Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test

N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests) are subject-specific exams that seventh-year wizards and witches at Hogwarts take to help them get certain jobs after graduation. As not all wizards pass or even take the N.E.W.T.s, they can find other jobs using their O.W.L. results.

A student must have previously achieved an O.W.L. in the subject in order to move on to N.E.W.T.-level classes. Most Hogwarts Professors will accept an "Exceeds Expectations" in the student's O.W.L. for a class in order to allow them into the N.E.W.T.-level classes; however, some, such as Severus Snape, would only let students with an "Outstanding" in their O.W.L. pass through to his Potions N.E.W.T. class.

Known Students to Have Passed N.E.W.T.s

 * John Dawlish
 * Albus Dumbledore
 * Hermione Granger
 * Tom Marvolo Riddle
 * Percy Weasley
 * Frank and Alice Longbottom, Alastor Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Nymphadora Tonks, Rufus Scrimgeour, Gawain Robards, Proudfoot, Savage and Williamson as becoming an Auror requires a minimum of five N.E.W.T.S.
 * Most likely others who worked for the Ministry of Magic, such as Arthur Weasley and Mafalda Hopkirk and Dolores Umbridge.

Noteable students who didn't pass N.E.W.T.S.

 * Harry Potter (didn't return to school for 7th year)
 * Ron Weasley (didn't return to school for 7th year)
 * Neville Longbottom
 * Fred and George Weasley (Left before exams were over)

Behind the scenes

 * The N.E.W.T. is comparable to the Muggle A-Level ("A" for "Advanced") given at the same stage of education in England and Wales, the Advanced Higher examination given at this stage in Scotland, the S.A.T. "Scholastic Aptitude Test" given in the United States, or the HSC "Higher School Certificate" given in Australia.
 * Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger skipped the 1997-1998 school year, what would have been their final year, due to the reign of Lord Voldemort and their search for his Horcruxes. Presumably, Muggle-born students also missed their schooling that year. After the defeat of Voldemort, Hermione completed her education and took her N.E.W.T.s, while Harry entered Auror training and Ron helped his brother George at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, and later became an Auror as well. Those who participated in the Battle of Hogwarts were given exemptions from usual Auror qualifications by Kingsley Shacklebolt due to their dueling experience.
 * The animal newts are used in the Shakespeare play, Macbeth.
 * Doing well on N.E.W.T.s is imperative to earning a position at the Ministry of Magic.