The chances are very slim, not just for the average student but even for the brightest.
We have this misguided notion that hardwork is always rewarded with expected results. This is nothing short of an illusion. At any given scenario, we could always think of a different set of events that would have precipitated a different outcome.1
In a highly competitive exam like the civil service exam, which is highly subjective in its evaluation, the result lies not in our hands, but depends on chance2 . Some people clear it in the first attempt, while other never do.
Anyone who thinks that they are special because they have cleared this exam is just one sandwich short of a picnic. For further reference, I would recommend the following books/blogs for them to read.
- Civil Services Examination - Game of Thrones or Game of Chance? (An excellent analysis by an IA&AS Officer, Gopinath Narayan )
- Thinking, Fast and Slow
- The Black Swan
Footnotes
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[http://1. Thinking, Fast and Slow (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slow)](http://1. Thinking, Fast and Slow (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slow)) ↩
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[http://1. The Black Swan (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242472.The_Black_Swan?ac=1&from_search=true)](http://1. The Black Swan (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242472.The_Black_Swan?ac=1&from_search=true)) ↩