4 ms·

The Australian National University, headed by the Nobel Prize winning Brian Schmidt is going to change their admissions policy to be more like the US. http://t

by sien 8y ago

The Australian National University, headed by the Nobel Prize winning Brian Schmidt is going to change their admissions policy to be more like the US. http://theconversation.com/anus-new-entrance-criteria-wont-do-much-to-improve-equity-97533 http://theconversation.com/anus-new-entrance-criteria-wont-d... Amongst Australian academics there is a push to change ATAR allegedly because it reflects socio-economic status (SES) too much. https://theconversation.com/should-we-scrap-the-atar-what-are-the-alternative-options-experts-comment-55501 https://theconversation.com/should-we-scrap-the-atar-what-ar... Andrew Norton, a researcher on academic policy points out however, that ATAR is a very good predictor for success at University. https://andrewnorton.net.au/2018/06/14/does-atar-measure-more-than-ses/ https://andrewnorton.net.au/2018/06/14/does-atar-measure-mor... FWIW having been through the Australian university system and having worked at US universities it seems that the Australian system actually rates pretty well. We don't have researchers of the quality of institutions that pay a huge amount but there is far less grade inflation (really compression) than in US universities because you're graded on a curve in the end. In other words, only 5% or whatever of a subject are expected to get HDs (As in US terms).

barry-cotter 8y ago
Replacing ATAR with more holistic admissions is like the campaign to get rid of the GRE in graduate admissions, a combination of the ignorant and venal. The well connected, rich and prestigious will get ahead just fine in a system where academic merit is not the one and only measure. Amusing that ANU is changing to keep out Asians the same way the Ivy League did to keep out Jews.
- jakecopp 8y ago
  The ATAR isn't broken as such, the process of getting one is. For a NSW student a good ATAR means you can ace a test after 2 years of study, where as Canberra/ACT focuses a lot more on project work and has much more flexibility in subjects. The difference of experience between Canberra/ACT high school leavers and NSW school leavers is staggering, especially when it comes to project work. The Canberra secondary school system is incredible, and the rest of Australia could learn a lot from it. Happy to elaborate if anyone is interested.
jakecopp 8y ago
Is grading to a curve the norm at Australian Universities? They don't seem to do that at UNSW except in special circumstances. It's quite strange coming from the Canberra secondary school system where everything was scaled to a consistent mean and stdev. I think Canberra's secondary school system (years 11 & 12, 2 years before Uni) is light years ahead of other Australian states. It's great how you can focus on individually driven project work rather than studying state-wide standardized tests.

by sien 8y ago

barry-cotter 8y ago

Replacing ATAR with more holistic admissions is like the campaign to get rid of the GRE in graduate admissions, a combination of the ignorant and venal. The well connected, rich and prestigious will get ahead just fine in a system where academic merit is not the one and only measure. Amusing that ANU is changing to keep out Asians the same way the Ivy League did to keep out Jews.

jakecopp 8y ago
The ATAR isn't broken as such, the process of getting one is. For a NSW student a good ATAR means you can ace a test after 2 years of study, where as Canberra/ACT focuses a lot more on project work and has much more flexibility in subjects. The difference of experience between Canberra/ACT high school leavers and NSW school leavers is staggering, especially when it comes to project work. The Canberra secondary school system is incredible, and the rest of Australia could learn a lot from it. Happy to elaborate if anyone is interested.

jakecopp 8y ago

Is grading to a curve the norm at Australian Universities? They don't seem to do that at UNSW except in special circumstances. It's quite strange coming from the Canberra secondary school system where everything was scaled to a consistent mean and stdev. I think Canberra's secondary school system (years 11 & 12, 2 years before Uni) is light years ahead of other Australian states. It's great how you can focus on individually driven project work rather than studying state-wide standardized tests.