[jiggy2011]

The point about intrinsic vs extrinsic is important. I certainly know people who have always been motivated throughout schooling and academia to achieve high test scores.

What you can sometimes observe with these people is that once they get outside of that framework they find motivation difficult.

They will learn quickly if they see the possibility of a high test score , a promotion or a leader board rank of some kind but find it difficult to understand the point of doing something just to see if they can or where the reward for success is uncertain.