Is the ATAR really a ranking? (1 Viewer)

[Dylanamali]

I find it difficult to believe that the ATAR is a ranking, and that obtaining a score of 95 ATAR = being in the top 5% of the state.
Is the number of people who receive a mystery mark (below 30 ATAR) really equal to the number of people who receive an ATAR of 70+ ?
Do as many people get below 50 as above?
I hardly know any people who get below 50 ATAR... like even from poor schools students still manage to get 55-60ish.

Also, just for curiosity's sake, does anyone know how many HSC students there are in NSW?

 

[JennaJameson]

I find it difficult to believe that the ATAR is a ranking, and that obtaining a score of 95 ATAR = being in the top 5% of the state.

yes

Is the number of people who receive a mystery mark (below 30 ATAR) really equal to the number of people who receive an ATAR of 70+ ?

no, you are compared to people from your year 7 cohort so that includes people who dropped out in year 10 to become prostitutes on canterbury road

Do as many people get below 50 as above?

see above

I hardly know any people who get below 50 ATAR... like even from poor schools students still manage to get 55-60ish.

see above

Also, just for curiosity's sake, does anyone know how many HSC students there are in NSW?

last year there were 68536 hsc students, only 54221 got an atar

 

[enoilgam]

95 means your in the top 5% of your year 7 cohort, not your final year 12 cohort. I'm pretty sure that less than thirty includes people who dropped out before the HSC, as well as people who are ineligible for an ATAR and those who dont apply for one. Last year I believe there were around 70,000 HSC students although I'm not 100% sure.

 

[Dylanamali]

What is 'your year 7 cohort'?
Does every 2011'er have the same year 7 cohort?
And is the only difference between the year 7 cohort and the year 12 cohort, those that dropped out in year 10, or dropped out of school.

 

[michaeljennings]

What is 'your year 7 cohort'?
Does every 2011'er have the same year 7 cohort?
And is the only difference between the year 7 cohort and the year 12 cohort, those that dropped out in year 10, or dropped out of school.

yes..

You may not notice it at your school but at some schools a very high proportion of people drop out in yr 10. In epping boys when i completed yr 10 about half of the guys at epping dropped out

 

[ajdlinux]

Yep, you're compared to your year 7 cohort. The reason for this is to account for changes in the dropout rate so that ATARs from one year can be compared against ATARs from another year.

 

[Riproot]

95 means your in the top 5% of your year 7 cohort, not your final year 12 cohort. I'm pretty sure that less than thirty includes people who dropped out before the HSC, as well as people who are ineligible for an ATAR and those who dont apply for one. Last year I believe there were around 70,000 HSC students although I'm not 100% sure.

you're*