An Ordinary Wizarding Level (often abbreviated O.W.L.) is a
subject-specific test taken during Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry 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. As well as referring to the test that students take in
their fifth year, the term "O.W.L" also refers to the type of
class, i.e. the level of difficulty of the class the student is
taking. In addition, "achieving an O.W.L" is used to refer to a
class in which the student has passed their O.W.L exam (example:
Harry Potter received an O.W.L. in Transfiguration by attaining
a passing grade on the O.W.L test for that class.) Preparation
for both O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s is very hard work. Students will
generally begin preparing for their O.W.L.s in their fourth
year, in order to take them at the end of their fifth. The
pressure was enough to mak