CMS Certified Sommelier exam-day guide
CMS Certified Sommelier · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring a current passport or driver's license. The name must match your registration exactly. If your registration name differs from your ID (e.g., a preferred name or a recent legal change), resolve it in writing with the provider before exam day.
Registration confirmation and receipt
Keep a printed copy plus a copy on your phone. They show your check-in time, room assignment, and the order of your sections.
Waiter's corkscrew you have practiced with
Bring a double-hinged waiter's friend that you have used many times. The format may require it for the service section, but confirm with the provider whether you must supply your own tool or whether the venue provides one and whether any style of corkscrew is disallowed.
Service cloth and napkin
Carry a clean, pressed service cloth. Confirm with the provider whether cloths, napkins, and service equipment are supplied at the station or whether you must bring your own.
Two pens
A backup pen is essential for the theory answer sheet and tasting notes. Pencils may not be permitted.
Professional restaurant attire
Default to business professional: a suit or jacket, a clean shirt, and polished shoes. Confirm the specific dress code with the provider, and check whether a tie or jacket is required. [needs_review]
No cologne, perfume, or strongly scented products
Strong fragrance will affect your own tasting and your neighbors' tasting. Many exam venues expect this, but confirm the written policy with the provider.
Simple watch or timer
Useful for pacing the tasting and service sections. Confirm with the provider whether smartwatches and phones are prohibited in the exam room. [needs_review]
Water and a light snack for between sections
Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are permitted outside the exam room and whether scheduled breaks exist.
Travel and arrival plan
Know the venue entrance, parking or transit, and the exact check-in time. Aim to arrive well before check-in so that traffic or security delays do not cost you your slot.
Any accommodation request confirmed in writing
If you requested extra time, a specific seating arrangement, or another accommodation, bring the written confirmation.
Leave study materials at home
Flashcards, grids, and notes should stay outside the exam room unless the provider explicitly permits them.
Plan the day
Run one full timed mock of all three sections in the order you will face them. Rehearse service out loud with a real bottle, using the exact tool and cloth you will bring. Do not start new study material; review only your weakest areas, then stop.
Assemble your kit and lay out your clothes. Confirm the venue address, check-in time, and section order. Protect your sleep and avoid heavy meals, alcohol, and strongly spiced food in the last two days, because palate fatigue is real.
Limit review to a light pass through your deductive grid and key service steps; stop by early evening. Re-confirm your travel plan, charge your phone, pack your ID and confirmation, and treat this as a rest day rather than a cram day.
Eat a normal, mild breakfast; avoid excessive caffeine and heavy dairy. Arrive early with ID and confirmation in hand. Stay off other candidates' last-minute quizzes, because it raises anxiety without adding knowledge.
Answer every question; there is no benefit to leaving blanks unless the provider says otherwise. Pace yourself against the number of questions, flag uncertain ones, and return if time permits.
Use your deductive grid in a fixed order: sight, nose, palate, initial conclusion, then final conclusion. Use the spittoon, pace yourself against the clock, and state observations before conclusions so the examiner can follow your reasoning.
Restate the order, confirm it, then narrate what you are doing in a calm, professional voice. Keep the station clean, manage your time across the whole sequence, and avoid apologizing or over-explaining errors.
Reset: water, breathe, review your own notes only. Do not debrief exam content with other candidates, because it is distracting and may breach conduct rules.
Rules to check
Bring government-issued photo ID and present it at check-in. The name must match your registration; contact the provider in advance if it does not.
Follow the provider's device policy. Assume phones and smart devices must be switched off and stored as directed; confirm the exact rule with the provider rather than guessing. [needs_review]
Do not bring study materials, notes, or unauthorized aids into the exam room. Ask the proctor where to leave bags.
Do not discuss specific exam questions or wines with other candidates during breaks or afterward. It is unprofessional and may breach the provider's confidentiality terms.
Break policy varies by venue and schedule. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled between sections and whether you may leave the room. [needs_review]
Scoring and retake rules: each section of the exam is typically assessed independently, and the provider sets the passing standard. Confirm the current thresholds, retake windows, and whether a failed section must be retaken with the provider. [needs_review]
Arrive at or before your check-in time. Late-arrival and no-show policies are set by the provider, so confirm them in writing before you travel. [needs_review]
Follow all proctor instructions immediately, and raise your hand if you need to leave the room or have a problem with your station.