Ordinary Wizarding Level

An O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level) is a subject-specific test taken during students' fifth year, administrated by the Wizarding Examinations Authority. The score made by a student on a particular O.W.L. determines whether or not he or she will be allowed to continue taking that subject in subsequent school years.

Most O.W.L.s are divided into practical exams and written exams.The O.W.L. is comparable to the Muggle "O level" exam given at the same stage of education (the "O" standing for Ordinary).In 1988,this examination was replaced by the G.C.S.E. in England and the Standard certificate in Scotland but Wizards are under no obligation to change their examinations when Muggles do).

O.W.L. scores

 * O (Outstanding)
 * E (Exceeds Expectations)
 * A (Acceptable)

failing grades

 * P (Poor)
 * D (Dreadful)
 * T (Troll)

Confirmed O.W.L.s Received in Harry's Year By Subject

 * Study of Ancient Runes &mdash; Hermione Granger
 * Arithmancy &mdash; Hermione Granger
 * Astronomy &mdash; Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley
 * Care of Magical Creatures &mdash; Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley
 * Charms &mdash; Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter, Dean Thomas, Ron Weasley
 * Defence Against the Dark Arts &mdash; Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Terry Boot, Lavender Brown, Michael Corner, Seamus Finnigan, Anthony Goldstein, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Ernie Macmillan, Draco Malfoy, Padma Patil, Parvati Patil, Harry Potter, Dean Thomas, Ron Weasley (most of these were members of the D.A., which contributed to their high scores)
 * Divination &mdash; Parvati Patil
 * Herbology &mdash; Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley
 * History of Magic &mdash; Hermione Granger
 * Muggle Studies &mdash;
 * Potions &mdash; Terry Boot, Michael Corner, Hermione Granger, Ernie Macmillan, Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Blaise Zabini
 * Transfiguration &mdash; Lavender Brown, Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, Parvati Patil, Harry Potter, Dean Thomas, Ron Weasley

All of the O.W.L.'s listed above (save for Neville's Transfiguration O.W.L., and possibly Harry's and Ron's Astronomy O.W.L.s) qualified for an advancement to N.E.W.T.-level classes.