Announcements
Welcome to the Potions O.W.L.!
Please read the following announcements before joining the course.
1. Since I cannot control whether students consult their notes or not during the exam, I have devised the O.W.L. as an open-book examination and updated its difficulty accordingly. You may freely choose whether you'd like to take the O.W.L. while consulting the lessons and assignments or not, but you may find this test very challenging if you do it close-book style.
2. There are some interdisciplinary questions in the Theory section of this O.W.L. exam. While these questions make for less than 10% of your grade and cover concepts that are not too complex from other subjects, further research on topics related to different courses may be necessary. I've opted to use interdisciplinary questions because knowledge frequently does not fit into neat boxes in the real world, so I figured this would be a good test for students. Do note that interdisciplinary questions can be solved with knowledge arising from the core courses, with the exception of a single question that requires elementary Care of Magical Creatures knowledge.
3. If you think any question is unclear, please reach out to Professor Draekon. Owing to the nature of the exam, it is not guaranteed that further clarification will be given.
4. If you believe an assignment has been graded in error, please reach out to Professor Draekon and provide your Grade ID for that assignment in your message.
5. Suggestions, compliments and constructive criticism about the course are always appreciated. If you have any comments about the Potions O.W.L., please send an owl to Professor Draekon.
Lesson 1) Theory Section
The clock strikes gravely, with each sound of the school bell echoing across the halls. You see a huge number of students dart through the corridor, hoping to enter the Great Hall before the doors close on them. Still, you know you are on time - how could you not be, when this test might determine whether you get to work with what you like in the future? The students around you take their seats one by one, and you try to keep your composure as much as you can - although the enormous hourglass at the front makes it harder for you to feel relaxed.
The front of the hall is also occupied by the familiar professor that has taught you for several years as well as a short Asian man wearing a set of gold-hemmed robes. His expression seems to be kind and warm, although there is some degree of solemnity to how he moves and talks. The proctor begins to pace across the room, placing a wand to his throat in order to amplify his voice.
“Welcome, welcome! For those who don’t know me, I am Professor Fukuyama, and I will be in charge of overseeing your theoretical Potions exam today. You probably know the rules, but it’s a good idea to say them again: don’t try to cheat from a classmate, don’t try to use any objects that give you the answer, and definitely don’t try to use any potions that would give you an edge in the exam - even if you brewed them yourself. Last year a student tried to raise that argument for the Concentration Concentrate he brewed and things did not go as he planned!”, the short man remarks, somewhat amused by the anecdote.
The proctor then looks in the direction of Professor Draekon, as if non-verbally asking whether he has any additional remarks. The professor walks to the front of the hall and, in a resonant voice, gives a short statement: “you know what to do already, just make sure to think things through and to provide a thorough response in your written answers - best of luck to all of you”, he asserts.
“Okay then, you may begin!”, states the proctor while flipping over the enormous hourglass that occupies the center of the front desk.
Lesson and assignment written by Professor Vaylen Draekon
Image credits here
Students who get an "Exceeds Expectations" will be allowed to proceed to N.E.W.T. studies if they get an "Outstanding" in their Research Log.
- PTNS-501
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