======Core Classes at Hogwarts======
=====Definition and Requirements=====
A **Core Class** is a mandatory subject that all students at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] are required to study from their first year until the end of their fifth year. These subjects form the fundamental bedrock of a young [[witch]] or [[wizard]]'s magical education.
Every student must take all seven core classes and sit for an [[Ordinary Wizarding Level]] (O.W.L.) examination in each at the end of their fifth year. Performance in these exams determines a student's eligibility to continue studying a subject at the [[Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test]] (N.E.W.T.) level during their sixth and seventh years, which is essential for many wizarding careers.
=====List of Core Classes=====
The seven core classes taught at [[Hogwarts]] are:
  * **[[Astronomy]]**: The study of the stars, planets, and their movements. Lessons are typically practical and held at night in the tallest [[Astronomy Tower]]. The subject is taught by [[Professor Aurora Sinistra]].
  * **[[Charms]]**: The branch of [[magic]] concerned with imparting new and interesting properties onto objects and creatures. It is taught by [[Professor Filius Flitwick]] and is considered a precise and delicate art.
  * **[[Defence Against the Dark Arts]]**: A critical subject that teaches students how to magically defend themselves against the [[Dark Arts]], including dark creatures, [[curses]], [[jinxes]], and [[hexes]]. This teaching post was famously cursed by [[Lord Voldemort]], resulting in a new teacher every year until his final defeat.
  * **[[Herbology]]**: The study of magical plants and fungi, covering their care, properties, and uses. Lessons are held in the [[Hogwarts greenhouses]] on the castle grounds and are taught by [[Professor Pomona Sprout]].
  * **[[History of Magic]]**: The study of significant events in wizarding history. It is taught by [[Professor Cuthbert Binns]], a [[ghost]] whose monotonous lectures are legendary for putting students to sleep.
  * **[[Potions]]**: The art of creating magical mixtures with a wide range of effects. It is a highly precise and often dangerous subject, taught in the [[Hogwarts dungeons|dungeons]] by [[Professor Severus Snape]] and later [[Professor Horace Slughorn]].
  * **[[Transfiguration]]**: The magic of changing one object or being into another. Considered a difficult and scientific branch of [[magic]], it is taught by [[Deputy Headmistress]] [[Professor Minerva McGonagall]].
=====Role in Student Advancement=====
Core classes are central to a student's academic progression. After five years of mandatory study, a student's O.W.L. grade dictates their future academic and career paths.
  * **O.W.L. Examinations**: These exams are the culmination of five years of study in the core curriculum. Students receive grades such as 'Outstanding', 'Exceeds Expectations', or 'Acceptable' for passing, and 'Poor', 'Dreadful', or 'Troll' for failing.
  * **N.E.W.T. Level Qualification**: To continue a subject into the sixth and seventh years, a student must typically achieve a high O.W.L. grade. The required grade is set by the individual [[professor]]. For instance, [[Professor Snape]] demanded an 'Outstanding' O.W.L. to enter his N.E.W.T. [[Potions]] class, whereas [[Professor Slughorn]] accepted students with 'Exceeds Expectations'.
  * **Career Paths**: Strong N.E.W.T. results are prerequisites for many specialized careers regulated by the [[Ministry of Magic]], such as becoming an [[Auror]], which requires at least five N.E.W.T.s with top grades in subjects like [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] and [[Potions]].
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * While not one of the seven core O.W.L. subjects, [[Flying]] lessons on [[broomsticks]], taught by [[Madam Rolanda Hooch]], are mandatory for all first-year students. After the first year, it appears to cease being a required class, though students can pursue it further through [[Quidditch]].
  * The curriculum of core classes mirrors the structure of a traditional British boarding school, establishing a foundational education before students specialize in elective subjects from their third year onwards.
  * On the Pottermore website, the list of core subjects is consistent with the novels, confirming these seven classes as the foundation of the [[Hogwarts]] curriculum (Pottermore).