ATAR Notes: Forum

Uni Stuff => Universities - Victoria => University of Melbourne => Topic started by: sparked on November 02, 2015, 08:06:08 pm

Title: Scaling of University Subjects
Post by: sparked on November 02, 2015, 08:06:08 pm
Some people say it happens and others say it doesn't. I am on the cusp of a failed subject (following tragically disastrous exam this morning) and wondering what people have found in the past. Information online says it's up to the discretion of a lecturer/course director to determine whether results need to be scaled and adjusted to fit a particular distribution.

1st semester was so good too...

Thanks and good luck for exams!
Title: Re: Scaling of University Subjects
Post by: Mieow on November 02, 2015, 09:35:12 pm
Physics for Biomed?
Title: Re: Scaling of University Subjects
Post by: sparked on November 02, 2015, 10:46:11 pm
HAHA yes... :-(
Title: Re: Scaling of University Subjects
Post by: Yacoubb on November 05, 2015, 04:48:19 pm
I want to know if this is the case also - Chemistry 2 exam was difficult and by general consensus considered a lot more difficult than previous years' exams. I am hoping that scaling is actually something that can happen. Otherwise, shit.
Title: Re: Scaling of University Subjects
Post by: nino quincampoix on November 06, 2015, 01:57:24 pm
I want to know if this is the case also - Chemistry 2 exam was difficult and by general consensus considered a lot more difficult than previous years' exams. I am hoping that scaling is actually something that can happen. Otherwise, shit.

There has been scaling of that subject in the past. Whether it applies to your cohort, I don't know. I don't think that there's much that you can do at your end, because it is up to those in charge of the subject to use their discretion re scaling.
Title: Re: Scaling of University Subjects
Post by: LeviLamp on November 06, 2015, 06:05:07 pm
Not to scare you guys, but from the marks I've heard from friends, I think the consensus was that the 2013 Chemistry 2 exam was not scaled, and it was fairly difficult. However, I am aware that some years have been scaled up - it might be based on the fairness of the exam. Our exam was difficult, but wasn't unfair, aside from a truly bizarre question Trevor Smith gave us, so this might be a driving factor. Hopefully your mark is a pleasant surprise :)
Title: Re: Scaling of University Subjects
Post by: heart on November 06, 2015, 06:15:28 pm
Some people say it happens and others say it doesn't. I am on the cusp of a failed subject (following tragically disastrous exam this morning) and wondering what people have found in the past. Information online says it's up to the discretion of a lecturer/course director to determine whether results need to be scaled and adjusted to fit a particular distribution.

1st semester was so good too...

Thanks and good luck for exams!

Physics for biomed scaled for our year I'm pretty sure it always does given how difficult everyone finds it.
Title: Re: Scaling of University Subjects
Post by: uoiea on November 06, 2015, 07:19:47 pm
I feel like they should give us scaling in Chem 2 as compensation for Trevor Smith being a lecturer  ::)
Title: Re: Scaling of University Subjects
Post by: Yacoubb on November 07, 2015, 03:45:40 pm
I feel like they should give us scaling in Chem 2 as compensation for Trevor Smith being a lecturer  ::)

This ^. I am strongly convinced that his reasons for not recording lectures are completely to do with him not wanting his horrendous explanations/method of teaching documented.


Not to scare you guys, but from the marks I've heard from friends, I think the consensus was that the 2013 Chemistry 2 exam was not scaled, and it was fairly difficult. However, I am aware that some years have been scaled up - it might be based on the fairness of the exam. Our exam was difficult, but wasn't unfair, aside from a truly bizarre question Trevor Smith gave us, so this might be a driving factor. Hopefully your mark is a pleasant surprise :)

Thanks for that! :)
Yeah I think our exam was actually found difficult due to the fact that it was bizarre. I don't think it resembled any of the previous years' exams, and many felt ripped off by the exam because the questions felt like they weren't assessing things we knew. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!
Title: Re: Scaling of University Subjects
Post by: dannyjay on December 09, 2015, 04:45:03 pm
Hey, how did ypu end up going with Chem 2? Do you think it was scaled?