NEWTs

[Scott Northrup]

No: HPFGUIDX 49528

bboy_mn:
>I never thought about N.E.W.T.s. Thinking about test like this,
>qualifications test, in the Muggle world, they are usually give at the
>school and by the school, but they are not actually part of the
>school. They are a national standard test. I guess to a limited extent
>we could compare them to SAT, which here in the US are used as college
>entrance test (sort of). I'm not sure how the 'O'-levels and
>'A'-levels work in England, but I would suspect that it is similar to
>what I described above. It is a national standardized test that is
>given by the school but the administration and certification come from
>a higher body.

>What am I getting at? Well, I don't think you can get out of OWLs and
>NEWTs. They are your qualifications and certifications, and they are
>administered by a higher authority than the school. So I would guess
>the getting out of year end tests meant that you got out of your
>various class exams, but not the separate national qualifications
>exams. Although, Cedric's might have been postponed until the next year. 


Me:

It's entirely possible that OWLs and NEWTS are administered by some higher authority.  However- since Hogwart's is the only Wizarding school in the UK (okay, maybe it's not, but I've seen no convincing evidence that it isn't;  clearly, even if it's not, it's certainly the best, so I wouldn't see the point of testing in other schools- the fact that you go to Hogwart's says you're a cut above the rest), I'd say it's probably likely that the school is in charge of testing.  Given the close relationship between Hogwart's and the MoM, this is not unbelievable.  Also, if you were your school's champion, I don't see why the tests would be necessary.  Let's look at it from this standpoint- in US schools, there are generally two standardized tests, the SAT and the ACT, both of which are a factor in getting into a college/university.  Why are these tests given?  Why not rely on grades, class standing, etc.?  The key word is 'standardized.'  They don't rely on grades because not all High Schools are created equal, and they need some sort of measuring to stick to rank students from all over the US.  Now, what does this have to do with anything?  If you are the Hogwart's school champion, you are very like the top student, at what is either the A) only wizarding school or B) undoubtedly BEST wizarding school in the UK, so why would you need to take a test?

Of course, I think what you guys have forgotten, is that Cedric was a 6th year.  If I'm not mistaken, NEWTs are administered to 7th years (the Lexicon says 7th year).  So really, it's all irrelevent.  Only death saved him from NEWTs.

-Scott