OOP: Harry's Career Choice- Standardized Tests

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 68806

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "flutterbyhex"
<flutterbyhex at y...> wrote:
> >
> >
> Harry wants to be an auror.  The requirements are: 
> 5 NEWTs with nothing under (E) grade in DADA, Transfiguration, Charms,
> Potions but I couldn't find mention of the fifth course. Any ideas? 
> 
> ...edited....
> 
> Just rambling thoughts...
> 
> "Flutterbyhex"

bboy_mn:

I read most of this thread, and it brought up a question about
standardized tests, and the level at which they test you. 

The typical high school graduate has the residual or functional
knowledge of someone in 8th grade. The distintion being that when you
take your mid-term or final test in say geometry, you are being tested
on your 'peak knowledge' or immediate knowledge. Eventually, a certain
amount of that peak or immediate knowledge fades and you are left with
a residual or working knowledge. So, the highest level of knowledge
you ever had was that of a high school graduate; that eventually fades
into a working knowledge equivalent to the peak knowledge of someone
just past the 8th grade.

I have found that standardized test usually attempt to test your
residual or working knowledge of a subject rather than your peak
knowledge. They test to find out what knowledge you are bringing out
into the working world. So despite the tests being grueling and
stressful, and severely taxing your knowledge, they are actually not
as in-depth as you would be likely to get from a subject teacher on a
short term (end of term, mid-term, end of year) test. 

If this is true of the British standardized test, then we can assume
that would act as a model for Wizard standardized tests. The
conclusion is that, based on my assumption of testing residual
knowledge, Harry could have done quite well on the test. 

Although, I will admit that Harry getting an Outstanding in Potions is
pretty unlikely, but he could have done well enough that with pressure
from Dumbledore, he could get into the advanced potions class.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn