Helping other students increase your study score? Truth or myth?

[Immune_Sushi]

So, I've heard from a professor (that is at my tutoring institution) claiming that helping other students just before the exams would increase my study score, and thus my ATAR. Below is his logic:

-Study scores are based on Internal Assesments such as GAT and external assesments such as the VCAA Exams.
-If all students have worse marks on their school internally-assesed tests than their Exams, the VCAA assumes that the school gives us harder tests and scales us higher.
-Thus, by helping other students after the assesments but before the exams, it would replicate the effect as stated before.

What are your thoughts on this? (Has anyone tried it before?)

[Swagadaktal]

YES helping people out helps you.

The stuff about scaling is all true (if your cohort does better) --

Always take the opportunity to help out your peers (if they are deserving of your help... don't help students who are leeching off your skills coz they too lazy/ they tryna copy your ideas/ overall ratchets)

Coz

A) If you are able to teach a concept then you've mastered it. Teaching it allows you to place your thoughts into a concise bubble so when you walk into a sac you can retrieve that bubble instead of the enigmatic mess your brain stores it in. It's really effective in helping you retrieve info.
B) It's solid revision - things that people need help with is probably something you don't want to forget. People will generally ask more specific questions with nuances so it's an extremely effective method of revision.
C) Those who help others and are not blinded by the apparent competition in the rankings generally do better (the reverse is true, there are people who only worry about rankings and also do well) but I've found that it generates a lot of stress.

Not even sure if i answered what you were asking but help others. It's better FOR YOU.

[Immune_Sushi]

I totally agree with your perspective  , but i was more concerned towards the actual scaling in general (& how it affects others) rather than the increment of my study score due to uh... "karma".

[pi]

With regards to helping others, whilst it is admirable and also beneficial for your own learning (as aforementioned) and social standing, it's important to make sure that it isn't coming before your own learning of new material. Being selfless is great, but it's important to be selfish too at times.

[doher109]

An analogy I like to use is "the jar concept" (a rowing coach taught me it).

Imagine there are 3 materials you use to fill the jar.
1) Rocks -> fill it quickly
2) Pebbles -> fit in the holes
3) Sand -> fill empty space

Obviously when filling your "Jar" (Year 12) it is logic to fit in the rocks, then pebbles and finally sand.

So many people stress over how they set up their notes/what resources they have/if they study 3 hours or 3.1 hours etc etc etc.

This is comparable to the "sand". I think worrying about how others perform and taking it on to help them in order to help you is a 'sand' issue.

Focus on things that are 'rocks', your health, attitude to study, friendships first. These will help you so much more and with less effort than anything that is a 'pebble' or 'sand'.

Well.. it made sense when the coach explained it to me.... haha

[wyzard]

Definitely helping out others is a great way to study! By teaching, you'd not only make sure you have a solid understanding of the material, you are also practicing explaining concepts in your own words. Besides it is a very rewarding to teach and help out others (of course be picky with who you help, only help those deserving of your aid).

As for the study score, I will say take your mind off from it. Placing too much emphasis on it gives yourself unnecessary stress and encourages an unhealthy competitive mindset where you are always trying to compare yourself with others.

Paradoxically, in order to obtain the best study score, you've got to take your mind of it; study and collaborate with others with all your heart. Remember, process over product. Only use study score when you are not studying to gauge where you stand and where to improve.

[Callum@1373]

I think help other people as much as possible because you never know you might need their help one day! Who cares about all the nitty gritty details of scaling!

[MagicGecko]

Yep if theres big enough of a gap between the exam marks and SAC marks, that will generally happen although:

Like that movie quote goes:
"help me, help you, help them, help me, help you"

helping your peers is beneficial to you either way

[meganrobyn]

So, I've heard from a professor (that is at my tutoring institution) claiming that helping other students just before the exams would increase my study score, and thus my ATAR. Below is his logic:

-Study scores are based on Internal Assesments such as GAT and external assesments such as the VCAA Exams.
-If all students have worse marks on their school internally-assesed tests than their Exams, the VCAA assumes that the school gives us harder tests and scales us higher.
-Thus, by helping other students after the assesments but before the exams, it would replicate the effect as stated before.

What are your thoughts on this? (Has anyone tried it before?)

Look, taking all other qualitative arguments out of the equation (I agree with most of them), helping other students in your school can increase your study score, IF your help assists them to do better on the exam. Because how your cohort goes on the exam determines the scaling of your SAC scores. But, caveat, it's only beneficial to you with exam performance - if you help them before SACs and they beat you in SACs, that doesn't help your ranking. It might, however, help them with the exam long term, so, you know, you may as well help...

[Immune_Sushi]

Thanks for the advice guys!

Look, taking all other qualitative arguments out of the equation (I agree with most of them), helping other students in your school can increase your study score, IF your help assists them to do better on the exam. Because how your cohort goes on the exam determines the scaling of your SAC scores. But, caveat, it's only beneficial to you with exam performance - if you help them before SACs and they beat you in SACs, that doesn't help your ranking. It might, however, help them with the exam long term, so, you know, you may as well help...

Thanks meganrobyn

Of course, my reason for posting was not for asking for a way to "exploit the system".

I'm really only concerned if the Prof's statement was true or not. (whether he was giving random bullcrap to gain false credibility) 

[meganrobyn]

Thanks for the advice guys!


Thanks meganrobyn

Of course, my reason for posting was not for asking for a way to "exploit the system".

I'm really only concerned if the Prof's statement was true or not. (whether he was giving random bullcrap to gain false credibility) 

I didn't read it as anything sneaky or malicious, don't worry! Just as a straightforward question on the objective scaling process. Because you want to make intelligent decisions as well as ethical ones.