[Vocabulary] surpass/exceed/transcend

[Maybo]

I am motivated in learning but not ambitious. I don't have to surpass/exceed/transcend my classmates. I just want to keep up with them.

Are "surpass/exceed/transcend" interchangeable in the above sentence? Is "surpass" the best choice?

 

[GoesStation]

Only "surpass" works. You'd have to say something about the circumstances to use "exceed". "Transcend" is wrong.

 

[emsr2d2]

I am motivated [STRIKE]in learning[/STRIKE] to learn but I'm/I am not ambitious.

See above.

The reason I added "I'm/I am" before "not ambitious" is that it removes the possibility that someone will read "I am motivated to learn but not ..." and expect to see another verb.