FAQ: Level II

How do I sign up?

There is a prerequisite of Level I. You must complete Level I before you will be able to take Level II. Your status as having passed Level I will automatically appear near the top of the Wine Certification Program page in red text. Please note that there can be a delay of a few days (up to a week) between the time you actually pass Level I and when your status is officially updated. Once your status is recognized simply follow the instructions in the "Level II Exam" paragraph which will appear near the end of the "Parker & Zraly Wine Certification Program" home page if you have passed Level I.

How many tests are there in Level II?

There is one exam consisting of 100 multiple choice questions.

What is the cost and how do I pay for each exam?

The cost is $150 for the Level II exam, payable by American Express, MasterCard, VISA, or Discover Card. Only eRobertParker.com subscribers who have passed Level I can purchase this exam.

What is the format of the exam?

The exam is comprised of 100 multiple-choice questions with three possible answers per question. Approximately 60 questions come from the following countries and regions: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy, Spain, and United States. The remaining 40 questions are from the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, France, Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, and South Africa. You will be asked to click on a Submit button when you reach the end. Do not click on it until you are certain you are done.

How much time do I have to complete the exam?

Level II is timed for 90 minutes.

What is the passing score?

The passing score for Level II is 80. Your score will appear immediately after you finish the exam if you pass. You will be shown the questions you answered wrong or skipped. You will be mailed a certificate personally signed by Robert Parker and Kevin Zraly.

If I don't pass on the first try, can I try again?

Yes, you will have three opportunities to pass Level II.

What happens after I pass Level II examination?

Congratulations! To acknowledge your wine expertise you will receive by mail a personalized Connoisseur of Wine certificate, suitable for framing, personally signed by Robert Parker and Kevin Zraly. We will also contact you within 1-2 weeks after you pass for permission to list you on the Connoisseurs of Wine page on eRobertParker.com. Now you are eligible to move on to Level III.

Where do the questions come from?

Ninety percent of the questions 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 II exams?

1. Concise questions with short answers.
2. 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.
3. Less emphasis will be given to winemaking, viticulture, soil composition, and olfactory.

What types of questions will NOT be in the Level II exams?

From our educational experts we learned that the following do not work well in testing:

1. Questions that have answers "all of the above" or "none of the above".
2. Opinion-based questions.
3. Trick questions.
4. Questions with the wording EXCEPT.

Good Luck with your wine education!