question about atar cutoffs (1 Viewer)

[Hermes1]

The cutoff for my course went up from 97.2 in 2009 to 98.15 in 2010, does this mean demand for this course is rising and if so would it rise above 99 this year. just need to know if i should change my aim to higher than 99 or if i will be safe

 

[b33g_boss]

yea i think it about 'supply and demand'

my brain hurts if i think about it lol.

 

[Silver Persian]

The cutoffs for courses do change over time. But it isn't necessarily the case that, because the cutoff rose last year, it will rise this year as well.

It's probably just best to get the highest ATAR you can and go from there.

 

[slyhunter]

It's worth noting cutoffs can also be inflated.

 

[Riproot]

It's worth noting cutoffs can also be inflated.

Yeah, you could get in on the second round.
Btw, OP, what course?

 

[powlmao]

The cutoff for my course went up from 97.2 in 2009 to 98.15 in 2010, does this mean demand for this course is rising and if so would it rise above 99 this year. just need to know if i should change my aim to higher than 99 or if i will be safe

Even if it was say 99 and you got 98, you could still get in the 2nd and 3rd rounds etc

 

[slyhunter]

Although don't be reliant on that. I know plenty people who were off by 0.05 and didn't make it in.

 

[powlmao]

Although don't be reliant on that. I know plenty people who were off by 0.05 and didn't make it in.

seriously??

What course and ATAR

thats pretty sad if you do

 

[slyhunter]

Law @ USYD, UNSW.

 

[Drongoski]

Yeah, you could get in on the second round.
Btw, OP, what course?

Check his sig.

 

[Amogh]

Well an increase in cut off could be due to an increase in the course's demand or a decrease in the positions available, because of Univerisites being more selective in their choice.

As said by 'Silver Persian' it is unreasonable to extrapolate a trend solely based on an increase in cut off last year. Either way, AIM HIGH. Attempt to gain that 99+ ATAR to be on the safe side and guarantee a spot! There is no harm in doing so!

 

[Riproot]

Check his sig.

Shit. Thanks. What job would that allow you to do?

 

[powlmao]

Shit. Thanks. What job would that allow you to do?

I wanna do a Economics and Acturial Studies Degree (96 ATAR) which is similar. It really gives you jobs in risk management like life insurance etc

 

[FrozenSky]

Well looking at your sig it looks like u want adv maths and commerce.
Commerce has an excessive demand, and it will most likely increase next year, i'm guessing that it will increase by 0.5. ADV maths on the other hand, doesn't have as much demand. However since you're going for both, expect it to go up about 0.5~1.
There's also some courses which have an artificially inflated cut off to make it look more prestige, this typically happens in courses like engo, comp sci + adv comp sci, and science at USYD or UNSW. I seen plenty of people get into engo with 5~7 atar below (and no it's not bonus points which made up for these missing points).
Commerce is not artificially inflated, there's actually that many demand for it.

 

[Hermes1]

Is the atar cutoff affected solely by demand and supply or does difficulty also factor. Looking at some atar cutoffs for sydney, i cant quite make sense of why some harder looking courses have low cutoffs

 

[slyhunter]

Yes, demand and supply.

 

[powlmao]

Is the atar cutoff affected solely by demand and supply or does difficulty also factor. Looking at some atar cutoffs for sydney, i cant quite make sense of why some harder looking courses have low cutoffs

because people rather to go to other uni's instead

 

[Riproot]

Is the atar cutoff affected solely by demand and supply or does difficulty also factor. Looking at some atar cutoffs for sydney, i cant quite make sense of why some harder looking courses have low cutoffs

Mostly demand and supply.