Examination Breakdown

The examinations can be broken down to one called theory (which consist of four examination components) and secondly the practical (which consists of 3 additional examination components).

All 6 components of the examinations must be passed with a 70% in each; meaning this is not a combined average but rather the mastering of each component is essential. This is a multilayered exam process. The examinations are completely based on the curriculum, book, lectures, and videos, (you should prepare to allocate an average of about a minimum of 10 to 1-hour ratio of additional home studying to be successful) whether online or in class delivery.

Here is a precise overview of the examinations. The examinations are split into 3 consecutive days.

Theory Examination

Theory 1 - Multiple Choice: It is based and determined by the number of curricular hours devoted to that topic and therefore although that may fluctuate every single year, one could never have a completely disproportionate allotment to a country that currently is 40th in production. However, please remember that as the fluctuation changes and the bottom producing players have increase market share, so will the readjustment of question proportionality be reflected in the exams.

The ISG’s approach to multiple choice is not unique and follows standard educational standards. Students are provided with 4 possible answers (a, b, c, or d) and only one of those answers is correct; there is no room for judgment. This is what we would call overview so that every subject can be addressed.

The examination consists of 300 questions with an allocation of 3 hours in total.

Theory 2 - Essays: This section consists of 10 essay topics. Students are required to produce these essays so that the ISG can evaluate the depth and breadth of the student’s knowledge. Each essay must be at least 1,100-1,200 words plus.

The student’s economy of expression and development is as critical as the quality of the information. Students are required to write in complete sentences (bullet-pointed lists are not acceptable). All essential terminology spelling and grammar will count up to 10% of the grade.

The essays will come from the following 10 subjects:

• History or Viticulture
• Vinification
• France
• Italy
• Iberian Peninsula
• European Cool Climate (Germany, Austria or Switzerland), Middle or Eastern Europe, Mediterranean/Levant or Asia Minor
• United States
• Oceania or South America
• Sparkling
• Fortified or Distillates

The examination has an allocation of 10 hours in total.

Theory 3 - Sommelier Management: 3 Essays are to be written within the scope of: the sommelier business, management of a food outlet at any size, investment and inventory with respect to the food outlet the question asks, sales and marketing, or social media and wine business impact.

Each of the 3 essays are to be written in proper full sentence and paragraph writing development format and bullet points are not acceptable. Each essay is to be no less than 1,100-1,200 words words in length. All essential terminology spelling and grammar will count up to 10% off the grade.

The examination has an allocation of 3 hours in total.

Theory 4 - Table d’hôte Food Menus: Given the importance of wine and food pairing to the sommelier profession, the ISG uses the menus in this section as an evaluative tool. Students are required to show that they are able to read a menu description, understand the primary structural and aromatic components of a dish, and then suggest two precise wines (name, producer, vintage), one being a traditional match while a second one being a different wine completely for each plate.

The examination has an allocation of 3 hours in total.

Practical Examination

Practical 1 - Blind Tasting: 24 products arranged in 5 flights: sparkling wines, rosé & white wines, red wines, and a flight including spirits, sake, beer, cider, fortified wines, dessert wines, flavored wines, and faulty wines.

The examination has an allocation of 4 hours in total.

Practical 2 - Service: The goal is to see a student’s ability to serve wine and to communicate about wine, food, and service with guests. This includes proper service of sparkling wine and red wine decanting.

The examination has no specific time allocation, but typically most students average between 30-45 minutes from beginning to end.

Practical 3 - Cellar Management Practicum: The Cellar Management Practicum is a skill-building assignment which must be completed by all ISG sommelier students. The goal of the assignment is to introduce students to the practical managerial elements of the sommelier position and help them develop a skill set for the hospitality workplace.

The Practicum is divided into 7 sections and must be addressed prior to examination commencement.