For anyone taking a higher level of qualifications through WSET, you will run up against the need to write short answer questions if you are to be successful in passing. The approach to gaining the most points when answering these questions is often a little illusive for American students, as the British have a fairly specific way they like to ask, and then have answered, exam questions. Really what it means is understanding how to break down the question, and answer it correctly. Often students will read a question but not focus on the keywords in the question that should guide your answering. Words like State, Identify Explain, Describe and List all considered command verbs, and these verbs are the link to how you should approach your answer formation.

When I write an answer, the first thing I am doing is circling the command verbs and any other key words in the question that will get me the most concise answer. Many students read a question, think they know what is being asked, and then download a lot of info on the topic. This is usually not a good approach. It can waste time in the exam. It also may not touch on the key points that the examiners are looking for to award points. 

Below is an example of the type of question that may appear on a Level 3 Spirits exam, along with a written answer. See if you can figure out how this answer would score (available 10 points), and if it is a successfully written answer or where there are mistakes. I will post next week with the answer to how successful this answer was and the points awarded.

Describe how the two types of condenser used in malt whisky distilleries in Scotland work and explain how the type and/or design of the condenser can affect the style of malt whisky that is produced. (10 marks)
 
In Scotch malt whisky production, there are two types of condensers used to cool vapors back into liquid form: Shell and Tube condensers, and Worm Tube condensers.

In a typical still set-up, each of these condensers are located at the end of the Lyne Arm and take in heated vapors from the pot still at the top of their units, while a coolant, usually cold water, is input at the bottom of the unit and taken out at the top. As the vapor comes into contact with the coolant it condenses back to liquid form and flows down the unit eventually being collected via an output at the bottom. The coolant gains heat from the vapors and is collected from the top of the condenser unit.

The difference between a Shell and Tube and a Worm Tube condenser is how the vapor and the coolant each move through the unit.

In a shell and tube style condenser, the coolant is kept in a series of tubes that circulate through the cavity of the condenser, which is also known as the shell. The vapor is pushed into the cavity and comes into contact with the cool tubes, which are often made of copper. This model is generally preferred as it allows for a high level of surface contact of the vapor / distillate to come into contact with the copper tubes. This creates a more efficient system while also allow for removal of more sulfur compounds, thus producing a lighter, cleaner style whisky. While the worm tube version has a tube (worm) that the vapors are contained within, and this tube is coiled within the body of the condenser. The coolant circulates around the worm and pulls the heat from the distillate. Because there is less contact with cooper in this version, the whisky produced here is often richer and bolder in style.
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New England Wine Academy is very pleased to announce a new partnership with Julia Menn, as an associate educator. Julia will be guiding students through Levels 1 and 2 Wine Awards, with class set-up and delivered as hybrid sessions. What is a Hybrid session? Glad you asked...

Hybrid sessions are classes that are offered with the delivery being done online via a webinar format. The real difference here is that during the class sessions you will have facetime with a real instructor. The WSET Online model is a great format, but the only small drawback is that you are not in a live session with an instructor. And while the instructors are great at getting back to students with answers to questions, and tasting note feedback, there is really nothing like having a person answer your questions and give you all the information needed, right then and there.
 
Julia has earned her Level 3 in Wine, works in the wine industry, and even teaches classes on her own. You can read her bio by clicking here.

We are pleased to offer two WSET wine levels, initially, starting in February and March, with Julia as your guide and instructor. Click on the buttons below for full details, and do not be afraid to ask us questions. Cheers

We are working hard here at The Academy, and we have updated all course descriptions and schedules for the remainder of the 2020 calendar year, as well as into 2021. Please refer to the "Classes" tab above for full descriptions, or click on "Shop" to go directly to the class list. We have also added options for anyone needing to resit an exam - this is for Levels 1, 2, and 3 - wine, and Level 1 or 2 in spirits. Once you book a resit then a date will be coordinated with you depending on the schedule needed.

This past week, WSET added several more options for online wine courses at Levels 1, 2, and 3. These dates have been added due to demand. Additional classes are scheduled to begin throughout the remainder of 2020, and well into 2021. Class registration deadline is generally 7 days prior to the course date.

With the year drawing to a close (thank goodness!), we are offering a number of end-of-year courses at discount. 
All Level 1 Wine courses are currently on sale with added discounts for the last few 2020 start dates getting even more aggressive. These are the ever-popular introductory course, and are designed to build a foundation for further learning.​ 

The last Level 2 Wine course for 2020 online, is also being offered at a 10% discount off the regular low-low price. Take advantage of this one as it is a great price for this course, which is one of the most popular offered by WSET. ​

Monday April 6th is the last day to register for the April 13th start date for Level 3 Wine Award. Those wishing to participate in this hybrid class should click here for full details and to register for the class. The April 13 start date runs through June 14, and as of now will have an expected exam date of August 1.

The Level 3 Award in Wine is a comprehensive class that looks to devote about 90 hours of study time, and involves the review of wines from around the world.

For a complete list of class dates and description of class details, please click the link to the CLASSES page. For any questions related to this or other offerings, please email bmitchell@newenglandwineacademy.com.

New England Wine Academy has added a Level 3 Award in Wine session to the regular line-up for hybrid class offerings. This is in response to the demand for more online learning availability while everyone is basically stuck at home or slowed down for the next few weeks/months.

The Level 3 Award in Wine is a comprehensive class that looks to devote about 90 hours of study time, and involves the review of wines from around the world.

For a complete list of class dates and description of class details, please click the link to the CLASSES page. For any questions related to this or other offerings, please email bmitchell@newenglandwineacademy.com.

At the moment (March 23, 2020), we have moved into uncharted waters with schools, events, and most other functions of daily life coming to a standstill, at least for the next several weeks or perhaps months. With this in mind New England Wine Academy wants to assure its current students that there will be no disruption to online studies.

For any current student with an exam date scheduled for March 28, due to the mandated shutdown, the exams will be rescheduled to the earliest convenient date allowed. We will be reaching out this week to each candidate to notify them of this change. The next regularly scheduled exam date is June 6, and so this is the date that we are planning to use as the fall-back for the moment. If an earlier date can be scheduled then we will certainly put that in place, but with all of the uncertainty at the moment it is impossible to say for sure what we will be doing until the State of CT allows for people to gather and businesses to re-open. The tasting workshops associated with these classes will also be rescheduled as needed and consolidated with the Spring class sessions - assuming those dates are still held as scheduled.

WSET is working to expand offerings for online and webcasting, as well as exam invigilation. Some of these processes are easier to implement than others, but we are working as a group to adapt to the current situation as quickly as possible. If we are able to get exam invigilation via online access, then we will proceed as quickly as possible with exams. At this point, nothing is currently in place to allow this, though.

If you are thinking of taking one of the WSET sessions offered by New England Wine Academy, there are several deadlines to be aware of for the March starting dates.

 Level 3 Award in Wines
hybrid-online class starting March 16
Deadline to register is Monday March 2 - TODAY!
Click on the link to the left for complete details and class description

 Level 2 Award in Spirits
hybrid-online class starting March 16
Deadline to register is Monday March 2 - TODAY!
Click on the link to the left for complete details and class description

 Level 2 Award in Wines
hybrid-online class starting March 23
Deadline to register is Monday March 9, 2020
Click on the link to the left for complete details and class description