I was just illustrating the only scenario where working hard doesn't pay off. Milestone exams SATs, GCSEs and A-levels aren't so easy as to make hard work pointless. The harder you work the better you will do. However, if you do cram and do well then you performed well, are not a 'chancer' and deserve a good grade just as much as someone who spent four times as long revising for it.
E: I've realised I'm trying to pat myself 15 year old self on the head for getting C's and U's in my GCSE mocks.
I was just illustrating the only scenario where working hard doesn't pay off. Milestone exams SATs, GCSEs and A-levels aren't so easy as to make hard work pointless. The harder you work the better you will do. However, if you do cram and do well then you performed well, are not a 'chancer' and deserve a good grade just as much as someone who spent four times as long revising for it.
E: I've realised I'm trying to pat myself 15 year old self on the head for getting C's and U's in my GCSE mocks.