All the possible OWLS - Who got what?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 125920


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "stbjohn2" <stbjohn2 at y...> wrote:
> 
> --- > 
> > Amy wrote:
> > > 
> > > ... if anyone is going to get 12 OWLs it will be Hermione.
> > > 
> > > I like your[Hannah's] idea that maybe there are different
> > > types of OWLs within each subject.  I truly believe that this 
> > > would make the most  sense ...

> > 
> Brent says:
> > I always assumed the practical and written were considered 2 
> > separate OWLs.  ...
 

> Sandy now:
> 
>  From the 2004 World Book Day Chat:
> 
> faye109: Is 12 the maximum possible number of OWLs one can achieve?
>
> JK Rowling replies -> Yes, I think it is off the top of my head.
> 
> ... she says 12 is the most, so we have to trust her. Every 
> convoluted method of assigning two OWLs in some subjects exceeds 12.

bboyminn:

Everything is subject to interpretation until proven in canon. JKR's
statement that 12 is that maximum number of OWLs you /can get/,
doesn't necessarily imply that it is the total number of OWLs
available. I know that sound contradictory, but it's possible that
there are logistical problems that prevent a student from taking every
possible OWL test there is. Perhaps, in the time available, it's not
possible to sit more than 12 OWL test. 

In post number 125659, I calculated 18 possible OWLs. It's possible
that you may not be able to sit for both the Practical and Theory test
for every subject. Although, I will admit that there is a loophole in
the idea. All the test seem to take place in the Great Hall with a
limited number of examiners. If all test are given in the same place,
then it's hard to support the idea of overlapping or conflicting test
schedules.


> Sandy continues:
> 
> I've previously posted several pieces of canon that support the 
> one-subject, one-OWL position; but briefly, in their talks to
> classes about OWLs, both Snape and McGonagall tell the students "I 
> expect you to earn an OWL" in this subject, ...
> 
> I guess we, like Harry, will find out for sure in July :>)
>
> Sandy


bboyminn:

Here I will point out (again) that people don't speak (or at least,
extremely rarely) in absolutes, we generalize, we summaries, we take
shortcuts, usually on the assumption that the people we are speaking
to know enough of the specific and context to fill in the minor
details themselves.

Having said all that, I think it is most likely that JKR created 12
subject and assumed one OWL per subject, without really sitting down
and analyzing the details of that OWL testing system. And that is a
reasonable thing for an author to do. Even though JKR may have a great
deal of knowledge of the wizards and the wizard world that will
forever remain off-page, it's reasonable that she didn't dedicate
countless hours to refining the OWL testing system when in reality it
is a very minor aspect of the story.

In my analysis of the number of OWLs, we see 8 core required subjects
and 4 elective subjects. In Hermione's case, the two classes she is
not taking are Divinations and Muggle Studies. I can't imagine that
she will not get an OWL in the classes she is taking. The most
difficult ones are Arithmacy and Ancient Runes, and she seems to enjoy
those subjects. Certainly, and especially after taking one year of
Muggle Studies, Hermione, being a muggle, can pass that test. That
leaves Divination and the question of whether Hermione would even
bother with the subject. She doesn't seem to place much faith in
Divinations, although she is somewhat aware that fortune telling is
possible.

Conclusion, I think it is safe to say that Hermione got 11 OWLs, as to
the 12th, that hinges on whether you think she would bother with the
Divinations test, and if she did bother, could she then pass it. Given
the poor performance in Divination we've seen by others, either it's
an easy pass, or a lot of people are going to fail it.

Based on my best quess, I see Harry (and probably Ron) getting 6 OWLs
for sure, and the 7th would hinge on whether he/they did well in
Astronomy, which if you remember, was interupted by the attack on Hagrid.

I suspect Harry could have gotten an additional OWL if he had taken
the time to take the Muggle Studies test. That wouldn't be a
guaranteed pass because it's really not about Muggles, but about
wizard's view of muggles.

So, 6 OWLs most likely, and 8 at the absolute most for Harry, and 6,
possibly 7, for Ron. Not bad, not bad at all. (Assuming one OWL per
subject.)

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn