an OWLS question

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 53570

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kathryn Cawte" <kcawte at b...> 
wrote:
>  
> 
>  Ginger wrote -
> This brings her down to ten subjects.  Required: Transfiguration, 
> Herbology, DADA, Potions, Charms, History of Magic, and 
Astronomy.  
> Elective:  Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical 
Creatures.
>  
> If I understand the OWLs correctly, one can get an OWL for each 
> subject.  This would mean that she would be able to get 10 OWLs at 
> the most.  How did Percy (in CoS) and Barty Jr. (mentioned in GoF) 
> manage to get 12 OWLs?  (<Snip>
>  
> Kathryn:
> Maybe you can do more than one exam for some of the subjects. For 
> example I studied 'science' at school for GCSE but got two grades 
> at the end of the course, or with maths you can do say statistics 
> or algebra or something. Maybe arithmancy can be split. Or since I 
> assume you drop some subjects before you do your newts maybe they 
> let you sit exams in Transfiguration and Advanced transfiguration, 
> with the advanced exam only being sat by those students who will 
> carry on to take NEWT level Transfiguration. <Snip>

I'd also guess that one class does not necessarily equal one exam; 
it's very common with the GCSE equivalent to OWLs. I took one 
English class, but two exams: English Literature and English 
Language.

Tranfiguration might well be Tranfiguration (inanimate) and 
Transfiguration (animate to animate). Or Charms might be divided 
into two subject areas even though it's been taught in one class. 
History of Magic (British) and History of Magic (World) is another 
possibility.

The final possibility is that the student elects to study for an 
extra exam; that is not unknown. You don't have to have attended 
classes to sit an exam. You can do the study in your own time.

Since OoP is the fifth year at school, we should find out how 
Hermione can take 12 OWLs in June ;-)

Pip