A Levels vs N.E.W.Ts

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 35708

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "psion_x" <psion_x at y...> wrote:
> Yet another question which I'm not sure is on topic or not.
> N.E.W.Ts are assumed to be the equivilent of A Levels in England 
> (post all the changes).
> 
> Anyway I was wondering what's the TOTAL number of A Levels you can 
> take? Is there a limit, say no more than 6? Or can you take as many 
> as you want? Would someone like Hermione be able to handle more 
than 
> 6?
>  
> Also it seems as I've mentioned before- that at least Charms, DADA, 
> Potions and Transfiguration would be compulsary, for exam Fred and 
> George are still doing DADA in Sixth Year and Hermione tells Ron 
and 
> Harry " ' If only we'd done Human Transfiguration all ready!But I 
> don't think we start that until our Sixth Year.'"
> 


I don't think that there is any canon evidence to show us what the 
NEWTS consist of - so it's easiest to assume that they are like 
A'Levels. In which case, there is theoretically no limit to the 
number of A'levels you can do (certainly over a period of years you 
could do loads). In practice most people do not do more than 4 (3 
being the norm - although people taking science subjects often do 4, 
and in some parts of the country an extra one called "General 
Studies" is fairly standard). Put it this way, you can get into the 
top Universities in the country with 3 good A'Levels.

There are no compulsory subjects at A'Level - Britain is unusual in 
allowing specialisation so early. (This is just beginning to change 
though). I guess at this stage we just have no way of telling what 
the NEWTS consist of, so base your Fanfic on what feels right to you -
 time will tell how right you are.

Ali