HSC Results
We are pleased by the performance of the boys of Year 12 2007.
The boys’ hard work was rewarded by a remarkably strong set of upper band (Bands 5 and 6 combined) results, with a clear rise in the numbers of students scoring in the upper bands in eighteen of the 34 courses studied. In other words, a higher than usual number of boys gained 80 or above in a larger than usual number of subjects.
Highlights for 2007
Seven boys are to be congratulated for their listing in The Sydney Morning Herald table of top all-rounders, a celebration of those who scored 90 or above in ten or more units in the HSC. The following boys will be presented with a Premier’s Award in February 2008:
Simon Dickson Lyndon Goddard Joshua Himbury
Jackson Lemon Alistair McCombe Rohan McLachlan
Alistair Oakes
- Two boys gained places in subjects. Paul Zervos was second in the State in Information Processes and Technology and Jordan Fain gained sixth place in Earth and Environmental Science.
HSC Credits
Students must score 90 per cent or above in a subject to be placed on the merit list. Cranbrook again ranked well, particularly if one discounts selective schools, both government and independent. Sixty-six boys (45% of Cranbrook’s candidature) achieved places on the merit list with a total of 139 credits including 51 in Mathematics and 15 in English.
The number of Mathematics credits continues to be pleasing. 31% of the boys’ marks in all Mathematics courses they attempted were 90 or above. This placed Cranbrook second to St. Aloysius’ College (34%) and ahead of all other CAS schools, indeed of all non-selective boys schools.
HSC English
The number of students undertaking the more challenging courses in English continues to increase. In 2001, 82 students sat the 2 Unit Advanced course. 130 students sat this course this year. Consequently there has been a decline in the numbers entered for the 2 Unit Standard English course – 37 in 2001 to 12 in 2007.
Students continue to perform well in the 2 Unit Advanced course, with 55% receiving a mark in Bands 5 or 6 (a mark of 80% or above). This compares with 47% in these top two bands State-wide, and is 6% better than in 2006.
Individual Subjects and Courses
In 2007, Cranbrook boys studied 34 courses in 22 different subjects at school.
As mentioned above, we are pleased by the lift this year in the percentages of boys gaining Bands 5 or 6, in eighteen courses: Ancient History, Biology, Chemistry, Design and Technology, Drama, Earth and Environmental Science, English (Advanced), Geography, Mathematics (General), Mathematics (2 unit), Mathematics (Extension 1), History Extension, Music, Physics, Visual Arts, German and the two Japanese courses. Highlights are: the steady improvement in English (Advanced) noted above; the 90% of Visual Arts students gaining Bands 5 or 6; and the large gains made in Biology (57% in Bands 5 or 6 compared to 36% in 2006), Chemistry (61%, a lift from 48%), Design and Technology (50%, up from none in 2006), Geography (a 42% lift from 27% to 69%), Mathematics (General) (from 33% to 61%) and both Japanese courses (from 50% to 83% in each case).
In the table below please note that Band 6 is the highest band awarded for a course and indicates a mark above 90. Band 5 is the next highest band awarded and indicates a mark above 80. For Extension Subjects, the highest two bands awarded are E4 (45/50 or above) and E3 (40-44/50). In the table they are treated as Bands 6 and 5 respectively.
Course |
Cranbrook candidature |
% in Bands 5 and 6 at Cranbrook |
% in Bands 5 and 6 in New South Wales |
Ancient History |
36 |
67 |
36 |
Biology |
30 |
57 |
33 |
Business Studies |
56 |
43 |
25 |
Chemistry |
28 |
61 |
39 |
Design and Technology |
10 |
50 |
24 |
Drama |
20 |
85 |
41 |
Earth & Environmental Science |
16 |
50 |
50 |
Economics |
37 |
60 |
47 |
English Standard |
12 |
0 |
4 |
English Advanced |
130 |
55 |
47 |
English ESL |
6 |
50 |
27 |
English Extension 1 |
38 |
76 |
80 |
English Extension 2 |
12 |
83 |
79 |
Geography |
32 |
69 |
49 |
Information Processes & Technology |
13 |
31 |
37 |
Legal Studies |
33 |
61 |
41 |
Mathematics General |
28 |
61 |
23 |
Mathematics 2U |
71 |
66 |
39 |
Mathematics Ext. 1 |
48 |
92 |
75 |
Mathematics Ext. 2 |
15 |
93 |
83 |
Modern History |
50 |
56 |
44 |
History Extension |
23 |
52 |
73 |
Music 1 |
8 |
88 |
52 |
PDHPE |
19 |
26 |
36 |
Physics |
44 |
61 |
34 |
Visual Arts |
30 |
90 |
52 |
French Continuers |
15 |
73 |
57 |
French Extension |
5 |
100 |
90 |
German Continuers |
7 |
57 |
58 |
German Extension |
4 |
100 |
89 |
Japanese Continuers |
6 |
83 |
56 |
Japanese Extension |
4 |
100 |
85 |
Latin Continuers |
6 |
83 |
96 |
Latin Extension |
4 |
75 |
99 |
Philosophy Distinction |
8 |
50 (HD) 25 (D) |
Na |
In eleven of the courses above, 25% or more of the candidature ranked in the top band (Band 6 or E4). In 2007 this represents fewer courses than in 2006, however, candidates studied fewer courses overall.
Course |
Cranbrook percentage with mark of 90% or above |
State percentage with mark of 90% or above |
Mathematics 2U |
27 |
15 |
Mathematics Ext 1 |
40 |
32 |
Mathematics Ext 2 |
67 |
33 |
Music 1 |
25 |
15 |
French Continuers |
40 |
29 |
French Ext |
60 |
42 |
German Ext |
25 |
44 |
Japanese Continuers |
50 |
26 |
Latin Continuers |
50 |
74 |
Latin Ext |
75 |
83 |
Philosophy |
50 (HD) |
Na |
Jeremy Madin
HEADMASTER
20 December 2007