Letter in today's Age.

[chrisjb]

From Today's Age (18/12/2010) [Letters]

Let down by system

PURE shock is all I remember feeling as I read my legal studies result. A 34 is a fine score but doesn't reflect my 60-plus hours of study for the exam; nothing below an A on all my SACs (school assessed coursework) and very positive practice exam results. Then the disappointment and the disbelief sank in.

So I rang the helpline and was greeted by admittedly genuine people who tried to explain the reason for my grade while I cried on the other end of the phone. Although I received an A for unit 3, an A+ for unit 4 and an A on the end-of year-exam, I was marked down due to the lack of consistency between my class's exam grades compared with their SACs, despite the fact that my grades were consistent.

This is simply unjust. How is it logical or fair that I have been punished for the slackness of others? It has left me pondering whether I should worry about passing VCE's adequacy tests, or whether they should be worried about passing mine.

Maria Patrik, Gardenvale



I think she doesn't understand the system. It's not unjust at all, from what I can see she has assumed that when her teacher gave her an A+, it would stay an A+ and be the same as, for example, getting an A+ on the exam. Seccondly, it would be unjust to "[be] punished for the slackness (sic.) of others" but that doesn't happen. The ranking system ensures that if you're good enough an try hard enough then the 'slackness' of others doesn't effect you.
Also, she only got an A on the exam. This can't be changed at all by her cohort. Someone who gets an A on the exam doesn't deserve to get 40+ unless they have absolutely aced all the sacs (which is unlikely and which doesn't appear to have happened here). I think this woman deserved the score she got.

[shinny]

Probably just a misunderstanding of the system. Often people are quite unaware of what's actually outside their school. Students can often be put up on an altar at their school, only to realise that their straight As don't really mean anything when it comes to the game of VCE.

[burbs]

Since when did The Age become A Current Affair?

[stonecold]

We wouldn't have these problems if everyone knew what the normal distribution is...

[IntoTheNewWorld]

It's crushing when you realise there are many people better than you outside your school.

[Nomvalt]

It's crushing when you realise there are many people better than you outside your school.

Yeah, after spending a few months on here I was quite surprised by the strength of the VN cohort and of just the sheer number of people who actually knew what they were talking about.

[funkyducky]

I have a feeling this girl doesn't realise it usually takes A+ A+ A+ GAs to get 40+. Also, I'm going to assume she hasn't done 3/4 Methods, as if she did, she would understand the normal distribution curve.

[werdna]

Pure misunderstanding on the girl's behalf.

For The Age to even decide to publish her letter is an even bigger misunderstanding..

[chrisjb]

I reckon we need to teach this stuff at the start of year 11 (i wrote a letter about it to the age today so i'll be looking for it on monday). If we taught people how it works then they wouldn't be upset at the end of the year when they get sub par results.

[IntoTheNewWorld]

I have a feeling this girl doesn't realise it usually takes A+ A+ A+ GAs to get 40+. Also, I'm going to assume she hasn't done 3/4 Methods, as if she did, she would understand the normal distribution curve.

I did 3/4 Methods and I'm pretty sure I never understood the normal distribution curve (or anything else in Methods)

[Darren]

You know I actually feel sorry for her in a way, not only that she probably doesn't understand the ways of VCAA and their 40+'s.. but that she was brutally hammered on the low end scale (lowest of the low) for her study score reflecting her GA's. Someone from my school doing History got the same as her; A+; A and A, and received a 39. Additionally I got a 36 for A+, A+ and only a B. I'd be raging too... but still she probably doesn't understand the 3 A+ formula for a 40+ :S

[iamdan08]

It is unfortunate how many people don't realise how competitive VCE is, and the marks required for the scores they desire. It sounds as though she is in year 11 and this was her 3/4, so at least this can be a bit of a wake up call for next year. Many people are very quick to blame the system when things don't go their way, but if they actually understood how everything works, it could save a bit of surprise come results day. I think one of the big problems is that many teachers don't truly understand the system, and this can cause them to lull students into a false sense of security, or impart false expectations on them.

No joke, I was on the train the day of results and I heard a girl explain to her friend that "if someone got a better rank than you, but they didn't do as well - they get your ATAR and you get theirs" -   :uglystupid2: *massive facepalm*

[Andiio]

"if someone got a better rank than you, but they didn't do as well - they get your ATAR and you get theirs"

I LOL'D

[dyaner]

It's crushing when you realise there are many people better than you outside your school.

+1.

[pi]

I kinda feel a bit sorry for her (60+ hours! I only did ~20 for bio) but she needs to definitely understand the system more.

It's crushing when you realise there are many people better than you outside your school.

That's true too