Ever wondered how schools calculate admission statistics? I recently came across a Reddit post that broke down the process for a selective public school. The school has a unique policy that takes into account test scores and catchment areas. Let’s dive in and explore how it works.
The school has two catchment areas, A and B, with A being a smaller area closer to the school and B being a wider area that includes A. Catchment A is given preference in the admission process, but how much of an edge does it really give?
To calculate the admission statistics, we need to understand the school’s policy. There are two assessment stages, with only successful stage 1 candidates invited to sit stage 2. The mark achieved in stage 2 determines the candidate’s fate. Up to 60 places go to candidates who score higher than the 350th ranked mark and reside in Catchment A.
Using past data, we can calculate the probability of admission for candidates from Catchment A and B. Assuming all candidates are equally able and marks are randomly distributed, we can estimate the edge of being in Catchment A over B.
After crunching the numbers, we find that the probability of admission for Catchment A is around 19%, while for Catchment B it’s around 9%. This means that being in Catchment A gives a 10% edge in terms of admission probability.
While this calculation is based on several assumptions, it gives us an idea of how the school’s policy works and how much of an advantage Catchment A candidates have. If you’re interested in exploring more, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!