Are the percentage between ranks a big factor. I couldn't seem to find it in the guide. For example, if I came 4th with 80% and 5th got 60%. If in the HSC we both get 85% does 1-4 get pushed up and it not really affect 5th or does 5th go significantly lower? Or does it not really make a difference, if 5th gets 60% or 79%?
If you are good at maths figure it out this way:
Call the cohort's total exam marks X, total assessment marks Y.
Each student's assessment mark will be moderated by *approximately* the ratio [X/Y].
Your moderated mark = 80 * [X/Y] , the 5th ranked's = 60 * [X/Y]
If 5th gets 79 instead your moderated mark is still 80 * [X/Y] but would drop a little since [X/Y] is smaller (due to his 79 instead of 60).
Drops only a little because in this example we are changing only 5th's mark. It would be a big drop if not only 5th but also everyone below 5th gets a corresponding rise from below 60 to below 79 (Y would be much larger, [X/Y] much smaller).