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® Specification Specification for the WSET ® Level 1 Award in Spirits www.wsetglobal.com ‘confidence for front line staff’ ‘confidence for front line staff’ ISSUE FOUR AUGUST 2012

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®

SpecificationSpecification for the

WSET® Level 1Awardin Spirits

www.wsetglobal.com

‘confidence for front line staff’‘confidence for front line staff’

ISSUE FOUR • AUGUST 2012

Level 1 Specification (Spirits) 2012 web_Spirits_Spec04_web 03/04/2012 15:41 Page 1

Contents

1-6 Introduction

7-8 WSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits

9-11 Unit – Spirits Product Knowledge

12 Example questions and assessment task

13-15 Examination Regulations

16 Notes

This specification contains necessary information for both candidates and programme

providers about the WSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits.

The main part of the document is a detailed statement of learning outcomes. These

outcomes should be used by providers to prepare programmes of learning, and by

candidates to plan their studies, because the examination is set to test these outcomes.

The specification also provides syllabus weighting, study and examination guidance

including the examination regulations.

The WSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits

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1

‘confidence for front line staff ’‘confidence for front line staff ’

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2 Introduction

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust Qualifications

WSET® Awards is the

qualifications division of the

Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

We provide quality-assured qualificationsthat help people to know more aboutalcoholic beverages and to develop theirtasting skills. We do this by:

• liaising with the drinks industryto set suitable specifications

• approving programme providersto offer our qualifications

• setting examinations

• issuing certificates to successfulcandidates.

The development and awarding ofWSET® accredited qualifications is thesole responsibility of WSET® Awards,the Awarding Body of The Wine & SpiritEducation Trust.

Qualification Frameworks

The UK Government has established anew regulatory authority, the Office ofthe Qualifications and ExaminationsRegulator (OfQual), which regulatesAwarding organisations who offerqualifications on the Qualifications andCurriculum Framework (QCF). WSET®

qualifications are included in the QCF aslisted below.

Full Title : The WSET® Level 1 Award in Wines

QCF Level : 1 Accreditation number 600/1504/4

Description : This qualification provides a basic introduction to the main styles of wines availableto front-line staff involved in the service or sale of wine. The qualification aims toprovide the basic product knowledge and skills in the storage and service of winesrequired to prepare a person for their first job in wine hospitality or retail.

Full Title : The WSET® Level 1 Award in Wine Service

Description : This qualification builds on the knowledge and skills taught in the Level 1 Awardin Wines, and shows how these can be used in a restaurant workplace. It is idealfor anyone who needs to gain basic skills in wine service, including those wishingto make their first steps into a career as a sommelier.

Qualifications and Curriculum Framework

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3Introduction continued

Qualifications and Curriculum Framework continued

Full Title : The WSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits

QCF Level : 1 Accreditation number 600/1501/9

Description : This qualification provides a basic introduction to the main categories of spirits available to front-line staff involved in the service or sale of spirits. The qualificationaims to provide basic product knowledge to prepare a person for a role inhospitality or the spirits industry.

Full Title : The WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits

QCF Level : 2 Accreditation number 600/1507/X

Description : This qualification offers a greater breadth and depth of knowledge in the specificarea of spirits and liqueurs than that offered by the broader-based Level 2Award in Wines and Spirits. This qualification offers focused coverage of allproduct categories in the field of spirits, end use of the identified productstogether with the theory of tasting technique.

Full Title : The WSET® Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits

QCF Level : 2 Accreditation number 600/1508/1

Description : This qualification offers broad coverage of all product categories in the field ofalcoholic drinks, together with the theory of tasting technique. It is suitable forthose with little previous experience.

Full Title : The WSET® International Higher Certificate in Wines and Spirits

Description : The International Higher Certificate gives more comprehensive coverage of thewines and spirits of the world, with an increased focus on tasting technique

Full Title : The WSET® Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits

QCF Level : 3 Accreditation number 600/1511/1

Description : The Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits gives more comprehensive coverage of thewines and spirits of the world, with an increased focus on tasting technique.

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4 Introduction continued

National Qualifications Framework continued

Full Title : The WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits

Description : This is a specialist qualification where detailed knowledge is combined withcommercial factors and a thorough system for the professional evaluation of wines and spirits. The Diploma is recommended by the Institute of Masters of Wine for candidates wishing to pursue membership.

Full Title : The WSET® Level 5 Honours Diploma in Wines and Spirits

Description : This is an individual research project, where students can develop higher-levelresearch, evaluation and analytical skills in a specialist wine and spirit subject oftheir choice.

BS EN ISO 9001:2008

WSET® Awards operates a Quality Management System whichcomplies with the requirements of BS EN ISO 9001:2008 for themanagement of awards for qualifications and examinations in theproduct knowledge and tasting competence of alcoholic beverages. BS EN ISO 9001:2008

FS 66504

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5Introduction continued

The WSET® Level 1 Award in Spiritsdoes not specifically assess any ofthe key skills. However, it is consid-ered that there are opportunities forstudents to develop certain key skills.

For the benefit of tutors and students,a mapping key for the six key skillshas been produced. The mapping keywill give examples where, in thenatural course of study for a WSET®

Level 1 Award in Spirits, it is possibleto practice and generate evidence inkey skills. It should be noted that theopportunities for developing keyskills and generating evidence mightbe affected by the mode of studyadopted.

Not all key-skills requirements arecovered by the WSET® Level 1 Awardin Spirits. We, therefore, advise thatany student who wishes to completethe key-skills requirements shouldcontact a specialist key-skills advisorwho should be able to give suitableadvice for the completion of tasks.

However, two of the key skills havebeen identified where it is possible todevelop and practice key skills:

• communication

• improving own-learningand performance.

How to prepare for the Level 1Award in Spirits

WSET® qualifications can only beoffered by organisations approved byWSET® Awards, known as ApprovedProgramme Providers (APPs) andstudents wishing to study for aWSET qualification must enrol withan APP. The student’s relationship iswith their APP and the APP isresponsible for the delivery of thecourse and administering the exami-nation, which is set by WSET®

Awards.

Group study with an APP is the bestway of learning how to taste, butsome APPs also prepare candidatesfor our examinations by distancelearning.

A list of Approved ProgrammeProviders (APPs) in the United Kingdomand overseas is published on theWSET® website (www.wsetglobal.com).Please contact the APP directly tofind out about their programmes.

Development of Key Skills

• Key Skills

The UK Government, through theOffice of the Qualifications andExaminations Regulator, has definedlevels of attainment in six key skills:communication, application of number,information technology, working withothers, improving own-learning andperformance, problem solving.

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Customer Service Statement

The quality and scope of servicecustomers can expect from WSET®

Awards is published in our CustomerService Statement. A copy can beobtained from the Centres Co-ordinatorand Quality Assurance Manager,WSET® Awards.

In the unlikely event of any dissatisfac-tion with the service received, pleasecontact the registered APP in the firstinstance. If the issue is not resolvedplease contact the Centres Co-ordina-tor and Quality Assurance Manager,WSET® Awards.

Scholarship Scheme

For those candidates employed in thedrinks business in the UK, as well as fora more limited number of candidatesfrom the general public and overseas,WSET® Awards manages a scheme tomatch outstanding candidates in theirexaminations to scholarship awardsmade available by industry sponsors.The awards are typically visits to wineor spirit producing regions. In a numberof cases, further interviews are held todetermine suitable candidates.

Please note that these scholarships donot take the form of financial grants tofund studies, but are a recognition ofexamination performance.

Further information and a current list ofscholarships are published on theWSET® website (www.wsetglobal.com).

To aid the key-skills tutor and student,we have created tracking guides for thekey skills a student should be able todemonstrate when undertaking aWSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits, andthese are available in the APPHandbook and from the WSET®website(www.wsetglobal.com).

The guides identify key-skill opportuni-ties which will occur when using therecommended WSET® Tutor Guides andLevel 1 study pack as part of the courseof study for the WSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits. Tutors who adopt alternativeapproaches to teaching may generatedifferent opportunities for the develop-ment and demonstration of key skills.

Diversity and Equality

WSET® Awards fully supports theprinciple of diversity and equality andis responsible for ensuring that allcandidates for its qualifications aretreated fairly and on an equal basis.A copy of our diversity and equalitypolicy can be obtained from theCentres Co-ordinator and QualityAssurance Manager, WSET® Awards.

6 Introduction continued

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7The WSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits

The qualification aims to providethe basic product knowledge andbackground in marketing spirits toprepare a person with the knowledgeto underpin the job skills andcompetences, for example, in posi-tions in the sale and service of spiritsin hospitality or the spirits industry.

Qualification aims

The Level 1 course is for thosepreparing for, or employees starting,their first job in hospitality or thespirits industry. The course willintroduce them, at a very basic level,to the main categories of spiritavailable, spirits service, marketingand basic product knowledge. Thiswill enable students to meet work-place or Realistic WorkingEnvironment (RWE) spirit servicestandards and deal with basic cus-tomer enquiries. The course aims toprovide students with product andservice information relevant to theirplace of employment or study.

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Progression Routes

WSET®

Level 2 Award in Spirits

This qualification offers a greaterbreadth and depth of knowledge inthe specific area of spirits andliqueurs. This qualification offersfocused coverage of all productcategories in the field of spirits, enduse of the identified products togetherwith the theory of tasting technique.

8 The WSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits continued

Enrolment

There are no restrictions on entryto the WSET® Level 1 Award inSpirits. Students who are under thelegal minimum age for the retailpurchase of alcoholic beverages inthe country where the examination isbeing held will not be allowed tosample any alcoholic beverage aspart of their course, but this is not abarrier to successfully completing thequalification. Similarly, students whochoose not to taste alcohol for health,religious or other reasons will notfind this a barrier to successfullycompleting the qualification.

Guided Learning Hours

It is recommended that the teachingtime for the programme is no less thansix and a half hours and should be nomore than nine.

Qualification Unit and Learning Outcome Table

Unit Title Learning Learning Outcome Outcome TitleCode

Unit

Spirits ProductKnowledge

1

2

3

4

5

Understand the basic principles of spirit production

Understand the main types and styles of spirits available

Know how to serve spirits to customers

Understand the basic principles of marketing used forthe sale of spirits

Understand the issues relating to the safe consumptionof spirits

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9Unit - Spirits Product Knowledge

TYPES OF RAW MATERIALS

Sugar Fruit (grapes), vegetable (sugar cane)

Starch Grains (maize, barley, wheat, rye), vegetables(blue agave, potato)

PRODUCTION PROCESSES

Pre-distillation Fermentation

Distillation Pot still, continuous still, distillation strength

Post Distillation Ageing, blending, additions (water, caramel, flavours,sugar)

LEARNING OUTCOME ONE – UNDERSTAND THE BASIC PRINCIPLES

OF SPIRIT PRODUCTION

Assessment Criteria

1. Identify the types of raw materials used in the production of spirits.

2. Outline the general production processes for spirits.

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10 Unit - Spirits Product Knowledge continued

MAIN SPIRIT CATEGORIES

Categories Vodka, Rum, Tequila, Whisk(e)y, Gin, Cognac, Liqueurs

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE MAIN STYLES OF SPIRIT

Raw material Fruit, vegetable, grain

How spirit is made Fermentation, type of still, distillation strength, ageing,blending, additions

STYLE AND CHARACTERISTICS

Colour colourless – golden – brown – other

Aroma and light – medium – pronouncedflavour intensity

Aroma and flavour e.g. fruity, floral, vegetable, grain, spice, herb, oakcharacteristics

Other alcohol, body, sweetness

Finish short – longsimple – complex

LEARNING OUTCOME TWO - UNDERSTAND THE MAIN TYPES AND STYLES

OF SPIRITS AVAILABLE

Assessment Criteria

1. Identify the main spirit categories available.

2. Describe the styles and characteristics of spirits made withinthe categories.

3. Indicate the factors that determine the main styles of spiritwithin the categories.

Recommended Tasting Samples

2 White rums1 Dark rum2 Tequilas3 Whiskies2 Gins2 Cognacs2 Liqueurs

WSET LEVEL 1 SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO TASTING SPIRITS®

Copyright Wine & Spirit Education Trust 2012

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11

LEARNING OUTCOME THREE – KNOW HOW TO SERVE SPIRITS TO CUSTOMERS

Assessment Criteria

1. Indicate the different ways in which spirits are served.

2. Identify which category of spirit serve is appropriate for different spirits.

LEARNING OUTCOME FIVE – UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES RELATING TO THE

SAFE CONSUMPTION OF SPIRITS

Assessment Criteria

1. State the legal issues relating to the serving and consumption of spirits.

2. State the social, health and safety issues relating to the serving and

consumption of spirits.

LEARNING OUTCOME FOUR – UNDERSTAND THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING

USED FOR THE SALE OF SPIRITS

Assessment Criteria

1. Indicate the different ways that spirits are marketed.

Unit - Spirits Product Knowledge continued

LEGAL, SOCIAL, HEALTH AND SAFTETY ISSUES

Social Safe consumption of alcoholresponsibility

MARKETING OF SPIRITS

How spirits Lifestyle, quality, heritage, point of differenceare marketed

SERVICE OF SPIRITS

Drink style Sipping, mixed drinks, cocktails

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12 Unit - Spirits Product Knowledge continued

Examples of Level 1 Examination Questions

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust does not release past papers for the WSET®

Level 1 examination.

The multiple-choice examination papers are carefully compiled to reflect theweighting given to the learning outcomes of the Unit. The chart below gives abreakdown of the allocation of examination questions to each of the learningoutcomes of the Unit.

To give students an idea of the sort of questions which might be asked, here isa selection. The examination consists of 30 questions similar to these, to becompleted in a maximum of 45 minutes.

2. “Colourless, medium intensityof pepper and grass.” Whichone of the following spirits doesthis describe?

a) Silver Tequila.

b) Aged rum.

c) Blended whisky.

d) VS Cognac.

Answers to example questions:

1) b.

2) a.

1. Grapes are the raw materialfor which one of the followingspirits?

a) Whisky.

b) Cognac.

c) Rum.

d) Tequila.

Unit Title Learning Outcome QuestionsTitle per Paper

Unit

Learning Outcome 1 Understand the basic principles of spirit production

Learning Outcome 2 Understand the main types and styles of spirits available

Learning Outcomes Know how to serve spirits to customers3 and 4 Understand the basic principles of marketing used for

the sale of spirits

Learning Outcome 5 Understand the issues relating to the safe consumptionof spirits

Total Questions

6

16

5

3

30

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13Examination Regulations

2 Format and Results

2.1 Candidates will be required to pass asingle-unit examination:

A closed-book examination thatconsists of 30 multiple-choicequestions worth one mark each. Atotal mark of 70% is required toachieve a pass.

2.2 All examination questions are basedon the published learning outcomesand the recommended study materialscontain the information required toanswer these questions correctly.

2.3 Results for successful candidates willbe issued to APPs within 2 week fromreceipt of the completed scripts.

2.4 WSET® Awards does not offer aegrotatawards, all assessment requirementsof the qualification must be met.

3 Reasonable Adjustments

Examination candidates who have specialexamination requirements, which aresupported by independent written assess-ment, are requested to notify the examina-tions officer at their APP of any suchrequirement at the time of enrolment.Further guidance for examination officersand candidates is available from WSET®

Awards as required.

It is the policy of WSET® Awards that suchcandidates should not be placed at adisadvantage in the examinations.

Candidates are responsible for informingtheir APP of any such requirement beforeevery assessment.

1 Entry Requirements

1.1 Eligibility

1.1.1 Candidates applying to sit the examination must be over the legalminimum age for the retail purchaseof alcoholic beverages in the countrywhere the examination is being held,or be preparing for the examinationas part of a recognised full-timeprogramme of study, or haveobtained parental consent.

1.1.2 There are no restrictions on entry tothe Level 1 Award in Spirits throughoverlaps with other qualifications orparts of qualifications.

1.1.3 Students who are under the legalminimum age for the retail purchaseof alcoholic beverages in the countrywhere the examination is being heldwill not be allowed to sample anyalcoholic beverage as part of theircourse, but this is not a barrier tosuccessfully completing the qualifi-cation. Similarly, students whochoose not to taste alcohol forhealth, religious or other reasons willnot find this a barrier to successfullycompleting the qualification.

1.2 Recommended Prior Learning

1.2.1 There are no requirements forcandidates to have previous knowl-edge or previous experience of alco-holic beverages.

1.2.2 The indicative levels of literacy andnumeracy required for the examina-tion are as follows:

literacy: Level 1 of the UK basicskills national standards, orequivalent level of literacy in thelanguage used for the examination

numeracy: Level 1 of the UK basicskills national standards, orequivalent.

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14 Examination Regulations continued

• candidates who complete theexamination/assessment early mayleave the examination room up untilthe last 10 minutes, providing they donot disturb other candidates, no re-admission is permitted

• invigilators have no authority tocomment upon, interpret, or express anopinion on any examination question

• any candidate who is suspected ofmisconduct will be advised to leavethe examination hall immediatelyand their examination paper will besubmitted to the Examination Panelto determine its validity and any futureban on sitting papers

• no examination question papers areto be removed from the examinationhall, candidates who fail to submitthe question paper with their answersheet will be deemed guilty of mis-conduct.

5.2 Candidates also agree to abide by theinvigilator’s instructions. Failure to doso may render a candidate’s resultsinvalid.

5.3 Examination papers submitted formarking become the property ofWSET® Awards and will not bereturned to candidates.

4 Resits

Candidates may apply to resit if they areunsuccessful. There is no limit on thenumber of attempts that may be made.

Candidates who have passed units are notpermitted to retake them to improve theirgrade.

5 Examination Conditions and Conduct

5.1 It is a condition of entry that candi-dates agree to the following specificconditions:

• at the start of the examination allcandidates must supply the invigilatorwith proof of identity in the form ofphotographic ID

• the examination is to be completedin a maximum of 45 minutes

• no reference is to be made to anymaterial, in whatever form, other thanthe examination question paper andanswer sheet

• no communication of any kindbetween candidates is permitted

• the use of electronic devices of anykind is prohibited

• the use of dictionaries of any kindis prohibited

• the use of audible “alarms” on anyclock or watch is prohibited

• candidates who arrive after thepublished start time may be allowedto enter the room at the discretion ofthe invigilator and only if other candi-dates are not compromised

• candidates may not leave the roomuntil the first 15 minutes of theexamination time have elapsed

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15Examination Regulations continued

7 Student Satisfaction

Should any student have concerns thattheir APP is not providing the service thatthey expect, or is behaving in a way thatis inconsistent with the standards requiredin terms of administration, tuition orexaminations they should first take this up with their APP. If this does not lead to a satisfactory resolution, students are asked to contact our Quality AssuranceManager, by email at [email protected] note that all complaints will be dealtwith confidentially, but WSET® Awardscannot act on anonymous complaints.

8 WSET® Awards Regulations

WSET® Awards reserves the right to add to,or alter, any of these regulations as itthinks fit.

6 Examination Feedback,

Enquiries and Appeals

Candidates requiring feedback and/or anenquiry (re-mark) on their examinationpaper should contact their APP andrequest an Application Form for Feedbackand Enquiries Against ExaminationResults. The form must be completed andsubmitted to WSET® Awards along with theappropriate fee within 6 weeks of the dateof the examination. Any request receivedoutside of this time frame will not bereviewed. Feedbacks and enquiries willbe issued within 2 weeks of receipt byWSET® Awards.

Any candidate unsatisfied with the result ofan enquiry of an examination paper shouldcontact the APP and request an Appealagainst Examination Results ApplicationForm, which must be completed andreturned to WSET® Awards, together withthe appropriate fee, no more than 10working days following notification of theenquiry decision. Appeals received outsideof this time frame will not be reviewed.Appeals will be issued within 2 weeks ofreceipt by WSET® Awards

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16 Notes

Level 1 Specification (Spirits) 2012 web_Spirits_Spec04_web 03/04/2012 15:41 Page 16

Wine and Spirit Education Trust39-45 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF United KingdomEmail: [email protected]: www.wsetglobal.com

© Wine & Spirit Education Trust 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior permission in writing from thepublishers; with the exception of duplication in its entirety for the personal use of individuals preparing for a WSET® qualification.

Design and artwork by Design Study Limited +44 (0)20 8763 2582

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To obtain a list of Approved Programme Providers (APPs) closest to you, where youcan study or sit an examination, please see the WSET® website: www.wsetglobal.com

To obtain the APP Registration Pack, a copy of our Diversity and Equality Policy andour Customer Service StatementContact WSET

®Awards

Telelphone: +44 (0)20 7089 3840 • Fax: +44 (0)20 7089 3846email: [email protected]

WSET® Contacts

Wine & Spirit Education TrustInternational Wine & Spirit Centre • 39-45 Bermondsey Street • London • SE1 3XF • United Kingdom

Wine & Spirit Education Trust

International Wine & Spirit Centre39-45 Bermondsey StreetLondon SE1 3XF

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7089 3800

Fax: +44 (0)20 7089 3847

email: [email protected]

website: www.wsetglobal.com

WSET® gratefully acknowledges the support of the following CORPORATE PATRONS in helping to promote excellence in wineand spirit product training and qualifications:

SILVER Patrons

BRONZE Patrons

GOLD Patrons

For any other enquiries,please see the WSET®

website: www.wsetglobal.com

or contact WSET® Awards

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