Ridiculous Amount of High ATARs on AN

[casbanjo]

I've been checking out some of the signiatures on recent AN member posts, and I've seen that the majority of the ATARs are over 90 with many being above 97. Subject scores are consistently 40-45. The average ATAR for AN last year was 93. Why are the scores so high?

Is it because the people on this site only post their ATAR if it's high?
Or is it because this site is incredibly helpful?
Or is it just that people who join this sight are very good at school?
I feel kind of stupid amongst this pool of geniuses. 

[nacho]

it's cause i give off a madkent aura which +5's everyone's atar.

dw bro, the madkent aura is now with you

[acinod]

I think a lot of the members that contribute to this site enjoy studying. And usually if you enjoy something you do pretty well in it

[pi]

Well let's be honest, a forum regarding school and ATARs wouldn't really attract too many "lower achievers" (for lack of a better term). Most of them aren't really into schoolwork to go and talk about it on an online forum, which is understandable and fair enough.

[casbanjo]

Well let's be honest, a forum regarding school and ATARs wouldn't really attract too many "lower achievers" (for lack of a better term). Most of them aren't really into schoolwork to go and talk about it on an online forum, which is understandable and fair enough.

You make a good point. I guess most people don't want to sit around discussing school

[Shenz0r]

Looking at the uni grades for AN members freaks me out even more.

[Special At Specialist]

The average ATAR for AN last year was 93.

The median ATAR in the class of 2011 graduates of AN was 98.30. I'm actually surprised that it was only 93 this year.

Is it because the people on this site only post their ATAR if it's high?

No, look at my signature. It's just that most people here score much higher than me.

I feel kind of stupid amongst this pool of geniuses. 

Same, but I see it as an honour to be able to have discussions with people much smarter and better than me. It's like if you get the opportunity to talk to the prime minister, you don't start feeling shit about your life and your achievements, you feel honoured to have met such an important person.

[brenden]

Yeah I think by proxy the people who find ATARNotes are the people that are really keen on school. I was researching Psychology stuff and stumbled upon this site. I'm sure many others were googling VCE things that would give them an edge and found it. Obviously, the people who want an 'edge' are the people who are aiming really highly. So I guess the scores correlate with the aims?
Could also be the prevalence of students who go to top schools (or maybe I'm imaging things?? I have no data to back me up) but I see a lot of people from MHS, and I've seen one person from Cranbourne Secondary, and no one else from any school around my area. That could be an off-shoot of my first point, though.

[pi]

The median ATAR in the class of 2011 graduates of AN was 98.30. I'm actually surprised that it was only 93 this year.

We had thushan.

Can't top that.

[casbanjo]

We had thushan.

Can't top that.

Who was thushan?

[pi]

Who was thushan?

[Special At Specialist]

Who was thushan?

Thushan is the greatest human to ever walk this Earth.
He scored a 99.95 ATAR with around 5 subjects getting a 50. He also represented Australia in an international chemistry Olympiad competition.
Currently, he is studying MBBS at Monash and will be a doctor in no time!
He is a very active member of AN and has around 4k posts.

[casbanjo]

Thushan is the greatest human to ever walk this Earth.
He scored a 99.95 ATAR with around 5 subjects getting a 50. He also represented Australia in an international chemistry Olympiad competition.
Currently, he is studying MBBS at Monash and will be a doctor in no time!
He is a very active member of AN and has around 4k posts.

Thanks for answering.
He sounds like a superhero.

[brenden]

Not only this, but he is almost a professional level sprinter, dresses like a model (dem sexy shirts), is the nicest guy you've ever met (to the point where he fails to see the way in which other people could be corrupt, because he just can't conceive what he has never experienced). He's also such a top bloke that he was going to run a free Chemistry knowledge-blast at his own house for exam revision last year (until people forced money upon him). He's also pretty tall.

[alondouek]

Not only this, but he is almost a professional level sprinter, dresses like a model (dem sexy shirts), is the nicest guy you've ever met (to the point where he fails to see the way in which other people could be corrupt, because he just can't conceive what he has never experienced). He's also such a top bloke that he was going to run a free Chemistry knowledge-blast at his own house for exam revision last year (until people forced money upon him). He's also pretty tall.

So pretty much:

But to answer OP, I'd echo the sentiment in this thread that the reason AN attracts people with a markedly high level of ability in VCE/university is because they are the type of people who would actively be interested in furthering their academic ability beyond what may be available to them in school, or even those who may feel the need to be in a stronger academic environment than they may usually be in.

Point is, AN is a really good benchmark for academic goal-setting and achievement. But even more than this, it's incredibly supportive so it brings up those who might not be so strongly inclined to succeed in VCE to a higher academic tier.