If you want to study sake, choosing between WSET Sake courses can feel confusing at first. Should you begin with Level 1, or are you ready to go straight to Level 2?
So, before you enrol, here is a clear comparison of both WSET Sake courses to help you find the right starting point.
What Do You Learn in WSET Level 1 Sake?
The WSET Level 1 Award in Sake is an introductory qualification for students with little or no previous sake knowledge.
You start with the fundamentals: what sake is, its key ingredients and the basic stages of production. The syllabus also introduces principal sake categories and grades, speciality styles, storage and service.
Importantly, you learn key Japanese labelling terms. This makes words such as junmai, honjozo, ginjo and daiginjo much easier to understand when you encounter them on a bottle or menu.
You will also learn a structured approach to tasting sake. Therefore, Level 1 gives you the vocabulary to start describing what you see, smell and taste with greater confidence.
For hospitality professionals, this foundation can be particularly useful when answering basic guest questions or explaining sake at the table.
How Is WSET Level 2 Sake Different?
WSET Level 2 Award in Sake moves beyond identifying the fundamentals. Instead, it starts connecting how sake is made with why it tastes the way it does.
You study ingredients and production in much greater detail. For example, the syllabus explores rice varieties, rice polishing, steamed rice and kōji production. It also examines brewing decisions from preparing the fermentation starter through to dilution and packaging.
As a result, you begin to understand how different choices during production influence sake style and quality.
Tasting also becomes more analytical. Students learn to describe and assess sake quality using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake.
Therefore, Level 2 suits students who want more than introductory knowledge. It can be particularly relevant for sommeliers, bartenders, retailers, restaurant professionals and serious sake enthusiasts.
WSET Sake Courses: How Much Study Time Do You Need?
Study commitment is one of the biggest differences between the two qualifications.
WSET Level 1 Sake requires a minimum of six guided learning hours with an approved WSET course provider. Therefore, it offers a focused introduction without requiring a major study commitment.
Level 2 requires significantly more time.
WSET Level 2 Sake requires 26 hours of total study. This includes 14 hours of guided learning, 11 hours of private study and a one-hour examination.
That independent study time matters. At Level 2, you need to understand relationships between ingredients, brewing decisions and final sake styles rather than simply remember definitions.
How Do the Exams Compare?
Both WSET Sake courses use closed-book multiple-choice examinations. Neither qualification includes a practical tasting exam.
For WSET Level 1 Sake, you answer 30 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes. You need a score of at least 70% to pass.
The WSET Level 2 Sake exam includes 50 multiple-choice questions and lasts 60 minutes. You need at least 55% to pass.
Level 2 also recognises higher achievement. A score between 70% and 84% earns a Pass with Merit, while 85% or above earns a Pass with Distinction.
So, although both exams use MCQs, Level 2 requires considerably broader and deeper knowledge.
Which Course Should You Choose?
If you know very little about sake, Level 1 offers the most accessible starting point. You can learn the essential terminology, production principles, categories and service concepts before progressing further.
However, Level 2 makes more sense if you already understand the basics or need deeper sake knowledge for your work.
Interestingly, you do not need to complete Level 1 before enrolling in Level 2. Therefore, students who already have sufficient background knowledge can begin directly at the intermediate level.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on how much you already know and how deeply you want to understand sake.
Sonal Holland Academy is the only WSET Approved Programme Provider in India to offer all three levels of WSET sake qualifications, creating a definitive and systematic learning pathway from foundational knowledge to advanced sake expertise.
So, whether you are discovering sake for the first time or building professional expertise, you can continue progressing through your WSET Sake courses within one structured learning pathway. Click here to know more about our upcoming batches for WSET Level 1 and Level 2 Award in Sake.
