Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Major Events/OWL exams

Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter - Major Event
OWL exams
Location	Hogwarts Great Hall; top of the Astronomy tower
Time Period	June of Harry's fifth year
Important Characters	Harry's year group, plus Griselda Marchbanks and Professor Tofty

Overview

The OWL (Ordinary Wizarding Level) exams are taken at the end of a student's fifth year at Hogwarts.

OWLs are offered in most subjects a student takes in their first five years, and many consist of both written (theory) and practical tests. Courses in which OWLS are offered are Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, History of Magic, Muggle Studies, all of which have written sections only; Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, all of which have theory and practice exams; and Divination, which seems to have only a Practice section. Thus for twelve available subjects, nineteen examination slots are required.

Event Details

Apparently, OWLs extend over two weeks, with exams morning and afternoon; generally theory in the morning, practice in the afternoon. Special anti-cheating quills and parchment are used for the written parts of the exam. In Harry's fifth year, when he takes OWLs, Harry sits Charms on the first day, then Transfiguration, Herbology, and Defence Against the Dark Arts. On the Friday, Hermione sits Ancient Runes, while Harry and Ron have the day off. The following week is Potions on Monday, then Care of Magical Creatures on Tuesday. Wednesday saw the Astronomy theory in the morning, Divination in the afternoon, then the Astronomy practical exam was that night at midnight. Thursday afternoon was the History of Magic exam. Hermione also had to sit her Arithmancy exam Wednesday afternoon, when Harry and Ron had Divination.

OWLs are graded using the following system:

Passing Grades

• O - Outstanding
• E - Exceeds Expectations
• A - Acceptable

Failing Grades

• P - Poor
• D - Dreadful
• T - Troll

The examiners are not Hogwarts professors, but a group of independent examiners referred to as Wizarding Examinations Authority, apparently somehow under the aegis of the Ministry of Magic. They are described as “a small group of ancient-looking witches and wizards”.

In the first few classes at the start of the term, a number of teachers announce that they will be grading to OWL standards. Harry, Ron, and Hermione discuss between themselves what OWL standards mean. In their discussion, they are joined by Fred and George, who sat their OWLs two years earlier. It is the Twins who describe the various grade levels, saying that they should have received E in every course, as their just showing up for the exam had exceeded the expectations of the Hogwarts teachers.

Notable Consequences

The grades achieved in OWLs are very important for the next stages of a young wizard or witch's education. Each teacher demands a minimum grade for further study of his or her subject at NEWT level. Most teachers seem to demand at least an E, while some demand an O and others allow students with an A, the lowest passing grade to proceed. In particular, Professor Snape requires that students who wish to proceed to NEWT-level study of Potions must achieve at least Outstanding, while Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick require at least Exceeds Expectations.

As the results of the OWL exams determine which courses can be taken at the NEWT level, the OWL exams affect the witch or wizard's career choices. It is for this reason that Harry's meeting with Professor McGonagall concerning choice of careers occurs before the OWL exams. In particular, Harry, asked to consider a career, is most intrigued by the idea of being an Auror, a career for which he must achieve NEWT grades of Exceeds Expectations in at least five subjects, which Professor McGonagall suggests should include Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Potions, and Charms. While Harry does achieve Exceeds Expectations in Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures, as well as Outstanding in Defence Against the Dark Arts, Professor Snape's requirement that he achieve Outstanding for NEWT-level Potions studies seems to prevent his becoming an Auror.

It is while Harry, tired after endlessly re-hashing the arrest of Hagrid that had occurred during the Astronomy final, is trying to write his History of Magic exam that he falls asleep and has the dream of Sirius being tortured in the Ministry by Voldemort. It is this dream that sends him to the Ministry.

Analysis

The fact that the Wizarding world has an equivalent to the English GCSE is only to be expected. The standardized testing in the Muggle world that so pervades the school system must have a parallel. The stress and fatigue surrounding the GCSEs no doubt has made many young Muggles imagine things that just are not so. Similarly, the mental tension and exhaustion caused in Harry by these exams obviously will increase Harry's sensitivity to the images that Voldemort is sending Harry to lure him to the Ministry.

Questions

1. Is Troll a real exam grade? Why did the Weasley twins have trouble remembering it?

Greater Picture

In the next book in the series, we will find that a new Potions instructor has been appointed. Professor Slughorn will accept an OWL grade of Exceeds Expectations for NEWT-level studies, so Harry's hopes of becoming an Auror will be restored.

Harry's belief that Professor Slughorn has been brought in to be the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and his associated belief that he will not be allowed to study NEWT-level Potions, is a necessary plot point. It is because of this that Harry does not purchase the necessary textbook for NEWT-level potions, instead receiving the textbook previously owned by the Half-Blood Prince. This textbook is instrumental in Harry's success in Potions in his sixth year, and teaches him spells that he will use during the year and in the next year.