Help! Understanding the O.W.L.s

[Ali]

No: HPFGUIDX 102942

Steve, Asian_lovr2 wrote:
 
>>>> The TWO Test classes could be counted as two OWLs for a variety 
of reasons. 
 
First, the simple fact that you sit two tests for some classes; one
OWL credit for each test. 
 
 Second, it could be related to the difficulty of the course. 
Example, college/university courses are rated in 'Credits'. A 2 
credit course is easier than a 4 credit course; 4 is about average, 
and a 6 credit course would be very difficult and demanding. 
 
 So, again, 'double' credit for the hardest demanding classes. 
Which, coincidentally, are the same classes you sit two test for. 
This would  be the equivalent of the 'Double' O-Level/GCSE tests 
that Wisteria and others have mentioned.>>>

Ali:

Steve, I mean no dispespect here, but I think your applying a 
methodology which simply doesn't fit with the English education 
system on which O.W.L.s are based. If, JKR is using O'Levels as her 
blueprint which seems likley from all the evidence I've seen, then 
the idea for "double credits" doesn't wash.

When kids in England/Wales get 2 O'Levels for a subject, it is not 
because of the complexity, it is because of the breadth of the 
subject - hence some examining boards test the sciences separately, 
and there are a possible total of 3 exams to be passed, whereas 
others treat "science" as one combined subject and award it 2 
O'Levels. There is one fundamental difference here - to pass the 
combined Science O'Level, the student would need to achieve an 
acceptable level in all 3 disciplines, whereas where the subjects 
are treated separately, the student could fail one ir two of the 
disciplines, and still pass the remaining one. Normally 2 O'Levels 
are available for English - Literature and Language, they are 
treated like separate subjects though.

O'Levels - and hence I would think O.W.L.s are meant to be the same 
level; the idea being that a similar standard has been achieved in 
each subject an O'Level has been awarded for.

The only exception to the above, which might validate your theory is 
Maths. Some students do (or rather did, as I'm not sure if GCSE's 
work in this way), a Maths O'Level in the 4th year and then a Maths 
A/O'Level in the 5th year, which was more advanced. If JKR was going 
to apply that though, I would have expected to know in advance. 
Canon is silent on the matter.

>>> I'm curious; a question for anyone who is familiar with O-
Level/GCSE, are there any real world examples of classes where you 
must sit TWO test to receive full credit in the class? >>>

In practice, *most* of the exams have at least 2 papers, and only 
one O'Level is awarded: the student must pass both parts to pass the 
exam. So for example, a French O'Level required an Oral exam, a 
comprehension and a further written paper. I had 3 History papers 
etc etc. So, yes, the O'Levels were made up of several papers.

Steve:
 
>>> In any event, I am personally convinced that it is one OWL for 
every test you sit. Potions, as an example, requires you to sit two 
test, each test represents an OWL credit.>>>

Ali:

LOL! Well, I'm personally convinced that Hermione *must* be younger 
than Harry, others are convinced that Snape is a vampire...Pippin 
has this rather alarming belief that Lupin is ESE (Please, nooooo)!

>>>> Based on this belief, I estimated that Harry and Ron are taking 
9 classes and are eligible for 13 possible OWL credits. Hermione is
 taking 10 classes and is eligible for 14 OWL credits. I just can't
 imagine Hermione getting less than 'Acceptable - the last passing
 grade' in anything, therefore I must assume she will get 14 credits.
 In my previous post, I estimated that Harry and Ron would get 
between 8 and 10 OWL credits.>>>

Ali:

Except for the fact that JKR has said that there are a maximum of 12 
O.W.Ls.

I pointed to the World Book Day question in which she was asked the 
maximum number of OWLs in this post:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/102841



Ali


(This post discusses the similarities between O'Levels and O.W.Ls, 
and not the more recent GCSEs, which are slightly different in that 
course work now makes up a large element of the mark awarded. I 
apologise that an element of this post is OT, but it seemed 
necessary to flesh out the English system upon which O.W.L.s are 
based to show why I think Steve's assumptions are unlikley to be 
correct)