Wine Educator Access – National Wine School
Welcome to your grading dashboard. This resource explains the grading tools available through the Wine Educator Access portal and outlines how they apply to different course levels.
Our system blends automated evaluation with professor-led assessments—ensuring that student performance is judged fairly, consistently, and in accordance with national wine education standards.
Tastings Grading #
For L2 and L3 Courses
This is the primary grading tool for most professors. While theory exams are auto-scored, in-class tasting exams must be manually evaluated by the instructor.
How to access:
Go to the Wine Educator Access page and click “Tastings Grading.”
What to grade:
- Blind tasting accuracy
- Sensory evaluation skill
- Terminology use
- Descriptive clarity and structure
A tasting rubric is provided in the Professor Package for each course. Use it to assign consistent and defensible scores. Prompt grading is expected after the tasting exam is completed.
Override Grading #
Used for manual entry of grades outside the LMS
This option is available when a student completes an exam or assessment outside the standard online platform—for instance:
- In-class theory retakes
- Missed quizzes with approved makeups
- Handwritten exams or paper-based assessments
Access it from:
Wine Educator Access → Override Grading
Requirements:
Override grading is reviewed by National Wine School management. You must document:
- The date and context of the assessment
- Grading criteria used
- The student’s work or your scoring notes
If requested by an NWS auditor, you must supply this information within twenty-four hours of the request.
Automated Grading #
Some course levels rely on automated grading:
| Course Level | Automated Components | Manual Grading Required |
|---|---|---|
| L1 | Entirely automated | None |
| L2 | Theory exam only | Tasting exam (in class) |
| L3 | Theory exam only | Tasting exam (in class) |
Theory exams are auto-scored through our platform. Professors only need to step in if an override or re-test is approved.
Essay Grading #
Typically for L4 (Advanced Sommelier) and higher
This tool is used for programs that include formal written assignments, such as:
- Position papers
- Extended tasting analyses
- Advanced wine theory essays
Essays appear in the Essay Grading tab when required. Use the rubric provided in the course’s professor package.
Assignment Grading #
Primarily for L4+, or where legally required
This section is rarely used for standard certification levels, but may appear in the following cases:
- Advanced coursework with structured assignments
- Legal compliance: e.g., ID upload for age verification in certain jurisdictions
Assignments, if present, should be reviewed promptly and scored according to provided criteria.
Grading Protocols & Academic Standards #
To maintain accreditation and national consistency:
- Use standardized rubrics from your course’s Professor Package
- Grade tasting exams within 72 hours unless otherwise arranged
- Document any overrides clearly and submit backup
- Maintain grading records for at least 12 months
