| If you are a student of a 'good' school (e.g. one | | | | For example, if you go to a 'bad' school, you will |
| that ranks in the top 50 in the state), you are not | | | | find that being above average is rather easy, and |
| necessarily automatically advantaged in terms of | | | | if you are well-ahead of your peers, you will get |
| how well you will do in your HSC. When your | | | | complacent and less concerned about self |
| external exams and internal ranks are assessed | | | | improvement. However if you go to a 'good' |
| to calculate your aligned marks and UAI, you will | | | | school where most students are highly |
| simply be a student number to the BOS. They | | | | competitive, you may find that keeping up with |
| don't take your school into account, so the fact | | | | the average is significantly more challenging, but in |
| that you go to a 'good' or 'bad' school will not | | | | doing so, your standard relative to everyone else |
| have any direct bearing on how your papers are | | | | in NSW is improving significantly. |
| marked. | | | | In order to combat this, students who go to 'bad' |
| However, there are some indirect advantages | | | | schools but want to do well for their HSC often |
| from going to a 'good' school that may help you | | | | attend tutoring in order to meet other students |
| throughout the HSC. Some of these are: | | | | from 'good' schools and match their standard. This |
| - Peers with higher ability pushes you harder | | | | is a good strategy, as tutoring allows you to |
| - Teachers with a higher standard of teaching | | | | witness the various standards of other HSC |
| - Your school might offer higher scaling subjects | | | | students around NSW. Also, students who attend |
| - You will have teachers capable of teaching | | | | tutoring are generally of a higher than usual |
| higher scaling subjects | | | | standard, as these are students who want to |
| These factors are important, but not essential. | | | | achieve their best for their HSC. |
| Even if you go to a school that is ranked below | | | | The motivational effect of being surrounded by |
| the top 300 (below average), in theory there is | | | | competitive peers is a hugely strong force. |
| still nothing stopping you from achieving a great | | | | Becoming complacent during the HSC is dangerous |
| HSC result. If you are a good student and you | | | | as it gives us a false sense of security. Instead of |
| are capable of achieving high ranks within your | | | | being secure, students who become complacent |
| school, even if the school is considered 'bad', your | | | | are instead being left behind, since the standard of |
| ranks (especially if you rank 1st) will immunise you | | | | their competitors are continually on the rise. |
| from the performance of your peers in the | | | | The correct mindset |
| external exam. For example, if you rank 1st in | | | | Regardless of whatever school you go to, trust |
| Chemistry and externally your mark was the | | | | that there are better schools out there. Students |
| highest amongst your Chemistry peers, you | | | | should realise that they are competing against the |
| would receive the same raw mark for your | | | | entire NSW cohort of students, all of whom are |
| internal exam as your external raw mark. | | | | eager for limited university places in the popular |
| Benefit of being competitive | | | | courses at reputable universities. Therefore |
| The main advantage students from 'good' schools | | | | whether you attend tutoring or not, it is highly |
| have over students from other schools is the | | | | important that you keep reminding yourself that |
| first point mentioned above. Students who spend | | | | there are many smart students out there that |
| time in a competitive environment where their | | | | you are up against. In order to keep up, you'll |
| peers are all mostly of a high standard pushes all | | | | need to stay competitive and continue trying your |
| students to work harder in order to meet their | | | | very best, even if you are already ranked 1st for |
| standard. There is a strong psychological force | | | | everything at your school. The trick is to never |
| behind the notion of being 'above average' within | | | | be complacent, never think your existing standard |
| any environment. That is, regardless of which | | | | is enough, and always know that there is room |
| school you go to, there is a strong drive within all | | | | for improvement. |
| of us to use our peers' averages as a benchmark. | | | | |