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"Every year, I am afraid to say, seems to harbour at least one student who thinks that he or she can get around the Wizarding Examinations Authority's rules."
Minerva McGonagall regarding attempted cheating in O.W.L. exams[src]

The Wizarding Examinations Authority was a group of wizards and witches who examined students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during their O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. examinations. The Wizarding Examinations Authority also verified the results for the W.O.M.B.A.T. tests.[2]

It was most likely a part of the Department of Magical Education in the British Ministry of Magic.[3]

History[]

The head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority was Griselda Marchbanks. A large group would travel to Hogwarts every year, received by the headmaster.[1] Apart from Griselda Marchbanks, the only other known member of the examiners was Professor Tofty, who was known to be present at Hogwarts during the O.W.L.s for the 1988–1989[4] and 1995–1996 school years.[1]

The theory portion of the O.W.L. test was invigilated by Hogwarts staff members; Flitwick administered the Defence Against the Dark Arts exam in the 1970s,[5] while McGonagall oversaw the Charms O.W.L. for Harry Potter's class.[1]

Draco Malfoy claimed that when it came to the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. Wizarding Examinations Authority, it was "not what you know, it's who you know", claiming that Professor Marchbanks was an old friend of his family and that she has been their guest at dinner at least once.[1] It has to be pointed out that this is probably false, as Neville Longbottom stated that Professor Marchbanks befriended his grandmother Augusta Longbottom, but he never heard her mentioning the Malfoys.[1] It is unknown whether Draco actually got higher O.W.L. results because he knew the authorities.

They were also noted to charm papers with Anti-Cheating Spells and provide Anti-Cheating Quills to students taking examinations.[1]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 31 (O.W.L.s)
  2. Accio Quote!
  3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
  4. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, "Ordinary Wizarding Levels" Achievement - Part 1, Side Quest "Take the O.W.L.s!"
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 28 (Snape's Worst Memory)
British Ministry of Magic Departments
Unknown levels
Administrative Services · Archives · Committee on Experimental Charms · Department of Magical Artefacts · Department of Magical Education · Exploding bonbons disposal unit · Gold reserves · Magical Maintenance · Public Information Services · Rare, Obscure, and Confounding Case Division · Remittance Office · Research committee · Very Important Members of Section M.I. Trx. · Wizarding Examinations Authority
Committee on Experimental Charms personnel
Balfour Blane · Gilbert Wimple
Department of Magical Artefacts personnel
Sage Bragnam (Head Curator)
Magical Maintenance Department personnel
Reginald Cattermole · Orford Umbridge · Lift attendant · Man
Research committee personnel
Phoebus Penrose (Head)
Wizarding Examinations Authority personnel
Griselda Marchbanks · Tofty · Unidentified plump little witch examiner · Unidentified examiner with a wart on his nose
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