Dudley Dursley's GCSEs

[Dedalus]

I was pondering this in another thread, and decided it warrants its own thread :)

Dudley would have done his GCSE exams at the end of the fifth book, at the same time Harry did his OWLs. How many do you think he'd have passed?

I really can't imagine that he'd have done that well, and so won't be able to stay on and do any A Levels (like NEWTs), either if his boarding school has a sixth form, or go onto another sixth form building. And if he did ... would he want to? So perhaps in the next book we'll see Dudley Dursley getting a job. Perhaps at Grunnings with his dad?

So how many GCSEs do you think he'll have passed? Which ones? Do you think he'd stay on to do A Levels, if he does well enough? If not, where do you think he'd work? Do you think he'll be changed, with a job and act more and more like his dad?

[Ecthelion]

:lol: Nice topic Dedalus, thoroughly interesting :tu:

Anyways, I would say that a certain amount of scenarios can come out of this particular instance. For one, we are for certain that Petunia and Vernon are totally clueless as to Dudley's real status. By getting a report of this GCSE exams....(which I sincerely believe will not be good)....Petunia and Vernon might just grasp the reality of their son. Highly unlikely, as they both are quite ignorant and overwhelmingly blind in this particular catagory, but it is possible. They have shown a surprising amount of insight in more then a couple instances.

Ah well, just a couple of thoughts :)

[Dedalus]

Oooh, maybe. Or it might go the other way and they turn his downfall into something good ("Who needs pansy GCSEs. Nobody got anywhere by taking exams! Your genius lies in the real world, son, in the proud world of drill making"). I can just see him working for his dad, though ... the sixteen year old boss's son, bullying all the workers just because he can, wearing a suit just like his dad's.

[WeasleyIsOurKing]

Are the GCSE test kind of an equivalent of the SATs and ACTs here in the US?

Well, if they are, Dudley's scores would probably appall his parents. Of course they wouldn't blame Dudley! They would say, as Dedalus said, "Who needs pansy GCSEs. Nobody got anywhere by taking exams! Your genius lies in the real world, son, in the proud world of drill making!" Or they would blame the exam-giver person (what's the name?? I'm having a brain freeze) or, if they use machines to grade the test, they would say that the machines were faulty and it wasn't Dinky Dudderkin's fault.

[Doggy]

No, the Dursleys wouldn't see anything wrong with Dudley's way of studying. They think he has the IQ of a genius.

What happens if you fail GCSE's? Do you have to re-do them?

[Tirwen Lupin]

As Ecthelion said, Petunia and Vernon have no idea about how Dudley's really doing at school.
When they get the results of the tests, I can easily imagine them trying to turn a blind eye to all of it, the way they did at the beginning od GoF. Petunia would claim that Dudley is gifted and the teachers just don't understand him, and Vernon would take a who-needs-it-anyway attitude. Vernon might hire Duduley to work at Grunnings, and to be his little helper.
Or he might pursue professional boxing as a career. :lol:
Or maybe, just maybe, they might realize that they can't ignore it. It would be interesting to see them try to toughen up when it comes to Dudley's education--the way they did with his diet.

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

Don't forget, though, Dudley's a jock. I'm fairly sure Smeltings would be willing to..."overlook" some subpar marks rather than risk next year's wrestling championships.

[wbp9999]

That would be funny, Tirwen. I personally hope they send him to a boarding school in SIberia, Cape Horn, or some other place in the middle of nowhere, where they teach him to respect his parents and be kind to others. Oh, can't you see it:

Vernon: Harry, get the mail.
Dudley: No allow me, my kind dear friend.
Harry: You feeling allright there, Duddykins
Dudley: Oh, I love that name *starts acting like Snape in WeasleyIsOurKing's sig*

I don't know much about GSCE's, being from America and all, but, based on the fact that they are tests of at least moderate difficulty (probably very difficult), Dudley will fail them all. How would the Durselys like that?

[hesdead-dealwithit]

I don't live in England, so I don't really know, but to me Dudley not taking A levels would be really strange. To me, at least, dropping out of high school carries a real stigma. In America, almost everyone graduates from high school. Is not taking A levels equivalent to dropping out? Is there stigma associated with not taking A levels? In the type of neighborhood that Privet Drive is, probably 98-99% of people in America would graduate from high school. Is it the same in England?

[Doggy]

Well, if Dudley gets bad on them; the Dursleys will probably find some way of blaming Harry: that Harry put some spell on Dudley to make him fail, or that having a cousin who is so strange and abnormal (a real "freak") creates a bad atmosphere and puts a bad inpact on Dudley. Or something of the sort.

[Dedalus]

Rowena Ravenclaw, they wouldn't be able to. GCSEs are awarded by a different body to the school. And they might not have the same championships for sixth and seventh year as they do for the other years, because it's like a different section of education altogether - if they have a Sixth Form at all. Most schools don't and you have to go enroll in another building, which we call College or a Sixth Form Center. I assume Smeltings would have a Sixth Form attached, like Hogwarts do.

For those who ask, GCSEs are tests for all the subjects you've done in the 5 years at Secondary school. They're the same exam papers for all schools throughout the country and all are taken at the same time (so you can't phone a friend in another town and ask how it went), depending on the modules and subjects. They tend to be counted by how many you get ... like "I got 8 GCSEs!". They determine what A Levels you can study (some courses will require different amounts, and sometimes high results like atleast 5 Bs). Then you study for your A Levels for two years, which in turn decide what University course you can do.

hesdead-dealwithit, it wouldn't be dropping out. A Levels are completely voluntary. NEWTs are too, at Hogwarts. You don't have to do them, but it would ruin your chances if you don't. GCSEs are compulsory, though, but if you've done them, even if they're bad, you don't have to do them again unless you want better chances.

Hope that makes things a bit clearer ;)

[leenielou]

I like the idea of Dudley going into Grunnings with Daddy. It's what I immediately thought of.

As to the question of which of his GCSE's Dudley will have passed, I think that it would be really funny if he got straight As in Art and Music. Something for Vernon to worry about :evil:

I don't think at all that he'll do A levels, except for the fact that he is at that strange, knicker-bocker wearing school. Perhaps he might feel compelled to?

In the end though, I really do think that he will join his father. And that he may be surprisingly, and exceptionally good at his job...especially the negotiation. Fists work wonders sometimes ;)

[daz]

Dudley dont srike me as the kind of boy who will do a-levels he just wants to get in as must mischef as he can and i think it will be so funny seeing go off to work with his dad in the summer hoildays in a suit and tie harry will love that and get a real kick out of it

[rotsiepots]

I can imagine Petunia would want Dinky Diddy to stay on to finish his A levels, but Vernon strikes me as the type not to worry too much about academic performance.

What type of subjects are studied for GCSEs? Dudley probably excelled at the more "practical" subjects, but I'm not sure if they count.

[daz]

the type of subjucts are

english
maths
art
history
science
geogphy

[hesdead-dealwithit]

Dudley probably excelled at the more "practical" subjects, but I'm not sure if they count.
Kinda off topic, but you just reminded me of a football player at Ohio State who was majoring in golf (that's right, the game) to keep his athletic eligibility. At the very least, moth athletes major in something like psychology, that doesn't require real mental exertion. But golf? - that's just cheating to get a degree (actually, he didn't even get a degree as he left school to go pro early, so cheating to get eligibility), isn't it?

[rotsiepots]

*cough* I studied psychology for three years.

It's a good analogy, though. I'm not sure whether British schools are particularly "sports obsessed", though. Even if they are, Dudley may not qualify because I don't think boxing is a competitive, school sport. Someone from England might want to correct me on this, though.

hesdead; one of the universities in my city offers a diploma in rugby. Suffer the little children. :rolleyes:

[AvadaKedavra]

GCSES are graded from A* to G (and then below that U for Unclassified).

Most Colleges or Sixth Forms request 5 grades C or above in order to study A Levels, with C or above in Maths and English being an required.

I doubt Dudley will do very well, I don't think he will get any C's let alone anything above. It requires some proficiency to get a C.

I like England cos it's only got compulsory education up to 16- and not 18.

Well, it's irrelevant to me, as I'm in the 6th form doing my A Levels.

(Ah well, for those who want to stop school...)

Basically, OWLS are the wizard version of GCSES, NEWTS are the wizard version of A Levels. I don't know if there are Wizard Universities. It would be cool though!

EDIT: rosiepots you are correct of course. Boxing is extremely rare as a competive school sport and is only done in private- i.e. out of school clubs. British schools are not really that SPORT MAD! although it depends on what sport- soccer and cricket have a good following, but others, no-no. Baseball is non-existent, Basketball is rare-ish.

[haycheng]

I have been in both systems. (I was in Hong Kong until I am form 4, which is grade 10 in US).
The GCSE is a high exam that determine where you will continous your education in form 6 and 7. At form 7, yoy take the AL exam. The GCSE is very important as you have to apply for high school after taken GCSE(result in HK is given out around July, then you hunt for school in the following day.) Generally, school favor student from their own school but do not count on it if you do not meet the standard. There is also the chance to retake GCSE either study alone or apply for repeat in a schools. However, do not count of the either. Most schools do not like repeater unless they know you really mess up because thing you can not control(ill, family problem, etc).
GCSE generally test all the subject you have taken in school(with the exception something as some school offer bible study and some do not want a GCSE on it). Then you will pick you Al study closely related to your GCSE.

By the way, you pick you GCSE class after form 3(grade 9). Generally it is seperate into three different kind of setup. Business set, science set and humanity set.

Also unlike US system, they have only 3 year of college. I hope this help.

On to Dudley Dursley, I doubt he can do well in GCSE. Unlike US, sport count for less in british system(at less in HK). I think he probably is going to work eventually. Dursley family is well-off anyway. I think Dudley will fail and will not work for the following year. Aunt probably want him to repeat. No school take him. Study at home and fail again next year. This is my prediction. :p

[AvadaKedavra]

Haycheng, do you mean 1st, 2nd, 3rd , 4th (so on) form?

I am in the upper sixth (7th Form), doing my final A Levels.

If you mind me asking, what GCSE's did you take?

I took Maths, English Language, English Literature, Double Award Science, History, Business Studies, Media Studies, Graphic Products and French.

[haycheng]

i level after 4th form. I moved to US and take SAT instead. I am in University of California, Berkeley now. Going to graduate soon(hopefully next year).

[hesdead-dealwithit]

*cough* I studied psychology for three years.

Whoops! :wow: You know what I mean, though. Biology doesn't require mental exertion either, it's just memorization of facts. The psychology I've taken is the same - memorize this theory, memorize that. Mental exertion, for me, is like learning calculus or trying to understand some really complicated poetry. Higher level psychology could be different, I wouldn't know. Freud, or people like him, did do mental exertion, so to speak. Just in what I have taken there's no room for original thought. After three years, though, I'd assume you'd have to write papers in which you must think for yourself. That would be mental exertion.


(There. Did I wriggle out of it? ;))

[Dedalus]

I suppose we can only guess whether or not he'll do well, but I'm assuming he wouldn't be the brightest lightbulb in the pack, and isn't one for trying even if he was. But even if he did do well, I can't see him going on to do more ... Dudley learning of his own accord?

So I maintain that he'll finish school, and not carry on and that Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon won't be too bothered. Especially if Dudley does get a job working for his dad ... I can see them both saying how he's grown up, and turned into a fine man and will be just like his dad. I can just see him in a matching suit. I wonder, if that were to happen, if Petunia would still molly-coddle him?

[Silvestria]

I think Dudley might stay on in sixth form. Smeltings sounds to me like a traditional old public school. This means that it may be more interested in getting pupils whose parents can pay the fees than their academic ability. Especially if Dudley is their prize boxer, they probably might not want to loose him.

As for his GCSEs, he would have to have taken English Lit, English Lang, Maths and science. As well as that, he probably opted for the less academic subjects. P.E., I.T (so he can use the internet!), home ec or design technology. I think the minimum people take is 9.

I imagine he might fail English in which case he'd have to retake it. He could probably scrape a C in Maths and Science (the lowest 'decent' grade).

What effect his results would have on his parents, I don't know. I imagine there will be significant changes at 4 Privet Drive this year anyway what with the dementors, Petunia's remembrance of dementors etc.

~Silvestria~

[lupinntonkz]

lol just the title of the subject cracks me up! i can't even begin to imagine what um.. how do i say their names vernon n petunia. that don't sound right but you know what i mean. well how would they react. awww the teachers are picking on diddy diddums or whatever! xXx

[Lord_Chatterley]

I hope Dudley will be expelled so the Dursleys will finally open their eyes about their son!

[FawkesBox]

Wouldn't it just be delicious if Dudley cheated and he got caught-- oh yes... :elaugh:

[Weatherby]

A lot of American schools tend to let athletes slide when it comes to their scores. But I doubt Dudley's wrestling career could pull it off with passing GSCE scores.
I'm guessing he won't pass many if at all. He'll always have a job at Grunnings though.

[Siriusly_Addicted]

At the very least, moth athletes major in something like psychology, that doesn't require real mental exertion.

*snort*

I think you're being generous. Take another look and I think you'll find a preponderance of athletes who major in Communications, whatever that is. By "whatever that is", I mean that too many major US colleges/universities indulge their prize athletes with, ah, creative course scheduling to cobble together something that can be called a degree, just to keep them eligible for athletics. These jocks keep the school trophy cases stuffed with championships and titles, which in turn keep the school endowments coming from proud alumns. The fact that said jocks can barely read is incidental. The additional fact that they go out and give interviews that demonstrate to the world just how little they got out of their "communications" studies doesn't seem to bother anyone, either.

Disclaimer 1: I have no doubt that there are legitimate Communications degrees that do require actual commitment to the courses and significant brainwork. My point is that the jocks frequently are not expected to carry the same academic load as the "regular" students.

Disclaimer 2: I'm from the US, my taxes support (in part) some of these state-funded universities, and I have what I feel are legitimate reasons to be disgusted.


Back on the topic of Dudley, I don't see him getting any GCSE's, but I have an equally hard time seeing him going to work. I'm wondering if he'll take a "gap year" (I think that's what it's called), even though he isn't doing his A Levels or going to University. Then again, if Crabbe, Goyle and some of the other Slytherins can last into 7th year, why can't Dudley?

[Catgirl]

In England there is vertualy no empasis placed on sports at all. That is why England suck at all sports. Sure we get the odd superstar like Beckham, but mostly British sporting standards are way down, because schools just don't care about sports. I would imagine that private schools think even less of sports.

Not staying onto the sixth form isn't considered dropping out. I'm in the sixth form and the whole sixth form (years 12 and 13) is just less than half the size of one of the other years.

Hogwarts confuses me because they call year seven the first year and year thirteen the seventh year. I suppose that they have to because in year seven they are in their first year of magical education, but it's very futrating trying to figure out who is in what year and wht age that makes them. I only just realised that I'm the same age as the Weasley twins. (I love that fact because they are such cool characters. We even have the same birthday month.)

I think that Dudley will have rubbish GCSE results and his parents will be sickenly Dursleyish about it. Harry on the other hand will get great OWL results and have to liten to them go on about how people with qualifictions are total losers.

BTW You don't have to take GCSEs again if you fail, but it is the lowest qualification you can have in Britain, so you would end up doing rubbish jobs all your life, like working on the check out at Tesco.

A though has just crossed my mind. Dudley would have sat his GCSEs in 1996. Everyone is saying that in the past couple of years they have made the GCSEs easier so maybe seven years ago someone like Dudley would have got away with not being as smart as today's GCSE standard.

[Dedalus]

Hogwarts confuses me because they call year seven the first year and year thirteen the seventh year. I suppose that they have to because in year seven they are in their first year of magical education, but it's very futrating trying to figure out who is in what year and wht age that makes them. I only just realised that I'm the same age as the Weasley twins. (I love that fact because they are such cool characters. We even have the same birthday month.
Really? I was the other way around ... I got confused when people called my school years at High School by their proper numbers rather than "first year", "second year", etc. I suppose it depends on the school. I used to get a bit confused whenever someone said I was in year 8, rather than second year.

[Catgirl]

In England I am definately in year thirteen. I thought that was the same in America except a year behind us. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer they call themselves eleventh or twelfth graders in their last two years.

[Mrs. Biggerstaff]

yeah im doign a lveles at the mo! and they are really intense stuff, i sumtimes find i all most drown amougst the amount of work! they are much easier compared to GCSE's, and seriously doubth that he passed those! maybe he will do sumink wiht his boxing or sumink ???

[rotsiepots]

In England I am definately in year thirteen. I thought that was the same in America except a year behind us. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer they call themselves eleventh or twelfth graders in their last two years.

The American school system starts and grade one and goes through to grade 12. Of course there's kindergarten and pre-school before grade one, but they don't count. :D

Now, back to Dudley's GCSEs.

[Blossom]

just something to mention, had dudley done his GCSEs this year and taken spanish, he would have goten a bit of a shock on his reading paper...(something about harry potter in viatnam)

[Romy]

Has anyone noticed that there would be the possibility that Harry won´t go back to school? I know it won´t happen, but it´s strange to think, isn´t it? The thought just popped into my mind when I read all the posts about Dudley leaving. Is Smeltings a boarding school? Does it say so anywhere because it never crossed my mind. Or are all public schools boarding schools in Britain?
Just to add to the general confusion, if anyone cares to know Germany has 13 years (I always thought England had 12 :huh: ) and you can leave after the tenth form. If you want to go on to take Abitur (A-Levels in four subjects) you don´t have to take any exams in the form of GCSE´s, though. You just don´t drop out. Then of course we have a lot of different school types and not all of them allow you to take A-Levels....
Just wanted to confuse you a bit. :p

[FoxyDoxy]

In England I am definately in year thirteen.
That's the upper six. In England year 12 and 13 are the sixth form. year 12 is lower 6 and 13 upper. I wonder why hogwarts dosent have a sixth form, the last two years aren't mandatory- Fred and George left without NEWTS

[aberforthriddle]

i'm doing gcse's at the moment, and i have just got to say this - so far, i don't think dudley would have passed any of the ones i've done!!

just to confuse non-brits a bit more, there are different levels of gcse in some subjects, depending on your ability at that subject. basically, higher tier candidates can only get A* to C grades (below that is automatically a U) and foundation candidates can only get a C or below (correct me if i'm wrong here). this applies to every tiered subject except maths, where there's also an intermediate tier (where only grades B to E are available, i think).

my point is, i think dudley would only have done foundation papers, and would therefore have been very lucky to get any C's at all (especially for maths, where foundation is D or below). As C is the lowest passing grade (as far as further education is concerned), he'll probably not be allowed to study A-levels. wonder what the dursley's will make of that?! though they probably won't care......

[Voxx]

you never know Dudley could end up working at a BurgerKing or something

[Blossom]

I doubt he'd even get a job there (my mates bf is a manager and they do actually look for some signs of inteligence)

[Tane]

This is a difficult one as Smeltings sounds like one of the top private schools and in England you don't get into those unless:


You have plenty of money.
Your child passes the special entrance exams that are set way above the normal standard.

So in relation to that Dudley might be smarter than we all think I'm afraid and Latin will probably be studied at a school such as Smeltings. We all laugh at Vernon but he owes his own profitable business suggesting that Math and business skills are something Dudley might actually do well in.

Smeltings I think sounds like a really difficult school to get into and money alone would not have granted him a place as these schools have a cut off point in there own private exam entries for the students.

Well all I can say is that Dudley's parents are going to be very annoyed with him if he does fail because it probably cost them between £10,000-30,000 a year to keep him there at Smeltings.

I see him failing science, geography, history because his attention span is too small and art but passing math, English and business as some schools offer this at GCSE. There are no exams for sport in Britain so he won't get anything in terms of a qualification for that as sport science only starts at A-level.

[NashiraErato]

Hmm, I can see a couple of possibilities...I think Vernon and Dudley will be keen for Dudley to leave school and go work at the drill company...Vernon because he's proud of his son and Dudley because he'll get away with doing even less at Grunnings than he does at Smeltings...

I doubt he'll do well in many of the more "academic" GCSEs, but it strikes me that Smeltings is the kind of school that isn't too bothered about your academic performance as long as you can pay the fees...Or...If a lot of his GCSEs have marks made up mostly by coursework, which he could bully other people into doing for him, then he might scrape a few passes, but I doubt he'll achieve high marks. I could see him getting a GCSE in PE...just.

There is the point that Tane made that Dudley was smart enough to get into what we're lead to believe is quite a posh school...So maybe Dudley has hidden talents...

You can bet no matter how well he does on the exams his parents will be buying him a great big "Well Done!" gift.

I have to say I found doing A levels much much harder than GCSEs...

[Jim Gamma]

Hogwarts confuses me because they call year seven the first year and year thirteen the seventh year. I suppose that they have to because in year seven they are in their first year of magical education, but it's very futrating trying to figure out who is in what year and wht age that makes them. I only just realised that I'm the same age as the Weasley twins. (I love that fact because they are such cool characters. We even have the same birthday month.)

Heh, imagine what it was like being in what is now Year 1 (ie age 5-6) and then they change the system... Back before 1988 (I think) the school system was this:
Infants - y1-y3
Juniors - y1-y4 (could have Primary y1-y7 instead of infants/juniors)
Secondary - y1-y5
--At this point, O-Levels (Ordinary levels) were taken.
6th form (upper and lower sixth) (optional but if you didn't go to 6th form you had stigma attached)
--A-levels are taken.

Now it's:
Infants: Reception, y1-y2
Juniors: y3-y6
Secondary: y7-y11
--At this point, GCSEs (General Certs in Secondary Education) are taken. These MUST include English Language, English Literature, Science, Maths, a Humanities subject (Geography or History) and usually two Options. At least that's what it was like for me.
Sixth form: y12 and y13 (optional)
--AS Levels and A-Levels (prior to 2000) - 3 or 4 subjects.
--AS levels (Y12) (post 2000) 5 subjects, equivalent to the old A-level.
--A2 levels (Y13) (post 2000) continue 3 subjects from the AS levels.

Throughout my schooling life we had to have two lessons of PE/Games/Sports per week. AFAIK this is the only emphasis on sports there is. The sports dept at my school was 4 people, compared to 9 or 10 in other departments. But there's no GCSE in PE.

[sports15]

a quick question....what are GCESs??

[Jim Gamma]

a quick question....what are GCESs??

Crikey, it's only a two page thread!

GCSE's, for the N'th time, are mandatory exams taken at age 16 by British students. Read up the thread for MUCH more information.

[deadlocked]

Wouldn't it just be delicious if Dudley cheated and he got caught-- oh yes... :elaugh:

yes but still i doubt that his parents would believe it....

[Stephie]

I have to take them next year. *sob sob*

I hope Dudley, didn't pass, but knowing Vernon and Petunia, they probably weaseled him through the tests and out of trouble for not passing.

[Voxx]

Are they rich cause they could just forget school and pay the rest of his life living with his mom and dad with no rent pay...oh the days

[Tane]

Well at the rate they spoil Dudley I would say yes they are quiet rich, I mean how many children get 39 birthdays presents and a trip out to the zoo.

I mean he got a racing bike, a cine-camera, a remote-controlled aeroplane, sixteen new computer games, a gold watch and a video recorder, that was not all the presents. Who buys an 11 year old boy a video recorder, if you ask me Dudley is more spoiled than Draco. I'm beginning to wonder whether Vernon new the Riddle family and Voldemort.

So really they sound like people who can afford the very best schools around and to get into those you need more than money because there are a finite number of places available for those who have way too much money.

Dudley could be the late blooming wizard, it might explain his attitude problem if magic is all to do with emotions and he is bottling it all up or that he has manage to do what Harry struggles with, control the uncontrollable magic by using his boxing to release the stress instead. Dudley channels his anger through physical violence where as Harry outlets by vocal expression (mental thought) and it is through vocal pronunciation that magic is conjured or mental thought, not through physical violence. Remember Hermione punching Draco, she was so angry and yet did not do uncontroled magic on him, you used physical violence instead.

Anyway that aside, Dudley is definitely going to do well in his math exam because he remembered how many presents he got the previous year, 37 and that is a pretty good memory really for someone we believe to be not so smart. Smart children can be just as aggressive or disobedient than the lower levels and middle intellectual child, it just depends upon whether they are being mentally challenge enough. A highly intelligent child will get bored very easily and start to find there own entertainment. I think Dudley is bluffing and that he is smarter than he makes himself out to be.

[Dimple]

Can you imagine it? Dudley fails his GCSE's. Harry gets an Owl with his O.W.L results and his uncle Vernon asks him what *he* got in the mail. Harry, thinking he hasn't done so good, tries to hide the letter from his uncle, who gets hold of it anyway and discovers that his no-good nephew is pretty darn good!! :cool: heheheheheh

[SarahF]

Oooh, maybe. Or it might go the other way and they turn his downfall into something good ("Who needs pansy GCSEs. Nobody got anywhere by taking exams! Your genius lies in the real world, son, in the proud world of drill making"). I can just see him working for his dad, though ... the sixteen year old boss's son, bullying all the workers just because he can, wearing a suit just like his dad's.

Haha, yeah I can really see that, it sounds like the Dursleys :D

Then again, just because Dudders is a bully and a pig, he might not be completely think. His parents middle class/upper class wannabes and they're not transparently dense, just not very nice ;)

We've never heard anything about his school progress, his parents would be well aware of the types of grades he is getting from tearly reports, Year 9 SATs etc. so if he was doing badly and they were really concerned, I'd have thought we'd ahve seen that by now in punishment and yelling at him to do his homework. So, either he's doing alright or, as you said, Daddy's just priming him for a job at Grunnings ;)

[Somnia Lustre]

I don't think Dudley will get 10As or anything, but I think that he could do fairly well, eg 2A, 3B, C,3D, E. The As would be for Business and Maths, probably. Failing that, he'd do terribly badly, Gs and a few Us, but untill the next book, we don't know.

[SarahF]

the type of subjucts are

english
maths
art
history
science
geogphy

When I was at school (took my GCSEs in '98) you had to take:

English (Literature & Language)
Mathematics
Science (Double Award - Chemistry, Physics and Biology)
R.E (Religious Education)
1 Humanities Subject (Either Geography or History)
1 Arts Subject (Either Art, Music or Drama)
1 Language (French or Spanish at my school, but others teach German)
Technology (Either Metalwork, Woodwork, Elextronic, Textiles or Cooking)
1 Optional subject such as an extra language or humanity or, as offered by my school, sociology, psychology, P.E* etc.


Smeltings is a posh scxhool so chances are Dudders would have had to take Latin classes as well.

*We all had to do P.E a couple of times a week but there was an option to take a P.E GCSE where you do extra sport and also mix in some biology with it - learning about the way the body copes with exercise, muscle strain etc. The basics you might learn in Sports Science.

[Jim Gamma]

Hmm... WOULD Vernon realise Harry had done well though?

For GCSE's, the grades go A-G then U, the letters don't signify any word. But in the wizarding world, the letters are all over the place (O,E,A,U,D,T if I recall) - so if he gets a few A's, that'd seem to Vernon like he got top grades, whilst the E's would seem closer to failure, when this isn't the case.

[aberforthriddle]

just to clear things up.....gcse students no longer have to study 1 humanities, 1 arts, 1 language and 1 technology. you can now take double award subjects in various subjects, then do either a language or a technology, and 1 other subject from a rather long list comprising of just about every other subject possible........

however, at the time dudley took them, things were a bit stricter.......maybe he'd pass more if he had more choice on what he could study, like we do now?

[Da_Chinkster]

just to clear things up.....gcse students no longer have to study 1 humanities, 1 arts, 1 language and 1 technology.

this is true in some schools, however most of the top private schools in the country do make their students do one of each of thelsited subjects. Smeltings seems to be one such school and so I would assume Dudley would be doing them.

Personally I dont see Dudley doing too well at all in his GCSEs. He doesnt seme particularly gifted when it comes to school and he spends a lot of time not studying. Therefore I cant see him doing too well.

For GCSE's, the grades go A-G then U, the letters don't signify any word

A-G doesnt signify any word (there is also an A* grade awarded at GCSE) but the U does stand for unclassified.

[Romy]

a quick question....what are GCESs??

As far as I know it´s short for General Certificate of Secondary Education. That´s what my English teacher told me a few years ago. Then again, I could be wrong, I´m German. We don´t have such a thing.

[Voldy86]

Dudders goes to a private school and by all accounts a very prestigious one, probably public. Public and private schools have a habit of having very stupid pupils getting very good gcse's.

Quick question, people have been talking about dudley doing wrestling, just wondered if it said he was a wrestling champ in american version and boxing here?

[Ameen]

in the books Dudley is very ~stupid~ so he will probably not get very good GCSE's or A Levels. A job at Grunnings with his dad seems to be the only future for Dudley Dursley.

[Tzigone]

Who proctors the GSCE's? Is it a teacher at the school or someone who just proctors exams for a living, or what?

Because if it is a teacher, I could see a school like Smeltings (which obviously has low standards (Dudley can't add up his presents)) might "nudge" students towards the right answers.

[Jim Gamma]

If you mean who makes sure students don't break the rules, then that's usually the teachers... and sometimes outsiders. It's called invigilation here though.

[Amina]

GCSEs are external exams. There are several different 'exam boards' (Edexcel, AQA and OCR), which set their own papers. the school picks which board they want their pupils to sit, then the whole country of candidates sits the papers at the same time (for instance, i beleive it's chemistry on monday morning). the papers are then sent off to examinners appointed by the respective exam boards. the examiners can be teachers, but boards make sure that if the examminer is a teacher, they don't get papers from near where they teach, so they won't know the pupils.

as for dudley, i shoudl imagine he'd do ok. it's not that hard to get d-e at gcse if you put in a little bit of work. i'd say he'd get 4 Cs and a couple of Ds.

I also believe the only compulsory subjects are:

maths
eng lit
eng lang
chem, bio and physics (either double award or as seperate gcses)
a foreign language (not sure about that one)

and dudley's school sounds like the sort of blustering public boys school where money, rather than intelligence, gets you in. i should imagine the entrance exam is somewhat of a formality.

[Jim Gamma]

^Yeah but I think what's being said is that Smeltings may not be too careful about who sees the exams and gets the answers before or during the exam. It's almost impossible to police if the Headmaster/teachers are unscrupulous and give out/hint at all the answers beforehand.

[Voldy86]

I also believe the only compulsory subjects are:

maths
eng lit
eng lang
chem, bio and physics (either double award or as seperate gcses)
a foreign language (not sure about that one).

private scools dont have to follow the national curriculum so they may let him do any gcse's he chooses, partciularly easy ones!

[Amina]

most schools still make you sit maths and english though, no matter how posh. i've never heard of any that let you miss those ones.

[Kev22]

yea i haven't heard of any that let you miss either

[FreyaCrescent]

I personally don't think Dudley will do anything amazing when it comes to his GCSEs. He just doesn't seem the type to care about school exams and results. Probably because his parents will cover up any failures he has, just like we've seen in the book:

"Aunt Petunia always insisted that Dudley was a very gifted boy whose teachers didn't understand him, while Uncle Vernon maintained that 'he didn't want some swotty little nancy boy for a son anyway'." (Goblet of Fire)

Like people have said here before, no doubt Dudley has a job waiting for him at Grunnings whatever happens. However, there's still time for Dudley to surprise us all with an outstanding display of knowledge.

[Voldy86]

yeah its unlikely but possible if dudders is there prize sportsman and they want his da's money

[Flee From Death]

I agree with most people on here: I don't think Dudley is going to be getting great GCSEs. However, he does go to a public school, and generally those schools tend to be good at getting good results out of their pupils. So I'll hazard a few guesses, and say that it's quite likely he'll have passed English and Maths (I've never heard of any school where these aren't mandatory to GCSE), probably with at least a C. I'd imagine he'd have had to do a foreign language (French and German are the most common) and in a school like Smeltings probably Latin. I could see him maybe scraping a pass in his foreign language, since learning a foreign language tends to be taken very seriously in Britain. As for Latin I couldn't possibly comment. I can see him taking Business Studies with a view to taking over Grunning's: he might have done quite well at that; A B, maybe.

I think that's as far as I'll go on subjects he might have passed. Will he do A-levels? Well, nothings impossible, but I don't really see it. Will Grunning's get a new apprentice? I think it's highly likely.

Also: schools like Smelting's are built on their reputations. Resuslts are published in League tables, and they won't want anyone messing up their reputation for getting everyone through A-levels. I wouldn't be so sure that he'll be welcomed back.

[LilyEvans]

I imagine Smeltings would be like Inst, or Campbell, FFD. After all, they don't really mind what results you get if you're good enough at a sport.

English Literature is not a compulsory subject, though it usually is taken in grammar schools, and probably private schools too. Though I wouldn't imagine Dudley to be very good at commenting on the works of Shakespeare.

Anyway. I agree with Flee from Death. Business Studies is quite likely, though I doubt he'll do very well overall, he's probably been coached up to his eyeballs to get him to pass enough to get him back.

He may go into Grunnings, I think it's a distinct possibility. But the question in my mind is when? After GCSEs? Or after A-Levels? (they don't call them Nastily Exhausting for nothing, by the way.)

[Amina]

for everyone saying that 'public schools get good results', i think you'd be surprised how 'badly' a lot of traditional boys public boarding schools do. obviously they have a lot of bright students, but there are also a phenomenal amount who won't do that well. it's more the private day-schools, often ex-grammar, that do well. places like st pauls and the like. i'm only saying this from personal knowledge (my brother and friends of his all attend a school probabloy not that dis-similar to smeltings, though not quite so old fashioned), so perhaps i'm wrong...

[red_fairy]

He'll probably scrape by with a good enough grade to stay in Smeltings, but I doubt that the test scores will be brillaint. He could have found a way to cheat I suppose.

[michaela]

He would probably do badly and end up "working" for his dad, but really would sit around and eat! (Great career).

[Kethaer]

it's more the private day-schools, often ex-grammar, that do well. places like st pauls and the like.

St Pauls (both boy's and girl's ones) is the best school in England, as far as I'm aware? Or did Godolphin & Latymer overtake them at last?

But yeah, you're right. St Pauls get great results, as well as Latymer...

I see Smelting's as a sort of in-the-HP-books Eton (although I doubt Dudley would be able to get in there...). Most people see Eton as the best boy's boarding school in the country but, in fact, some of it's not what people see it as. Although Prince Harry and William went there, it makes no difference... I know a few Eton boys myself, and they're not too bright at all...
And that's what I see Dudley as... One of the Smeltings boys who definately don't get their picture in prospectus, so to speak... I doubt his GCSE results were favourable in any way at all, aside from, as somebody said, good enough to keep him in for Sixth Form, at least.

[Rapunzel]

Crikey, it's only a two page thread!

GCSE's, for the N'th time, are mandatory exams taken at age 16 by British students. Read up the thread for MUCH more information.

Could we get GCSE in words please? :blush:


Edit: Sorry - found it above. Thanks Romy.

[AncientPlum]

Hmmm, I thought you took GCSE's when u leave school which means he would take them until he was a seventh year? Thanks for the true info from our English friends. He'll probably get by on them by cheating or something but I think the story never said anything about his grades at school has it? I guess we can look at it this way: If Crabbe and Goyle pass, then Dudley can since thier intellience level is close. Plus Dudley will just cheat. There's nothing in the Muggle world to prevent Dudley from cheating.

[Shauna]

I think there are two possibilities here...either Dudley completely fails all his exams (and Vernon and Petunia make excuses for him as usual), or he passes with flying colors because he managed to find some way to cheat. Perhaps Mark Evans is really smart and Dudley got him to do his exams for him... :D

Shauna

[codswallop]

Disclaimer 1: I have no doubt that there are legitimate Communications degrees that do require actual commitment to the courses and significant brainwork. My point is that the jocks frequently are not expected to carry the same academic load as the "regular" students. by siriusly addicted.

I was a communications major and there are easy courses but it isn't all fluff.

Disclaimer 2: I'm from the US, my taxes support (in part) some of these state-funded universities, and I have what I feel are legitimate reasons to be disgusted. by siriusly addicted.

College Athletics are a billion dollar business. College Athletes probably lower your tax burden

[twinkle260280]

GCSE means General Certificate of Secondary Education if any non Brits were wondering :)

[Albusdaughter]

Hmmm, I thought you took GCSE's when u leave school which means he would take them until he was a seventh year? Thanks for the true info from our English friends. He'll probably get by on them by cheating or something but I think the story never said anything about his grades at school has it? I guess we can look at it this way: If Crabbe and Goyle pass, then Dudley can since thier intellience level is close. Plus Dudley will just cheat. There's nothing in the Muggle world to prevent Dudley from cheating.

You take GCSEs (General Certificates of Secondary Education) at age 16, and can leave school then if you want or can opt to stay on to do A Level (A stands for Advanced).

For people who have commented on the confusion between the current UK year numbering system of 1-13, where 7-13 are the Hogwarts years, you should have tried it when they switched numbering systems! I started secondary school and did first, second and third years, went back for my fourth year and was suddenly in Year 10?! I was quite annoyed, I wanted to be a Lower and Upper Sixth when my turn came instead of a boringly named year 12 & 13!

JKR would have done the old system of year numbering and exams, that is to say she would have done O Levels and A Levels before O Levels changed to GCSEs, (the O in O Levels stood for Ordinary so you can see the parallel with OWLs - Ordinary Wizarding Levels). She will know the new system, of course as she has a daughter in the education system, but like me she will probably think in terms of the old year groups and mentally have to convert them.

One other point to get back on topic, we may not find out Dudley's GCSE grades as JKR has said Harry's stay with the Dursleys this year will be the shortest yet and GCSE grades are not posted out until late August.

[Nymph]

I hope Jk thaught of that!
The Dursley will probably bee like "I don't want a know it all anyway...". I just hope he won't pass any.

[drdementor]

In the American version, Dudley is a boxing champ (not wrestling, I don't know why some people thought that). I think Dudley isn't as stupid as Harry used to think he was. I know Harry taunts Dudley all the time about how dumb he is, but Dudley's made some good observations. I think he's probably smarter than Crabbe and Goyle. By the way, while we're on the subject, do you think Crabbe and Goyle will get enough OWLs to do NEWTs? I don't know what the cutoff for "A" is, but if Harry's work was "A" in potions before he started studying harder, their potions must have been failing.

I think they'll fail:

Potions
Defence against the dark arts
Transfiguration
History (can't see them being able to memorise all that)
Astronomy (probably stink at that too)

They might do all right in Charms and Care of Magical Creatures, I don't know. I don't know what their other class was...

It would be interesting to see Malfoy without Crabbe and Goyle to back him up. Maybe he'll lose some influence in Slytherin House, which could lead to the integration of some Slytherins into the DA.

Also, someone cheats every year, according to McGonnagall...if the cheater was Crabbe or Goyle, they won't be coming back to Hogwarts.

[Flee From Death]

No, they wouldn't. Normally if you're found cheating you're disqualified from all your exams. However, we would probably already have known about that (although with everything that happenned maybe not).

Yes, Dudley's a boxing champ, and you do have a point. He may not be the sharpest pencil in the box; but on the other hand it looks like he's not the dullest, either. He could probably scrape enough to get into A-levels, or maybe more than scrape, but it depends on whether or not he put in sufficient work. I don't know what you think, but he doesn't strike me as a particularly hard worker, and if he knows he'll inherit the family business I don't know how much he would have tried. It will depend upon how much work his teachers were able to force him to do.

[arcanus]

I've a question, what is the last passing grade for the GCSE?

BTW I think Dudley will stay for his A levels since he's doing very well as a boxer and schools tend to keep their athletes even if they get dreadful grades.

[Jim Gamma]

Last pass in GCSE is E I think.

[SnorkackCatcher]

I think he's probably smarter than Crabbe and Goyle.Isn't everybody? :)

If Smeltings is a fairly-posh-but-not-top-grade-famous private school (which is what it sounds like) I imagine the pupils are coached fairly intensively, so even Dudley should be able to scrape together a few GCSEs. I imagine such a school would be quite happy for their pupils to go on to do A levels even with mediocre GCSE results, but I could be wrong - perhaps anyone who attended such a school could enlighten us?

[drdementor]

You know, Dudley may have been motivated to do better in order to keep going with Boxing for Smeltings. Say you're the head of a rather stodgy private school with a bunch of pampered rich brats as your pupils. Star athletes may be few and far between, in any sport. Now, we know Dudley has brought home reports of poor grades, bullying, and over-eating. In less than two years, he was able to turn himself around, go from foot-in-the-coffin obese to really fit, athletic, and champion at a difficult sport. Some coach put a lot of time in training and motivating Dudley. A lot of time. I don't think that coach would want Dudley gone from Smeltings after having won for just two years.

So, I think that coach may be Dudley's version of a Professor MacGonagall. He'll have been tutoring Dudley, if need be, all year. Or possibly just encouraging and pressuring him to study. Maybe even saying that if he got a couple more years in, boxing at school, he could go pro!

Dudley won the championship by beating a kid older and bigger than himself. He must be fairly good at boxing --- I feel sorry for all those kids he bullies.

Then again, if dear old Dudders is caught assaulting a kid, he could end up in jail, where GCSE's don't really matter.

[Inkymouse]

While I do not think Dudley will do well in his GCSE's, he will probably pass some of them. I mean generally when you send your children to Public schools, you are paying for them to get a good education and good grades...while it is almost certain this is not the case for Dudley being sent there (bearing in mind this is where Vernon was sent and probably his father...and his father etc etc), the teachers probably managed to force some form of knowledge in there, if only enough to scrape passes.

As I am from Scotland and the Higher system is quite different from A levels ( we do 5 subjects in 5th year, but only really intelligent people do 5 highers...we are offerend int2's and int1's (too complex to go into)) but I am pretty sure I get it (a-level system that is), I assume Dudley is the sort that just wants to leave school after his GCSE's and get a job...either that, or if he is as good at boxing as he believes he might take this further...never know might be important in future books to show the Dursleys that the spoken word can be more powerful than just brute strength

[Sol Anu]

I think Dudley will be motivated by whatever he saw when the Dementors attacked him. His and Harry's lives are paralell and I think he needed the attack to keep him on his muggle paralell. So good luck to Dudley, his gonna need it.

[Sile]

Dudley will probably fail most of his GCSE's. He will have to pass english and maths (you cannot get a job without at least a grade c or above in these subjects) and even vernon cant overlook that. I think that yes dudley will get a job in grunnings and as he turns 17 next year we will see him running about in a company car.

I see that most posters from england are mentioning only 13 years at schoo including a-level years. I live in the north of ireland. here we do 14 years at school.

Children start school at 5 some younger children like me started at 4 but i turned 5 during my first year at school.
to clear things up the school ages go like this for me

P1- 5
P2- 6
P3- 7
P4- 8
P5- 9
P6-10
P7-11 Then you transfer to secondary school

First year- 12
Second year- 13
Third year- 14
Fourth year- 15 you start studying for GCSE's
Fifth year- 16 You take your GCSE exam. If you have enough passes required by your school you can carry on to A-level or you can leave and get a job.
Sixth year (aka Lower sixth) AS level- when I did it it was first year of A level
Seventh year (aka Higher sixth) A2 level- second year of A level
then off to uni.

[Amina]

Last pass in GCSE is E I think.

i believe technically a G is the last pass mark (then you get a U - unclassified i.e. fail).

however, especially in subjects such as maths and english, a lot of employers (who aren't asking for A-levels) will insist on a C as the lowest acceptable marks. generally to go on to a-levels, as well, you have to have achieved five Cs, generally in maths english and sometimes science. a G really is a low mark. it means you got about 2% on the lowest tier of the paper (you can gnerally sit a subject in one of two or three 'tiers', ie ability levels, Higher, Intermediate and Foundation.)

our school system sounds really complicated when you try and explain it all like this...

[drifting.shadow]

i wouldnt be at all suprised if dudley passed a decent amount of gcse's, vernon and patunia are smart, why shouldnt he be?

[icklek]

^Yeah but I think what's being said is that Smeltings may not be too careful about who sees the exams and gets the answers before or during the exam. It's almost impossible to police if the Headmaster/teachers are unscrupulous and give out/hint at all the answers beforehand.

As far as I remember the teachers don't see the exam papers far enough in advance to give out answers....in fact I believe they arrive at the school in a sealed envelope which is only opened as the exam is about to start, when everyone has been seated in the exam hall and left their books elsewhere???

[Mundungus Fletc]

Originally Posted by Jim Gamma
^Yeah but I think what's being said is that Smeltings may not be too careful about who sees the exams and gets the answers before or during the exam. It's almost impossible to police if the Headmaster/teachers are unscrupulous and give out/hint at all the answers beforehand.

I very much doubt it - there have been occasional cases where teachers have opened the envelopes early - they ended up out of a job and facing prison. The examining bodies make spot checks to ensure the envelopes remain sealed.

[GodricHollow]

i wouldnt be at all suprised if dudley passed a decent amount of gcse's, vernon and patunia are smart, why shouldnt he be?

quoting from PS:

"That will be thirty..." *wait a moment*
"Thirty-six darling"

He's 11 and dosn't know his numbers up to fifty?!

[Voldy86]

you can get jobs without a grade c in english and maths, my parents and some of my friends have absolutely no qualifications and still have jobs. true you'll prbably be at the bottom of the ladder without qualifications but you can work your way up.

[C8H10N4O2]

Here is part of a script from Dudley's future career (with appologies to Python (Monty) Ltd.).

Dudley: Good morning, colonel.
Colonel: Good morning gentlemen. Now what can I do for you.
Luigi: (looking round office casually)You've ... you've got a nice army base here, colonel.
Colonel: Yes.
Dudley: We wouldn't want anything to happen to it.

...

Colonel: Look, what is all this about?
Dudley: My frien and I have got a little proposition for you colonel.
Luigi: Could save you a lot of bother.
Dudley: I mean you're doing all right here aren't you, colonel.
Luigi: Well suppose some of your tanks was to get broken and troops started getting lost, er, fights started breaking out during general inspection, like.
Dudley: It wouldn't be good for business would it, colonel?
Colonel: Are you threatening me?
Dudley: Oh, no, no, no.
Luigi: Whatever made you think that, colonel?

I could see Dudders going right to the top!!!!

[KlutzyFreak]

I don't think Dudley will get very high marks in his GCSEs, and as usual, his parents will place the blame on the school, and argue that their son is a 'misunderstood genius', and it's the school-system that doesn't appreciate how special Diddykins is... They have done so before on several occasions (see humorous quotes below) and it will be very entertaining to Harry (and to us) to see what sort of excuses they will come up with now.

Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had managed to find excuses for his bad marks as usual: Aunt Petunia always insisted that Dudley was a very gifted boy whose teachers didn't understand him, while Uncle Vernon maintained that "he didn't want some swotty little nancy boy for a son anyway." They also skated over the accusations of bullying in the report - "He's a boisterous little boy, but he wouldn't hurt a fly!" Aunt Petunia had said tearfully
...However, at the bottom of the report there were a few well-chosen comments from the school nurse that not even Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia could explain away. No matter how much Aunt Petunia wailed that Dudley was big-boned, and that his poundage was really puppy fat, and that he was a growing boy who needed plenty of food...

[DocHollidaywe]

We do not have GCSEs out here .... but Im guessing that Dudley will have gotten average grades on them ...

[JangoSnuffles]

i believe technically a G is the last pass mark (then you get a U - unclassified i.e. fail).


I thought U stood for 'Ungradeable'?

Dudley's results are based on what he took, really. I personally am in Year 10, the first year of GCSEs, but for History, I am taking AS level, the first half of A level. There is a class of us and if we chose to, we can continue A level History when we enter Sixth Form. In AS level, an A to E grade is a pass grade.
Although I doubt Dudley took any A level examinations (he comes across as quite a 'thick' boy and I'm sure that Harry has compared him to Crabbe and Goyle before), we don't know exactly what exams he DID take, let alone what subjects he chose, so we can't exactly guess how well or badly he did in his GCSEs.

[lynsey1989]

i think he may do quite well he does go to a good school aswell