[HPforGrownups] Re: Help! Understanding the O.W.L.s

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 102945


>
> 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)
>
>

K

Actually I think the fact that they include coursework would *help* your
arguement - instead of four tests/exams for French (oral, written,
comprehension and listening) you have *five* different elements and yet
still only get one grade. I think it is possible that some of the classes
Harry and co take count as two OWLS simply because it's the only way Percy
and whoever else it was could have got twelve.

Maybe Potions for example is two because the theory of why ingredient x
combines with ingredient y in such a way and what would happen if you added
ingredient z is one thing and actually being able to make the potions is
another, similarly you might be great at following the instructions to make
the potions but have no clue how or why it works. Two related disciplines
taught in one class but with two different OWLS. The closest i could come to
explaining that in real life terms would be English Language and English
Lit, usually taught in one class as English but two different subjects for
exam purposes - however, I add the caveat that you sit two totally different
exams for that not two English exams but one English Language and one
English lit - whereas Harry sits a practical and a theory Potions test not
tests in two subjects. (I'm not one hundred percent sure I expressed that
well). The only real life exam I can think off with more than one grade is
Science and that doesn't fit any of the Hogwarts models because we learnt
Physics, Chemistry and Biology as three separate subjects, from three
separate teachers, sat *one* exam and got two grades (which were always
identical I believe - i.e. you got an AA or a BB or whatever, I don't know
anyone who got an AB or something)

K