The Jedi Trials

When a Jedi apprentice nears the end of his training, his Master brings him before the Jedi Councils that he might be examined for promotion to Jedi Knight. The first three trials are the Headmasters' Trials, where the apprentice is brought before the Jedi Councils and Headmasters of each of the three major Academies. After completing those three (which may be completed in any order), the Jedi is brought before either the Council of the Temple he was trained in or the High Council, where the final decision as to whether or not he will become a Jedi Knight is made. Those who are accepted into the Order go on to craft their lightsabers, signifying that they have mastered themselves and become full-fledged Jedi Knights. Those who fail any of the trials - even the final one of creating a lightsaber - are forbidden from trying again and can never become Jedi Knights.

The first three trials are assigned the apprentice by the headmasters of the three major academies. Traditionally, the temple the Jedi trained in is his first mission - but nearly as many Jedi save their home temple for their last Headmaster's Trial.

The trials of Dantooine are generally regarded as the most difficult to fail, though they're not necessarily easy. They've been known to encompass anything from an archeological dig to a research project, though the exact nature of it varies by the individual masters' recommendation to Gi Do Mask.

The trials of Dac are rarely high-risk endeavors, at least not on the galactic scale. In fact, they are often seemingly petty operations - arbitrating disputes on minor planets, for example, that might have far-reaching consequences not immediately obvious.

The trials of Yavin IV are often regarded as the most difficult, as they place the young apprentice in direct conflict with the Dark Side of the Force.

The fourth trial, often regarded as the most challenging, is a culminating exercise meant to combine all that the apprentice has learned of the ways of the Jedi. The first part consists of a verbal examination, where the apprentice is brought before a Jedi Council (typically the Council of the temple he was trained in, but sometimes the High Council) and questioned on the Jedi's knowledge of philosophy, history, art, and science. They are testing not only the Jedi's knowledge, but also his composure and bearing. The second part is the Jedi apprentice undertaking a mission without the supervision of their master. This mission can take any form - one notorious example was a young Guardian whose task was to fetch refreshments for the Jedi Council in the midst of his interrogation. The Jedi did so quickly and thoughtfully, with consideration for the Jedi Masters and their preferences - and was immediately granted permission to advance on to the next trial upon completion.

The final of the five trials, the Jedi goes into seclusion to meditate on the Force and craft their lightsaber. The particular task is not imposed on him by any save himself, and it is not entirely unheard-of for a Jedi to return with no lightsaber - and be promoted regardless. The true purpose of the Knight's Trial, after all, is not to create a weapon but to have the Jedi reach a deeper understanding of himself and the Force.