Chapter 15: Exam Experience
Friday, castle third floor.
Melvin had two classes that day.
Morning was the Seventh Year Muggle Studies Advanced Class; the advanced class was an advanced course exclusive to higher years.
Hogwarts’ teaching is divided into three stages. First are the lower years below Third Year; their main courses are Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, and Defence Against the Dark Arts, plus some auxiliary courses like History of Magic, Astronomy, Flying, etc. The study content belongs to foundational knowledge, with relatively low course difficulty.
Then come Third to Fifth Year; students in this stage begin to encounter elective courses, including Ancient Runes, Divination, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, and Muggle Studies, gradually expanding their horizons and studying advanced knowledge involving magical principles.
At the end of Fifth Year, they need to take the Ordinary Wizarding Level Examination, commonly known by wizards as 「O.W.L.s.」. The exam does not publicize specific scores but divides them into six grades, from best to worst:
「O」: Outstanding;
「E」: Exceeds Expectations;
「A」: Acceptable;
「P」: Poor;
「D」: Dreadful;
「T」: Troll.
Students who pass the exam smoothly and meet the standards will receive subject level certificates issued by the Department of Magical Examinations, after which they can engage in mid-to-low-end work in related industries, such as applying to shops in Diagon Alley or entering relevant departments in the Ministry of Magic to become ordinary staff members…
After Sixth Year begins, students will select courses again, no longer distinguishing between required and elective subjects; based on the subject certificates and score ratings they hold, they choose courses they are interested in or need, studying advanced knowledge in related subjects, which are the advanced class courses in the common sense.
Advanced class courses continue until Seventh Year; before graduation, students will face the second unified exam, the Ultimate Wizarding Level Examination, abbreviated as 「N.E.W.T.」.
This exam has higher value, and the score certificates are more valuable; students holding relevant certificates can access more advanced work based on their scores, such as Gringotts Curses Curer, Ministry of Magic reserve cadre, Auror reserve.
The Seventh Year Muggle Studies Advanced Class has gone through two rounds of screening, with only a dozen or so students, most with Muggle backgrounds, excellent grades, and genuine interest in Muggle Studies; they also feel close to this professor. Every time Melvin explains and asks questions, there are responses, making the class smooth and effortless.
Unfortunately, this group of students is about to graduate and needs to focus on exams, with little space for expansion or change.
Melvin felt a little regretful.
Afternoon was the Fifth Year class.
The whole class had more than thirty people, slightly fewer than Third Year, probably because some students dropped the course midway. Hogwarts’ course selection system is not rigid; after Third Year begins, students have two months to adapt, and if they feel they truly do not suit a certain course or there is a schedule conflict, they can apply to the dean to change or drop the course.
Actually, changes are possible even after two months, depending on whether there is a valid reason to convince the dean.
Melvin walked into the classroom carrying a stack of materials, wearing an embroidered cotton-linen shirt, white short-sleeved top paired with straight-leg trousers, sleeves rolled to the elbows, his movements somewhat casual, revealing a hint of indefinable nonchalance.
As Hogwarts professors, they generally have a more steady image, but Professor Lavent always wears Muggle attire, not sticking to formal wear, with trendy colors and styles.
It exudes something unfamiliar yet fresh, as if at odds with this castle, yet influencing it in a subtle way.
Professors need to maintain a posture, upholding a solemn and dignified image, so students are more likely to follow classroom discipline; they also cannot be too distant from students, needing a certain degree of affinity to facilitate communication and exchange with students.
Before this, the professors’ styles always followed tradition.
Whether the older Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick, or the younger Snape and Victor, they almost all wore black ash robes; the four houses’ signature red-gold, blue-green, yellow-black, and green-silver rarely appeared on professors. Even when attending banquets occasionally, they would deliberately darken the bright and lively colors, appearing deep and steady like elders from the last century.
Previously, only Dumbledore would occasionally wear brighter colors.
Now there is one more young Professor Lavent, and his attire has become a fixed topic among students at dinner.
Melvin placed the materials on the lectern, his waist and back straight, features handsome, looking about the same age as the students below, his voice also young, but his tone very gentle:
“Good afternoon, class.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Lavent.”
“Before formal class begins, there are some things I want to clarify in advance.” Melvin looked around the classroom. “You should all know by now, right? The Department of Magical Examinations has commissioned me as special advisor to revise and adapt the Muggle Studies course content. However, before the new teaching content is released, this year’s two exams will still follow the old format, and your most important matter this school year is to prepare for the exams.”
“Ah…”
Regretful sighs rose in the classroom.
In the past week, they had already heard too much from other year students about the novel experiences in Muggle Studies class: novel self-introductions, novel questioning methods, and novel course content. Before class, they had even specially confirmed that everyone in this classroom already knew each other.
In the end, those novel experiences were for others, and they could only prepare for exams.
Percy Weasley listened quietly, somewhat disappointed but not surprised.
O.W.L.s certificates were most important.
Melvin’s voice continued: “Originally, I wanted to ask Professor Quirrell about your previous learning situation, but he has now taken over Defence Against the Dark Arts and is busy with affairs. Several times I couldn’t find him, so I had to consult Professor McGonagall, but got little useful information. I then specially contacted Madam Marchbanks and obtained some past exam materials. After sorting through the materials, I found that you had already learned most of the main exam points in the previous two years, with only a small amount of new knowledge this year.
“Based on the above materials, I have formulated a review plan: to finish the new course content in one week, complete three rounds of review in the following months, interspersing mock tests. If the review effect is ideal and time permits, we can cover some more interesting content.”
“More interesting content…”
The little wizards muttered softly, involuntarily fantasizing.
“Class begins now.”
Melvin picked up the chalk, his handwriting and voice flowing out simultaneously: “I reviewed your textbook from last year, which mainly introduced Muggle daily life habits and commonly used electrical appliances in life. Much of the content is already outdated; we’ll discuss this issue later. In this year’s course, I will explain electrical appliances in detail to you, including the functions of common appliances, basic structures, components…”
Advanced class students were top students from each house; they had basically previewed this content in advance. But when Professor Lavent broke down the knowledge points one by one and displayed them on the blackboard with diagrams, the students seemed to see the knowledge from the books refined and concentrated, presented before them.
Rowena Ravenclaw’s Penelope reacted first, opened her notebook, and began copying.
What knowledge points?
These were exam points!
