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Sommelier practice tests to print
Two printable sommelier practice tests, Level 1 and Certified, 40 questions each with an answer key, plus a one-page deductive tasting grid. Print, time yourself, mark with a pen.
Alper Billik · Advanced Sommelier
Published November 2026 · 3 min read · Edited with AI
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The short answer: download the PDF for your level, print it, set a timer and circle one answer per question. The answer key is on the last pages, with the reason for every answer. Both tests are the same 40 questions as the online versions, which you can also play with a timer and a score.
Paper has two things a screen does not: no notifications, and a page you can mark, keep and compare a week later. Take the test, mark it, study the sections where you missed most, then print a fresh copy and take it again.
Level 1 sommelier practice test (PDF)
- 40 questions at the level of the Introductory Sommelier exam, in eight sections: grape growing and winemaking, tasting and service, France, Italy, Germany and Austria, Spain and Portugal, the New World, and pairing, spirits and sake.
- 26 minutes keeps the real exam's pace: the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas gives 45 minutes for 70 questions.
- 24 correct is 60%, the pass mark. Aim for 32 or more before exam day.
Certified sommelier practice test (PDF)
- 40 questions at the level of the Certified Sommelier theory exam: Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, the wider wine world, spirits, fortified wine and cocktails, and the exam itself.
- 34 minutes keeps the Americas' pace of 45 questions in 38 minutes.
- The real theory exam also has short-answer questions. When you know a section well, cover the options and write the answer before you look.
Deductive tasting grid (PDF)
From the Certified on, blind tasting is examined. My one-page deductive tasting grid follows the order of the method: sight, nose, palate, initial and final conclusion. Print one sheet per wine.
How to get the most from a printed test
- Time it. A timer on the table changes how you read the questions, and that is the skill the exam tests.
- Circle, don't hover. Commit to one answer before you check. A guess you mark as a guess tells you what to study.
- Mark by section. Count your misses per section, not just the total. The section with the most misses is next week's study.
- Retake in a week. Print a clean copy. If the same questions fall again, the topic is not learnt yet.
- Then move on. At 32 out of 40 or more, take the next level's test, or read what each level of the sommelier exam asks.
Want a quick check first? SOMM DIGI AI opens with a five-question test at Introductory, Certified or Advanced level, with no account.
Questions people ask
Are these real sommelier exam questions?
No. Real exam questions are confidential. These are my practice questions, written at the level of each exam, with the answer and the reason for each one.
Can I print more than one copy?
Yes. Print as many as you need for your own study, or for a study group at work.
Is there an Advanced Sommelier practice test PDF?
Not yet. For the Advanced, start with the sample questions in sommelier exam questions by level and the guide to preparing for the Advanced exam.
Is the online version the same?
Yes, the same 40 questions and answers. Online, you can play it one question at a time with a timer and see your weakest sections at the end.
Your exam kit
Where to study for your exam
My book · AmazonSommelier Prep BookQuick questions and answers for a break at work.Order on Amazon 
My book · AmazonSommelier Level 1 Prep BookLevel 1's key topics in one small book you can carry anywhere.Order on Amazon SOMM DIGI built the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe’s Learning Portal, and SOMM DIGI AI. Who is behind this
For sommeliers · next steps