## 4 Results and Discussion
### Cohort Performance Analysis  
From the last observation, it can be deduced that subject difficulty plays a significant role in student dropout rates. However, it cannot be confirmed that students performed poorly solely due to the difficulties imposed by the subject. Environmental factors might also be a significant influence. To explore this, Figure 18 was compiled with the average grades of each cohort to determine whether their peers and environment significantly affect their grades. Figure 18 shows that all cohorts achieved an average grade of B, except for cohort 5, which scored only Cs and which had an average of C across all modules, making it the worst-performing cohort. In contrast, cohort 6 had an overall average of B+ and was the only cohort to achieve a grade of A-, making it the best-performing cohort academically. Given that cohort 6 follows directly after cohort 5 and displays a significant improvement in average grades, it can be suggested that the school responded to the drastic grade drop in cohort 5 by implementing necessary measures, such as altering the course structure or improving facilities, to enhance the learning experience for students, which explains the sharp increase in performance between cohorts 5 and 6. Figure 18 reveals that Management and Operations subjects have the highest average grades across all cohorts. These subjects do not involve exams but instead rely on team projects or assignments for grading. Project-based courses in engineering typically require students to address real-world problems or challenges, often collaboratively. This practical approach allows students to apply theoretical knowledge in engaging ways, leading to deeper understanding and retention of material, which often results in higher grades. Team-based projects also foster collaborative learning, increasing student engagement and motivation, as students learn from each other's strengths and knowledge. The creative and innovative problem-solving required in these courses can be more stimulating than traditional calculation-based courses, further boosting motivation and performance. Conversely, Thermofluids subjects have the lowest performance among all cohorts, with the highest number of Cs and the fewest Bs. Thermofluids involves complex and abstract concepts like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer, which require a solid foundation in mathematics and physics. Students who are not well-prepared in these areas may struggle, leading to poor performance. Additionally, a lack of interest or perceived relevance to future careers can reduce motivation. Ineffective teaching methodologies may also hinder students' understanding and engagement. Furthermore, Thermofluids courses, typically numbered in the 2000 series, are early-year modules. Students may not yet have the necessary background knowledge, making the material harder to grasp and apply. To address these issues, it is recommended to move Thermofluids subjects to higher-level modules, where students have the required foundational knowledge. Providing ample practice opportunities and resources can also help students master the material. While the  
Figure 18: Compiled data of average grade of each cohort by classification. mean grade represents the central tendency, it does not account for data variability or value distribution. Therefore, standard deviations for each cohort were calculated, as shown in Table 3, to better understand the spread of student performance. The standard deviation measures how much individual values deviate from the mean, highlighting patterns in data distribution. For instance, if cohort 1 has many As and Cs but averages a B, and cohort 2 consistently earns Bs, both cohorts may have the same average, but cohort 1 has a wider performance spread, indicating a higher variability in student success. Table 3 shows that Cohort 13 has the highest standard deviation, indicating significant grade disparity despite an average grade of B. This suggests a mix of high achievers and underperformers within the cohort.