Am I ok with my current results?

[AR1472]

Hello, I'm currently in Yr 10 doing Methods 1/2. I go to Macrob, so the cohort is super competitive. Compared to other people doing Methods this year, I'm probably around the bottom. My marks aren't the best (I'm averaging around 70% right now) although I did do quite well on my unit 1 exam (A+). In comparison, everyone else consistently gets A+ on everything, lowest probably a B+ (my lowest was a D). If i were to get similar results next year, would I be able to get a 40+ in methods? or even a 45+? I've heard that it's not exactly your results that are important, more so your ranking, but in a competitive cohort like mine is it ok to rank at the bottom?

Thanks!!

[PhoenixxFire]

I don’t know as much about predicting study scores as some people on here but I know a few things that might help you.

1. I really doubt everyone else is averaging A+. Even if they are they won’t be next year. In order to be able to rank people you have to be able to tell the difference between their abilities - that’s why high achieving schools generally have harder SACs. If everyone gets 100% on everything it’s impossible to rank them.

2. The easiest way to predict what rank you need to be to get a certain study score is to look at how many people each year at your school normally get that score - you can look at it on the high achievers list (just google it). If about 30 people get 40+ each year then you want to be in the top 30 ranks (preferably not #30 though). If about 60 people do methods 3/4 at your school each year, then you know that you want to be in the top half of your cohort.

3. You don’t want to be ranked right at the bottom - regardless of what school you go to there’s going to be some people who do badly.

4. The marks you’re getting now aren’t necessarily reflective of the marks you will get next year. If you know anyone whose doing 3/4 methods this year you could try asking them if they found getting higher marks easier in year 11 or year 12.

5. What did you do differently in the exam to get better marks? If you don’t know try experimenting with different study or exam techniques so you know what works best for you before you get to 3/4.


Also there’s some information over in Victorian Technical Score Discussion that will help you understand how it works, but it’s very difficult to predict even after you’ve done all of your 3/4 SACs so it’s basically impossible to accurately predict now.

[AR1472]

I don’t know as much about predicting study scores as some people on here but I know a few things that might help you.

1. I really doubt everyone else is averaging A+. Even if they are they won’t be next year. In order to be able to rank people you have to be able to tell the difference between their abilities - that’s why high achieving schools generally have harder SACs. If everyone gets 100% on everything it’s impossible to rank them.

2. The easiest way to predict what rank you need to be to get a certain study score is to look at how many people each year at your school normally get that score - you can look at it on the high achievers list (just google it). If about 30 people get 40+ each year then you want to be in the top 30 ranks (preferably not #30 though). If about 60 people do methods 3/4 at your school each year, then you know that you want to be in the top half of your cohort.

3. You don’t want to be ranked right at the bottom - regardless of what school you go to there’s going to be some people who do badly.

4. The marks you’re getting now aren’t necessarily reflective of the marks you will get next year. If you know anyone whose doing 3/4 methods this year you could try asking them if they found getting higher marks easier in year 11 or year 12.

5. What did you do differently in the exam to get better marks? If you don’t know try experimenting with different study or exam techniques so you know what works best for you before you get to 3/4.


Also there’s some information over in Victorian Technical Score Discussion that will help you understand how it works, but it’s very difficult to predict even after you’ve done all of your 3/4 SACs so it’s basically impossible to accurately predict now.

Ok thank you sooo much!!

[spectroscopy]

The info above is all good stuff. I just want to add that at a cohort like macrob you definitely have more leeway with ranking than most schools. BUT you still definitely dont want to be at the bottom. Most select entry schools will still have a (relatively) bad bottom quintile in methods because of people just doing the subject to meet prerequisites and get a 25. but as long as you are ranked in the top say 60%-50% a 40+ should be achievable and maybe 45+ depending on how strong your cohort is next year. I wouldn't worry too much about what other people are getting and the little details. I would just study really hard all year and try to smash your sacs and the exams. if you are getting 70%'s now in year 10 then I definitely think you will be fine in methods 3/4 in year 11, just never give up. methods is so heavily weighted towards the exams that you really can't fuck yourself up tooo badly, especially at mac rob. Just try your hardest to be consistent and get good grades. dont spend hours stressing about study score calculations and rankings in year 11 because that effort is WAY better spent just doing work for methods. in year 12 its ok to spend time on that because you have to put in your vtac preferences and you need to know roughly what you'll get. but for now just study hard. Also keep in mind the fact that a) alot of ppl at select entry schools will overstate their scores and b) getting 70's at macrob is probably like getting a score in the 90's at other schools. so keep your head up and keep studying

all the best