paper, but it’s extra painful knowing the time and energy you put into it. Diploma is a huge time and energy commitment. And, of course, there is also the sting of seeing other’s passing results get thrown around at that time. When it comes down to pass or fail, many do pass, and should absolutely share and celebrate their wins (I am all for that), but we see very little of the latter.

Looking at Diploma specifically, D3 is said to be the most challenging, (that’s the one I thought I may have to retake) NOT this one…not at the very beginning, but here we are.
Once I put my agonizing results out there, I heard from countless others who have experienced the same results through many different units. All of them are difficult in their own way. I can only personally speak on D1. But if you have failed any unit, just know you are in good company.

• First of all, go ahead and have your pity party for a few days. Normal human reaction. Let it be. Feel your feelings. Blame the exam (it’s mean). Complain. Cry a little.

• After that’s over it’s time to decide whether or not you want to contest your grade.

You can pay around $200 USD to challenge your result. What that means is they will regrade it and if you pass, they will refund you that $200. Sounds great until you think about the fact that you may get the same failing result. If you do get another ‘fail’ you have now lost $200, wasted 10 weeks waiting for a re-grade, and have to pay another $200 to retake.

I told myself I had to be close to passing (I’m sure everyone tells themselves this), but I’m not a gambler, and I didn’t want to see the dreaded ‘fail’ again. I have never left any other exam with such apprehension. I also had an opportunity to do better than just a pass. Another deciding factor was the cutoff to retake it (I wasn’t about to wait 10 weeks to have to sign up to take it again). I chose to just retake the exam.

I do know of a few students who have contested and it DID work out in their favor.

Go with your gut here. How do you really feel you did (did you leave feeling like you passed with flying colors or did you leave with extreme concern)? Do you want to wait on results again? Are you willing to drop an extra $200 if it doesn’t work out in your favor? Would you rather get a higher result than pass? Be honest with yourself. There are no wrong answers here, just whatever feels right with your personal experience.

• Also, you can decide whether or not you want feedback. 

This will cost you around $150 USD. Many have done this and are grateful for it. As an educator, I think it’s a complete abomination to make someone pay to see their exact results after paying to take a test. Putting a price on transparency and charging people extra so see ‘how they did’ and ‘where they lost points’ is kind of gross from an ethics standpoint. I’m just going to leave this right here and if anyone has any commentary to explain otherwise. I’m here for good conversation. I can understand why you would want to see this in certain situations, so again, best to think about whether or not you know where your weaknesses were!
I’m pretty sure I knew my shortcomings and was ready to tackle those.

• Finally – if you decide to retake, pick up your notes again and get moving. The second time around is “payback time”.

#1 – Reread the text (kind of)

Many of the people who passed the exam the first time around had read the text multiple times. ‘Yours truly’ read it once. Also, I read it as I was starting the classes. Big mistake. Woulda, coulda, shoulda started earlier.
The thought of re-reading this text after my results sounded really dry and boring, so I found a comprehensive copy of a text that went through similar sections. After you read the D1 text, feel free to get your hands on Vines & Vinification by Sally Easton MW – I found it more ‘refreshing’. If you know of other recommended texts similar to other units, please let me know and I will add them!

#2 – Focused on the command words a lot more

It’s easy to read the questions and then dump everything you know about that subject on paper. After the first exam, I re-analyzed my questions and realized I wrote SO much “fluff” that I didn’t need to include. The questions clearly ask what they are looking for.
For example:
Describe phylloxera and identify common symptoms of a phylloxera-infested vineyard.
This is asking us to give characteristics of Phylloxera (what it is) and list a few symptoms (how the vine is affected).
NOT explain everything you know about Phylloxera.
NOT list how it’s treated.
NOT compare it with other diseases.
You have to pretend you are writing to someone who knows nothing about the subject and only hit on what they are asking. Link everything back to the question…“This is because”, “As a result”, etc.
Seems so simple until you get into the room, read the question with exam nerves, and “brain dump” away.

#3 – Practiced writing in an exam setting TIMED

Time management is the most stressful thing in an exam setting. I had practiced writing the first time, but not timed or every day. Writing with an exam setting ‘feel’ multiple times EVERY SINGLE DAY leading up to my second round, had me incredibly comfortable with the act of it. I didn’t always write for 2 hours. Sometimes I’d answer just one question (within the time frame of what the points required). But I wrote daily.

#4 – Studied my pain points more than I wanted

This is the last thing you want to do, but I worked with an awesome coach (Noelle Harman from Elevage) who sent me a page full of questions from my hardest areas. This way I not only had to remember the information, but write it out the correct way. It helped me feel extra confident in ALL areas.

During the Exam:

Going into the exam the second time around means you can visualize it better. So that was helpful. The one thing I did differently with time management, was once the exam started, I read question #1 and outlined/bulleted my response before looking at question #2 or any of the other questions. Then, once I had my ‘plan’ for all of the questions, I started writing them out. Additional information would pop into my head as I was writing out the response form of my bullet points. It was a very calm flow for me, and I will probably do this every unit.

The first time around, I read all the questions before I even started ‘planning’ my answers, and that overloaded my brain. I was not focused on the question at hand, because my brain was trying to fire information for every question at me (if that makes sense). So I then had mediocre planning and just tried to get whatever I could on paper.

I traveled to Chicago to retake D1 in March (2 months after my initial result) and got my Pass with Merit a week ago. It honestly felt better than any other pass I’ve gotten the first time around (even though it wasn’t the best pass I’ve ever gotten). It’s a whole different vibe. So if you have to retake any exam, know that that is on the other side.

A few huge reality checks:

•  Diploma is achievable at any rate. You don’t need to plow through it.

It’s easy to see everyone rush to take the next unit, and feel like you need try and finish it within 2 years. It’s easy to forget that not everyone is living the same life. Not everyone has the same responsibilities, time, resources, brain power at certain times etc. We all have our own ‘seasons’. Focus on YOUR season. No comparison. Now that I’ve let go of caring about when I finish, I will sign up for D2 (and each unit after) when I have ample time to enjoy the unit (because I want to enjoy Diploma), while enjoying my life (very important). Of course, within reason… I’d like to not be taking this exam for years on end (my extended family is already wondering how I’m not done with exams, in general, yet).

• Diploma is a commitment. Not a side project.

Diploma requires a lot of attention. It will be a big part of your day to day if you take the plunge. Accepting that and creating the time to work on it in bits, can be extremely enjoyable.

It’s also intense and overwhelming at times. It’s both. You can’t go into it with a one sided mindset.

If you decide to take the plunge, you will learn more information than you thought possible. You will make better connections and have exciting discoveries. You’ll look at facts you learned in other exams, and use them to explain things like you’ve never explained them before.

I’ve never looked so lovingly at a tech sheet in my life.

Wherever you are at, and even if it’s not the diploma exam, I hope this was helpful. I still have 5 more results to navigate. We’re ‘just getting started’ over here. I do hope that with whatever exam you are working through, you never have to see these words on paper or share this news …but if you do, I’m right here to commiserate with you! 

Elevage Wine Coaching (get coaching/support)

I’m lucky to have had a relationship with these ladies early on, but even if you have just met them, they are fabulous. Outside of being fabulous, they are ready and willing to help students tackle any unit. Highly recommend coaching if you are worried about any part of Diploma. This gave me outside perspective and help in the areas I needed it most, as well as additional support and motivation.

This Facebook Group

If you are signed up for Diploma, take advantage of this awesome community. I am blown away by all of the connections and shared resources on this group. I got a lot of my D1 practice questions here. People ask great questions and give feedback. Highly recommend.