OWLs

[ewdotson]

No: HPFGUIDX 61762

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Allison " <nosillaps13 at y...> 
wrote:
> --- Dave Hardenbrook <DaveH47 at m...> wrote:

[snip How many OWLs will people get question]

> 
> I think, of course, Hermione will get the most, then Harry, then 
> Ron.  This could very well be a source of tension, like Scabbers 
and 
> the Tournament were, with Ron being angry and jealous.  
> 
> And I imagine the tests would change according to the class.  
Surely 
> a standardized test would be gov't-regulated, so a teacher probably 
> wouldn't make it up.  Standardized tests (at least in the US Muggle 
> world) are written, but I bet they have some more practical tests 
at 
> Hogwarts, actually performing spells and making potions and that 
sort 
> of thing.
> 
> But how many OWLs can you get?  The highest score mentioned is 12, 
> but it 
> didn't sound like that was the most you could get.  Is it one OWL 
per 
> class?  In which case 12 would seem like more then you get 
> theoretically get.  
> 
> *counts on fingers*  There are 7 required classes, and it seems 
like 
> everybody takes 2 extra classes out of 4 choices starting 3rd year, 
> which makes 9, so how do you get 12 OWLs?  Even if you took OWL 
tests 
> for the 2 classes you didn't take (which would be really unfair), 
> that's still 11.  Unless Quidditch counts.  But Percy got 12 and he 
> didn't play Quidditch.
> 
> So, does this mirror some British test?  If anyone has any idea how 
> this sort of test would work, please let me know.


Well, I think based on Percy's score (and the implication that one 
can get more)that one HAS to be able to more than one OWL per 
course.  What I was assuming (quite possibly erroneously!) was that a 
student would be awarded one OWL for an "A" score on a test, two for 
an "E" and three for an "O", with "O"s being really, really rare.  
(With Percy's total of twelve being really good.)

So if that's right, here are my guesses for Harry:

DADA - O - 3 OWLs  (This seems pretty clear)

Potions - O(!) or A - 3 or 1 OWLs  (This one's going to be *really* 
interesting to see.  McGonagal stated that Snape flat out forbids 
student's who didnt receive an "O" in potions to take his NEWT 
course.  Now, regardless of whether or not JRK plans on continuing 
with the "I want to be an Auror" thread, I absolutely cannot imagine 
she would let Harry not take potions.  With gives us two possible 
options.  Harry shocks himself and did better on his potion OWL than 
he thought.  (He doesnt come out and mention any particulars he 
misses like charms.  It simply states that "...he might not have 
achieved a good grade but that he had, with luck, avoided a fail."  I 
know I've had tests I've walked out of feeling like that only to be 
shocked that I did quite well.)  This would give us the interesting 
thread where bitter!Snape can't find any good reason to deny Harry 
access to his class.  The other possiblity is of course that he only 
gets an "A" but Dumbledore steps in to force Snape to take Harry in 
his class regardless.  This would let JKR write more "And here's 
Potter, who gets treated special" speeches by Snape, but I'm hoping 
for actual progress.  Foolishly possibly, but I'm still going to 
hope. :)

Charms - E - 2 OWLs - He mentioned that he messed up on his Color 
Change charm, but also states that he thought it went rather well.  
If JKR plans on continuing with the Auror theme, I think he'll have 
to have gotten a good score here.

History of Magic - D - 0 OWLs - Not really his fault, mind you.

Astronomy - D - 0 OWLS - Also not exactly his fault.  It sounds like 
he could have done fairly well if he hadnt been distracted, but...

Divination - Err, is there really a T grade or not?  :)

Herbology - A - 1 OWL - Did well except for a small bite, so it could 
be an E, but I'm trying not to make his total too bloated.

Magical Creatures - E - 2 OWLs - He was really trying to do Hagrid 
proud, and it didnt mention any specific mistakes, so it could even 
be an "O", but I'm guessing not.

Transfiguration - A - 1 OWL - The story'll allow him to score a bit 
lower than McGonagall would generally like her NEWT students to since 
she stated she'll do anything she can to get him into the Auror 
program.  

Which tallies to 12 OWLs if he gets the "O" in potions, 10 if he 
doesn't.  I think one could make a case for anyhwere from nine to a 
whomping 16.  (O in DADA, potions, and magical creatures.  E in 
charms, herbology, transfiguration.  And an A in astronomy. Not 
bloody likely though.  :)

ewdotson