Study score calculation

[sjpanayiotou]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me. I was told today by a senior school teacher that only the top quartile ranked student can get a study score of 40+. Second quartile students can only receive a maximum of 39. This doesn't seem to make sense to me. Surely, all students should have the opportunity to get whatever results they have earned, regardless of where they are ranked. Why couldn't half the class receive a 40+ if they have done well on the exam??