Harry Not Sitting His Tests

[littleleahstill]

No: HPFGUIDX 167102

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Dave Hardenbrook <DaveH47 at ...> 
wrote:
>
> 
> Tandra:
> 
> T> But did the school champions get a pass on their exams?
> T> Is that why he didn't have to take it in his 4th year?
> T> And if he is skipping all these tests, how is he being
> T> passed onto the grade? Just something I noticed.
> 
> Dave:
> 
> I think it's indeed Canon that the champions were given special
> dispensation from exams, but I think it's the only exam he skipped.
> I think he took the exams in 1st and 2nd year, but Hermione isn't
> counting them because Quirrell and Lockhart cannot be said to have
> "actually known the subject".
> 

Leah:

I agree with Dave, and would also ask if there is any canon that 
suggests passing the exams is necessary to proceed to the year 
above.  JKR said in an interview that Marcus Flint was kept down a 
year, but that was due to deal with the Flint itself, that he 
remained at Hogwarts for too long, and I don't think she indicated 
that it was due to exam failure. 

JKR seems to base Hogwarts broadly on the English system and there 
is no specific rule in England that children have to pass one year 
of school to proceed to the next.  State schools don't even have to 
set end of year exams if they don't want to, although many do.  
Public schools of course can do what they want.  The only exams 
children should sit are the public ones, GCSEs (OWLS) and Alevels 
(NEWTS). Studying for Alevels is currently voluntary; you can leave 
school after GCSEs, and most schools make passing Maths, English and 
your Alevel subjects at a certain grade compulsory if you want to 
take Alevels, like Snape's O requirement for NEWT level potions.  
However, you do not have to pass every subject you take at GCSE 
level to take Alevels.

Leah