What happens if there is like a 5-6 mark difference in the internal ranks of 1st and 2nd, and 3rd was close to second, but everyone below that did had a big difference. But in the HSC 1st, 2nd and 3rd all were very close and there was a big difference in marks in the others. Would 2nd and 3rd still be dragged down since in internal ranks there was a big difference. As thats my situation, as in one of the exams i screwed up, making 1st can a big difference on me, but in trials i end up comming first. So in HSC even if i can the highest external mark, would they still give me a difference of 5 marks from 1st palce.
NESA will try to reflect the mark gap in assessment rankings when giving your 'Moderated Assessment Mark'.
Thus, if the spread of marks achieved by your cohort in the actual HSC exam is very similar to the spread of marks from school assessments, then yes, your 'Moderated Assessment Mark' may have a gap from the highest exam mark that reflects the mark gap between your rank and first place.
However, if the spread of marks in the actual HSC exam is different to the spread of marks from school assessments, then your 'Moderated Assessment Mark' may have a gap from the highest exam mark that is unlike the mark gap between your rank and first place.
For example, when I did the HSC, my mark in English at school had a gap of about 10% from 1st place. However, in the actual HSC exam for English, most of our class did pretty good. Since NESA has to distribute the 'Moderated Assessment Mark' within the range of the lowest exam mark to the highest exam mark, my 'Moderated Assessment Mark' for English turned out to be only like 5-6 marks away from the highest exam mark.
As such, having a strong cohort generally limits the effect that moderation would have on your final HSC mark.
Good luck!