What are the first set of exams in Harry Potter?

Answer 1

N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests) are subject-specific exams that seventh-year wizards and witches at Hogwarts take to help them get certain jobs after graduation.

For instance, the Ministry of Magic only accept Auror applicants with at least five N.E.W.T.s with the grade "Exceeds Expectations" or better.

Not all wizards pass or even take the N.E.W.T.s, as they can find other jobs using their O.W.L. results. Fred and George Weasley, for example, were not bothered about taking the N.E.W.T.s and left Hogwarts in the middle of school-term (since their ambition was to open their joke shop, results were not an imperative in their opinion).

A student must have previously achieved an O.W.L. in the subject in order to move on to N.E.W.T.-level classes. Most Hogwarts Professors will accept an "Exceeeds Expectations" in the student's O.W.L. for a class in order to allow them into the N.E.W.T.-level classes; however, some, such as Severus Snape, would only let students with an "Outstanding" in their O.W.L. pass through to his Potions N.E.W.T. class.

Answer 2

An O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level) is a subject-specific test taken during Hogwarts 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.

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.

Answer 3

Hogwarts students take exams every year. The exams in first, second, third, fourth and sixth year are internal exams. The exams in fifth year are called O.W.L's and in seventh year they're called N.E.W.T's.