Originally posted by spratt_jg
Dood..that sound so wrong, the assesments at one school couldve have been easier/harder to other schools....so they do look at the overall performance of a school to figure that out.
Yes, assessments at school could be easier/harder than other schools. This is taken care of in the moderation process.
The only exam that can be compared statewide is the HSC exam which is a common exam that everyone does.
When the marks you get at school are sent to the Board of Studies, they undergo moderation which will change the marks to compensate for the differences in difficulties in school assessments. The only thing that is used from the school is the ranking and the relative differences between the students.
The exam marks you get from the HSC will result in a pool of marks for your school. These marks are distributed according to ranks.
So if you came 1st in School, you will receive the highest exam mark as your moderated assessment mark. If you came 5th you will receive the mark (but not equal) to the 5th highest.
Now do you see its fairness?
Anyway, this process ensures that the marks receive can properly be used to determine assessment marks because its a common exam the whole state does.
As said, its true that schools have varying difficulties in tests which is why it cannot be compared to other schools. And the BOS does not look at what school you go to when they determine your marks.