Snapedom

Ignorant American craves enlightenment from Brits re: OWLS

terri_testing

10/28/08 04:40 pm

I realize my interpretation of characters has been influenced since HBP by my habit of conflating OWLS scores with the American grading system: A, B, C, etc.

But I gather JKR is basing the OWLS on the O-Levels, for which I have no cultural reference.

What does it mean that Harry can do E work in most of his classes, while scraping an O in the class he's been receiving intensive tutoring in since 3rd year?

In the American grading system, you'd have to be quite bright to get absolutely straight A's. Getting mostly B's means, basically, you're a bit above average or average but willing to apply yourself. Getting a B in a class where you've knocked yourself out trying to get an A means you aren't that great. Anyone willing to work hard enough should be able to scrape a C. I've been conflating those to O, E, A--how far off am I?

(For comparison: George W. Bush "passed" most of his college classes, but never, if I recall his published transcript, got higher than a B on those he consented to take letter grades on. Which would make him comparable to Ron, if A/B/C compared to O/E/A. Am I being grossly unfair to Ickle Ronniekins?)

Thanks!

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• inamac

  10/29/08 03:51 am (UTC)

  

  What everyone else has said. I took O and A levels in the 70s (and Hogwarts doesn't seem to have changed its system since the 50s). They're essentially 'entrance exams' for going on to university (my papers were set by Oxford), so you weren't even entered for the exam unless you had a fair chance of getting a uni place (again. not really applicable to Hogwarts - but that's what happens when you don't think your universe through).
  
  Different Unis asked for different pass grades (straight As for Oxbridge, As and Bs for the redbricks) Entrance to the Civil Service was also gauged on O and A level passes (which equates with the Ministry).
  
  You also have to remember that the percentage required to pass was changed in line with the places available (I got a 45% on one exam, which was originally a 'fail' grade, but was upgraded to a C pass because that particular exam board found that there weren't enough passes to fill the available Uni places... go figure. This is pretty much the equivalent of Slughorn dropping the pass requirement to take NEWT-level Potions - presumably if they'd stuck to Snape's criteria there would have been no students taking NEWT potions.

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  • (Anonymous)

    10/29/08 07:54 am (UTC)

    Bit of a side-topic, however, since all the other students in Slughorn's class HAD already purchased their books and it was not announced ahead of time that EEs would be accepted, I tend to believe that all the other students WOULD have been allowed under Snape's requirements, in other words, that THEY all were Outstandings and that only Harry and Ron added on as EEs.
    
    After all, we know Hermione at least got an O. Pretty sure the same was true of Draco since he was apparently awfully close to a perfect Draught of Living Death, too. And I see no reason why the same would not be true of Nott, since he's supposed to be as smart as Draco (or for the Ravenclaws).
    
    They only reason they appear less talented in 6th year is because for once they were not using Snape's improved formulas - only Harry had them that year. Whereas for all previous years, they had apparently been on the board for everyone. -- Hwyla

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