As others, currently 'above' this comment, point out: not necessarily. You may have valid arguments that explain why you can validly assert you differ from the

As others, currently 'above' this comment, point out: not necessarily. You may have valid arguments that explain why you can validly assert you differ from the average. For instance, as RyanZAG points out, if you are well prepared for a test, while you know others are 'just chancing it', then your chances of succeeding are much higher than the statistics would have you believe. To state it more generally: the reason a statistic often cannot be used for an individual expectation, is that the statistic is based on persons completely unlike yourself. A relevant statistic would only include people like yourself. In his example: those that show themselves more aware of the difficulties that will be encountered, better prepared than average, etc. As an example: my life expectancy is vastly different from the commonly stated 'average' life expectancy of people in my country. Firstly that is 'from birth' and I have already survived quite a bit. Secondly it includes smokers and I don't smoke. Thirdly it includes people that engage in all kinds of other risky behavior that I avoid. The average life expectancy may be 72, while mine is 87.