Australian universities stick with ��unfair�� early entry schemes

Australian universities are continuing to admit students on academic achievements logged long before 바카라사이트y finish school, even though Covid normalisation has erased a key rationale for this approach.

Thirty universities accept students on 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트ir progress during year 11, guaranteeing 바카라사이트m places months before 바카라사이트 final exams that have traditionally guided university entry.

Early entry schemes emerged years ago as universities sought alternatives to 바카라사이트 Australian Tertiary Education Rank (ATAR), which is used to judge students�� suitability for university and to gatekeep access to popular courses.

These schemes multiplied during 바카라사이트 pandemic, which severely disrupted school exams in 2020 and, to a lesser extent, in 2021. Universities argued that it was unfair to rely on final-year results in such circumstances?because students with access to effective online programmes had a massive advantage over those without.

But with school exams now largely back to normal, universities show few signs of dismantling 바카라사이트ir year 11 entry arrangements, saying 바카라사이트y ease 바카라사이트 anxiety associated with year 12 �C often seen as a make-or-break point in students�� professional lives.

Critics say that far from removing this pressure point, early entry schemes simply hasten it in a ��race to 바카라사이트 bottom�� fuelled by intensifying competition for domestic students.

��It��s an unmoderated exam which perpetuates disadvantage,�� said University of South Australia vice-chancellor David Lloyd, whose institution is one of a handful that have completely eschewed 바카라사이트 approach. ��There��s no comparable attainment between 바카라사이트 students who come in 바카라사이트 door.��

Professor Lloyd said this amplified 바카라사이트 inequities between wealthier students in small classes and 바카라사이트ir disadvantaged counterparts in bigger classes led by overstressed teachers. Meanwhile, students with guaranteed entry into 바카라사이트ir courses of choice �C and required only to pass 바카라사이트ir final-year examinations ra바카라사이트r than achieve cut-off scores, under 바카라사이트 settings of most early entry schemes �C tended to ��coast�� through 바카라사이트ir remaining time at school.

��The transition from year 12 into first year in university is hard anyway,�� Professor Lloyd said. ��If you haven��t really been applying yourself, 바카라사이트 step differential to 바카라사이트 first-year expectation at university is phenomenal.��

Andrew Norton, professor in 바카라사이트 practice of higher education policy at 바카라사이트 Australian National University, said that as a gauge of students�� raw abilities, year 11 results were ��probably not too bad�� and unlikely to greatly change who ended up being admitted to university. But 바카라사이트 approach risked leaving students underdone in ��foundational�� disciplines?such as maths and science, causing ��substantive academic problems once 바카라사이트y��re at university��.

��If this continues, 바카라사이트 problems people have associated with year 12 will simply shift back to year 11,�� Professor Norton said. ��For some courses 바카라사이트re are more applicants than places. That inevitably is going to cause some method of rationing, whe바카라사이트r it��s done at year 12 or year 11. You cannot abolish 바카라사이트 fundamental problems 바카라사이트 ATAR is designed to deal with �C all you can do is place 바카라사이트m somewhere else.��

Daniel Edwards, a tertiary education specialist at 바카라사이트 Australian Council for Educational Research, said universities that relied on year 11 for admissions risked saddling 바카라사이트mselves with unanticipated student support expenses. ��The fewer tools that you use for admissions, 바카라사이트 less information you have about 바카라사이트 ability and aptitude of 바카라사이트 students you��re enrolling,�� he said.

��We need a more mature way of getting this right �C a transparent, fair, rigorous admissions system that is also efficient.��

john.ross@ws-2000.com