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FAQ: Level I
How many tests are there in Level I?
The Program debuts with a series of eight online Level I exams:
Wines of France
Wines of the United States
Wines of Italy
Wines of Spain and Portugal
Wines of Bordeaux
Wines of the Southern Hemisphere (Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa)
Wines of Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe
Wines of Burgundy
Exams can be taken in any order.
How do I sign up?
You can reach the "Parker & Zraly Wine Certification Program" home page on eRobertParker.com from the subscriber’s home page or by clicking on "Wine Certification" in the burgundy links bar near the top of any page within the subscription part of the site. Follow the instructions on the"Parker & Zraly Wine Certification Program" home page.
What is the cost and how do I pay for each exam?
The cost is $30 per exam, payable by American Express, MasterCard, VISA, or Discover Card. eRobertParker.com subscribers only can purchase all eight exams for a one-time payment of $195.00.
What is the format of the exams?
Each exam is comprised of 50 multiple-choice questions with five possible answers per question. You will be asked to click on a Submit button when you reach the end of each section. Do not click on it until you are certain you are done with that section.
How much time do I have to complete each exam?
All tests are timed for 60 minutes.
What is the passing score?
The passing score for Level I is 80 (you must correctly answer at least 40 of the 50 questions). Your score will appear immediately after you finish the exam. You will be shown the questions you answered wrong or skipped. When you pass, you will be able to download a personalized, dated certificate, digitally signed by Robert Parker and Kevin Zraly. (Click here to view a sample certificate). Note that it should be printed in landscape orientation on your printer. If you achieve a score of 96-100 on any exam your diploma will have an "extraordinary" rating; if you score from 90-95 it will have an "outstanding" rating.
If I don't pass on the first try, can I try again?
Each participant has one month and three chances to pass each exam in Level I.
What happens after I pass all eight Level I examinations?
Congratulations! To acknowledge your wine expertise you will receive by mail a personalized Aficionado of Wine certificate, suitable for framing, personally signed by Robert Parker and Kevin Zraly. Now you are eligible to move on to Level II. If you consent, you will also be recognized on eRobertParker.com.
Where do the questions come from?
Ninety percent of all questions for the Level I examinations come from the following sources:
Bordeaux by Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The Wine Advocate
Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, 2008 edition by Kevin Zraly
Kevin Zraly's American Wine Guide, 2008 edition
The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil
Additional questions also were submitted and reviewed by The Wine Advocate and eRobertParker.com staff members including:
Antonio Galloni (Italy)
Jay Miller (Oregon, Washington, Spain, Australia, South America, Greece, and Vintage Ports)
David Schildknecht (Germany, Austria, Eastern Europe, American Eastern and Midwest, Alsace, Burgundy, Loire, Languedoc-Roussillon, Champagne, New Zealand, and South Africa)
Mark Squires (Portugal)
Neal Martin
Mark Braunstein
Julian Berkin
How were the exams designed?
The design, structure, format of the questions and answers, and scoring system were all reviewed with consultants whose expertise is education and testing (not wine). The validity, choices of the questions and answers and the order of questions in degree of difficulty were reviewed by The Wine Advocate and eRobertParker.com staff members.
What types of questions will be in the Level I exams?
- Concise questions with short answers
- Emphasis is given to matching grape varieties with wines and regions, classifications and wine laws, matching producers with regions, location of regions within the country, and the best vintage years.
- Less emphasis will be given to winemaking, viticulture, soil composition, and olfactory.
What types of questions will NOT be in the Level I exams?
From our educational experts we learned that the following do not work well in testing:
- Questions that have answers "all of the above" or "none of the above"
- Opinion-based questions
- Trick questions
- Questions with the wording EXCEPT
Any helpful hints for the Wines of France exam?
This exam includes 50 multiple choice questions covering Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Loire, Alsace, Provence, Rhone, Languedoc, and Roussillon as well as several general questions.
What you should study:
- Have an understanding of the appellation controlée
- Know which grapes are grown in each appellation
- Know what wine are from each region (ie: Sancerre/Loire Valley)
- Understand the most important French wine classifications of Burgundy and Bordeaux
- Understand French wine terms found on a label
- Know the major producers of each French wine region (ie: Drouhin/Burgundy)
Good Luck with your wine education!
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