WSET Pass, Merit and Distinction: Grade Bands by Level
The official grade bands for WSET Levels 1, 2 and 3 in wines. Updated 23 September 2026.
Unofficial study resource · not affiliated with or endorsed by WSET®The short answer
Level 1 is pass or fail: 70% (21 of 30) passes. Level 2 passes at 55% (28 of 50), gives a Merit at 70% (35 of 50) and a Distinction at 85% (43 of 50). Level 3 needs 55% in every paper to pass, then grades your overall mark: Merit at 65%, Distinction at 80% with no paper below 65%.
Level 2: grade bands and correct answers
| Grade | Mark | Correct out of 50 |
|---|---|---|
| Pass with Distinction | 85% or more | 43 to 50 |
| Pass with Merit | 70% to 84% | 35 to 42 |
| Pass | 55% to 69% | 28 to 34 |
| Fail | 45% to 54% | 23 to 27 |
| Fail unclassified | 44% or below | 22 or fewer |
Each question is worth one mark and wrong answers lose nothing, so answer every question. The gap between Pass and Merit is seven questions, and between Merit and Distinction eight.
Level 3: pass every paper, then an overall grade
Level 3 has a theory unit and a tasting unit. The theory unit is two papers taken in two hours: 50 multiple-choice questions, and four written questions worth 25 marks each. The tasting unit is a 30-minute blind tasting of two wines. To pass you need 55% in each paper on its own; a strong multiple-choice score does not rescue a weak written paper. Once you pass both units, WSET grades your aggregate mark across all the papers.
| Grade | Mark needed |
|---|---|
| Pass with Distinction | 80% or more overall, and no paper below 65% |
| Pass with Merit | 65% to 79% overall |
| Pass | 55% to 64% overall |
| Fail | 45% to 54% overall |
| Fail unclassified | 44% or below overall |
The Distinction rule has two parts. An 80% average is not enough if one paper, often the tasting, falls below 65%. And a resit limits you: a candidate who resits a failed unit can get Pass with Merit at most.
Level 1: pass or fail
Level 1 is 30 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes. A mark of 70% or more, which is 21 correct answers, is a Pass. There is no Merit or Distinction.
Resits and retakes
At every level you may resit a failed exam, with no limit on attempts. You may not retake a passed exam to raise your grade, so aim for your target grade the first time.
Sources: the official WSET specifications for Level 1 (Issue 1.2, 2022), Level 2 (Issue 2.1, 2026) and Level 3 (Issue 2, 2022), checked on 23 September 2026. WSET may change grade thresholds; confirm with your course provider before the exam. Correct-answer counts are our arithmetic from the percentages.
Aim for Merit or Distinction
The difference between a Pass and a Distinction at Level 2 is 15 questions. Try the free practice questions, then practise with the Eclavin app’s 2,000+ questions.
Download Eclavin on the App StoreFrequently asked questions
What is a Pass with Merit in WSET?
At Level 2, Pass with Merit is a mark of 70% to 84%, which is 35 to 42 correct answers out of 50. At Level 3 it is an aggregate mark of 65% to 79% across all the exam papers. Level 1 has no Merit grade.
How many questions do I need for a Distinction at WSET Level 2?
You need 85% or more, which is 43 correct answers out of 50. To pass you need 55%, which is 28 correct answers.
What do I need for a Distinction at WSET Level 3?
An aggregate mark of 80% or more with no individual paper below 65%. The papers are the multiple-choice paper, the written short-answer paper and the blind tasting.
Does WSET Level 1 have Merit or Distinction?
No. Level 1 is graded Pass or Fail only. You pass with 70%, which is 21 correct answers out of 30.
Can I retake a WSET exam to improve my grade?
No. Candidates who have passed may not retake the exam to improve their grade. If you fail, you may resit as often as you need. At Level 3, a candidate who resits a failed unit can get Pass with Merit at most.