CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 31, O.W.L.s

[stbjohn2]

No: HPFGUIDX 118009



> 
> (Most of the post by JP snipped)
> 
> > 7. Do practical and written exams each count as an
> > OWLS?
> > 
> JP:
> > No, I dont believe that the written and practical
> > exams each count as an OWL. I think that the exams
> > has a certain percentage to the total amount of
> > points needed to achieve an A, EE or an O grade. I
> > think that the percentage is 50 - 50 : 50% for
> > written exam and 50% for practical exam. The points
> > acquired in both exams are then averaged and the
> > result will determine the OWL grade. > 
> 
Juli wrote:
> But then how could someone get 12 OWLs? I'm talking
> about Barty Crouch Jr and Bill Weasley, they both got
> 12 OWLs, and we know you can't have so many classes,
> even Hermione couldn't handle more than 8 classes in
> PoA, so how could anyone take 12?
> 
Sandy now:
I'm not sure why this particular subject interests me, but I
actually 
took the time to look up canon when it came up on another discussion, 
and here's what I found:
There are several snippets of quotes that indicate it's one OWL
per 
subject, including
"I expect you to scrape an `acceptable' in your OWL"
--Snape (p 232)
"I see no reason why everybody in this class should not achieve
an 
OWL in transfiguration." MM (p257)
If 2 OWLs were available (one each for theory and practical), neither 
Snape or MM would see one as acceptable; that would be totally out of 
character for either.
"Isn't there a practical bit in our Defense against the Dark
Arts 
OWL?" Pavarti (p244), which indicates that practical and 
theory "bits" combine for one OWL.
Requirements for Healer include at least an E in NEWT Level in 
Potions, Herbology,  transfiguration,  charms and DADA. Based on the 
theory that NEWTs are earned in the same way as OWLs, if you could 
earn a separate NEWT in both theory and practice, it seems that 
requirements would specify NEWTs in both portions as a requirement. 
(After all, what good is a healer who understands the theory of 
Wolfsbane Potion but can't actually brew it, or who knows how to 
perform a cheering charm but not the theory of when it's
appropriate 
to use it?)

As for number of classes, as far as we know, there are 12 subjects 
taught at Hogwarts (History of magic, charms, potions, 
transfiguration, CoMC, Astronomy, DADA, Divination, Herbology, 
Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Muggle Studies) Harry and Ron are 
taking 9, Hermione 10 (she was talking 12 during PoA). 
Since it's treated as quite remarkable that Barty and Percy (?)
got 
12 OWLs, it doesn't follow that they could do so by simply
passing 2 
portions of tests on 6 classes -- you'd think there'd be a
student or 
two (heck, maybe most of Ravenclaw House) who could do that each 
year. (yes, I realize this does raise the possibility that Barty, and 
Percy, and who knows who else,  may have used a time turner. All I 
can say is, hey in 1,000 years of Hogwarts, did you really think HG 
was the first to use the time turner? MM got it for her, which 
suggests it's a routine enough request to the MoM that DD
didn't have 
to get involved.)

Sandy, who is impressed she was able to find her notes on this 
matter, since she is a charter member of the My-Desk-Is-Messier-Than-
JKR's Society