Growing up, everyone has faced the stress of challenging exams, eagerly awaiting results, and questioning their difficulty. Ever wondered about the world’s toughest exams? A list of such exams globally has been compiled, known for their extreme mental and physical demands.
The Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World as of 2024:
Gaokao, China
Millions of Chinese students take the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao), which is necessary for admission to Ivy League universities.
IIT-JEE, India
Around 100,000 candidates take India’s Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE), an engineering entrance test with a meagre 1% passing rate.
UPSC Exam, India
Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, this exam has a success rate ranging from 0.1% to 0.3%, recruiting officers like IAS, IFS, and IPS.
Mensa, England
Mensa, an international high-IQ society, accepts members with an IQ greater than 98% of the population. It is one of the top 10 toughest exams.
GRE, US/Canada
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) assess verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills and are a prerequisite for many graduate programs.
CFA, US/Canada
Over 100,000 candidates worldwide take the three-level Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam, which necessitates 48 months of professional experience.
CCIE, US
Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE) exam, divided into 6 parts, is completed by only 1% of candidates, making it highly prestigious in the networking industry.
GATE, India
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) evaluates engineering concepts and general aptitude, granting admission to master’s programs.
USMLE, US
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) assesses physicians’ ability to apply knowledge effectively, allowing them to practice medicine in the US.
California Bar Exam, US
The California Bar Exam, with a passing score of 144, is held twice a year and aims to induct graduates into the Bar Society. California is working on making it less challenging.
You can check out the courses in ExamLabs to help you prepare for these exams.
FAQs
What are some of the exams considered to be the toughest in the world?
he difficulty of exams can be subjective, but some frequently mentioned contenders include:
Gaokao (China): A high-stakes national exam that determines university entrance for millions of students in China.
UPSC Civil Services Exam (India): A multi-stage exam to select candidates for prestigious civil service positions in India.
IIT-JEE Advanced (India): A highly competitive entrance exam for admission to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
USMLE (United States): A series of three exams for medical licensing in the United States.
Master Sommelier Diploma Exam (Various Countries): A grueling test of knowledge and tasting skills for aspiring Master Sommeliers.
All Souls Prize Fellowship (UK): An extremely competitive fellowship program at Oxford University.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program (Worldwide): A globally recognized professional credential for investment management.
Mensa International: Not technically an exam, but a high IQ society with a difficult entrance test.
What makes these exams so tough?
These exams often combine factors like:
Vast syllabus: Covering a broad range of subjects in great depth.
High competition: A limited number of seats available for a large pool of qualified candidates.
Pressure: The importance of these exams can lead to significant stress for test-takers.
Difficult content: Requiring advanced knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
