Question regarding Scaling (HSC)

[swordkillz]

Hey guys,

So I was just reading up on a post by Jamon Windeyer regarding ATAR scaling.
https://atarnotes.com/how-does-scaling-work/

So based off what I had just read, it had made various contradictions with what my schoolmates and I have proposed. What we suggested is that the examination mark is the moderated mark of our raw exam marks (which seems to be true with the post). But then the problem lies in the internal marks for each respective subject.

Say you got rank 20 internally out of 144 students. Based off what my teachers say, the school does not post the exact assessment marks directly to NESA, but rather your internal rank ONLY. That is why we can only see our internal rank on the NESA website prior to exams rather than our school assessment marks. But on that note, how could they shift the curve to match school assessment mean with exam mean? Wouldn't your HSC mark simply be whatever your moderated external mark is + the moderated external mark of the 20th best person in your school for that subject (internals). I don't see the reasoning behind why a curve of comparisons would be needed.

If you guys/girls could resolve the above query, that would be awesome!

[jamonwindeyer]

Hey!

But then the problem lies in the internal marks for each respective subject.

Say you got rank 20 internally out of 144 students. Based off what my teachers say, the school does not post the exact assessment marks directly to NESA, but rather your internal rank ONLY. That is why we can only see our internal rank on the NESA website prior to exams rather than our school assessment marks. But on that note, how could they shift the curve to match school assessment mean with exam mean? Wouldn't your HSC mark simply be whatever your moderated external mark is + the moderated external mark of the 20th best person in your school for that subject (internals). I don't see the reasoning behind why a curve of comparisons would be needed.

If you guys/girls could resolve the above query, that would be awesome!

So before I give my answer, read NESA's. I'm glad you are questioning a secondary source from the internet! Basically, your teachers are mistaken (or misleading you, but I assume the best ). Your assessment marks are definitely submitted and definitely used by NESA when your marks are moderated, they can't ENTIRELY use just the exam marks. To explain why (sort of), consider two sets of internal marks for some random subject:

Set #1
Person A: 94
Person B: 87
Person C: 71

Set #2
Person A: 94
Person B: 72
Person C: 71

These sets have the same order, the same maximum mark and the same minimum mark. But, Person B has done significantly better in the first set -> Should he/she be given the same moderated mark in both instances? I think logic would say no, they shouldn't, they should clearly be rewarded for working a bit harder in the first set!

I'd wager they don't show your internal marks online to keep things simple. Students less engaged with this sort of stuff than you would open it, then see a moderated mark in December and go, "Why the hell is it different?" Thousands of calls to NESA later, they would never do it again. Stressed students aren't always the best at noticing subtleties (which is why we try and point out the important stuff where we can!)

Keeping the internal curve 'shape' the same allows work throughout the year to be recognised properly and with greater precision than a rank alone, and I think in most cases it is a fairer system than the alternative

Does this help at all?