The following applies to SAM, JUAIseek and similar programs.
There appears to have been some confusion to what these supposed UAI "predictors" or "modeler" do. This thread will hopefully once and for all clear up any misconceptions.
Firstly, no one can predict the future with 100% certainty no matter how much information is given. So take whatever values you extract from these programs with a grain of salt.
Secondly, these programs don't actually predict your UAI directly. They just convert aligned HSC marks to a scaled HSC mark then to a UAI. They exist to aid you in gaining a greater understanding of your UAI, what range it may fall into and the whole system in general. So, if the UAI you "predict" isn't what you expect or you have qualms about it. You should read more about the determination of aligned marks and the scaling process, rather than blame the program for being inaccurate. Since the program uses nothing but freely
available objective data.
Finally, to get the most out of these programs you need to spend time. Just entering your trial marks into them wont really help you. You need to have in your mind a good idea of what kind of aligned marks you are likely to achieve. There has been a lengthy discussion on this in this forum.
Some quick pointers on judging aligned marks.
- Compare your current work with the standards packages
www.boredofstudies.org/mirror
- Look at the abilities of the people around you and judge where you fall in the state.
- * The UAI predictors usually have some kind of % you can compare to.
- Look at the results of past students, judge their ability and see their aligned marks
- * although aligned marks are comparable between years, they are approximately similar.
Data available at
www.uac.edu.au
I would just like to further emphasize the fact that you cannot simply just put in trial marks you get from school into these programs. I've talked with many students who feel insecure about their HSC performance because they think they are doing well, and in fact are doing well, but the UAI 'estimator' gave them second thoughts because they used it wrongly and just entered trial marks in. Please take account of that. - Ragerunner