Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World 2024

What Are the 10 World's Toughest Exams?

As you know, every country has exams that are considered tough to pass in one go. In this section, you will learn about the most challenging tests in the world and the country or the conducting body to which they belong. The following table shows the world's toughest exam list:

Examination	Conducting Body / Country
Gaokao Exam	China
IIT-JEE Exam	India
UPSC Exam	India
Mensa International	England
GRE	United States of America / Canada
CFA	United States of America / Canada
CCIE	United States of America
GATE	India
All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam	United Kingdom
California Bar Exam	United States of America

As per the above table, China has the world's most difficult exam. At the same time, India and the USA have the majority of the rigorous and bothersome exams globally. In the upcoming sections, you will learn about the top 5 toughest exams in the world in detail.

1. Gaokao Exam - China

The Gaokao, which means higher exam, is the abbreviation of the Nationwide Unified Examination for Admissions to General Universities and Colleges. This test is the national undergraduate admission exam for China. It is the most difficult exam in the world.

About the Exam

The Gaokao test is held by the provincial government under the order of the Ministry of Education in early June every year. The exam is conducted over two days when the nation comes to a standstill. The first Gaokao exam was held on 15-17 August 1952.

Purpose of the Test

The Gaokao test is not just an exam; it's a gateway to all the higher education institutes in China. It's a crucial requisite for undergraduate admissions, marking the end of a high school journey and the beginning of a new academic chapter.

Format and Duration of the Exam

The Gaokao exam is conducted in Mandarin Chinese. It consists of subjects such as Science, Mathematics, Languages, and Social Sciences. The score is measured on a scale of 750-950 points. The test lasts 9 hours.

Number of Applicants and Pass Rate

Every year, a staggering 12 million students apply for the Gaokao exam, a testament to its significance. However, only around 10 million students manage to qualify, making the pass rate quite low. This test is not for the faint-hearted; it's considered the world's toughest exam.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the Gaokao exam are as follows:

• The student applying for the exam must have Chinese citizenship. Those who do not have Chinese citizenship are not eligible to take this test.
• The students should have qualified at least 12 years of education. This must include 9 years of compulsory education as well as 3 years of high school.

2. IIT-JEE Exam - India

IIT-JEE exam stands for Indian Institute of Technology - Joint Entrance Examination. It is the 2nd hardest exam in the world. This is a national-level engineering entrance test that is held in India. The exam is conducted under the guidance of the Joint Admission Board (JAB), India.

About the Exam

The first IIT-JEE exam was conducted in the year 1961. It consists of two stages - JEE Main and JEE Advanced. The JEE Main is a screening test to select the applicants who will be eligible to appear in the Advanced. The JEE Advanced is the final stage of examination for admission into IITs.

Purpose of the Test

The test is conducted by one of the 23 zonal IITs under the guidance of the Joint Admission Board in a round-robin rotation pattern to select students for admission into these IITs.

Format and Duration of the Exam

The exam pattern for IIT-JEE consists of topics from the CBSE Board's curriculum for classes XI and XII. These subjects include Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. The test lasts 3 hours.

Number of Applicants and Pass Rate

The number of applicants for the IIT-JEE exam is around 190 thousand yearly and is increasing rapidly. Out of which, around 40 thousand students qualify for admission. Thus, the pass rate of this test is around 24.26%. Eventually, this makes it the 2nd most difficult exam in the world.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the IIT-JEE exam are as follows:

• The students who are applying for this test must have appeared for their class XII or equivalent examination in the same year or a year back.
• The minimum percentage required for the exam application must be 75% or above.

3. UPSC Exam - India

Union Public Service Commission, or UPSC, is a central government agency that conducts India's Civil Services Examination (CSE) for students. The UPSC exam is ranked third among the top five toughest exams in the world.

About the Exam

This exam is India's most difficult, competitive, and meticulous. Students spend years preparing for this century-old test. However, the number of attempts is limited. These limits are made according to the student's caste category.

Purpose of the Test

The UPSC exam is conducted to recruit people to higher civil services for the government of India. These services include the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), as well as Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

Format and Duration of the Exam

The format for this test consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Prelims consist of two papers of 200 marks each, and the Mains consist of nine subjective papers. Also, the duration for writing is 3 hours for each test paper.

Number of Applicants and Pass Rate

Every year, around 10,00,000 applicants appear for the UPSC exam. Out of these, a very small number of students qualify after attempting all the stages of the test. Thus, the overall pass rate of this exam is 0.2%. Therefore, the UPSC test is the hardest exam in the world.

Eligibility Criteria

• The eligibility criteria for the UPSC exam are given below:
• The age limit for the students to apply for this exam is 21-32 years old.
• The student should have a bachelor's degree recognized by the Government of India.
• For IAS and IFS, only students with Indian citizenship can apply for the exam.
• For other services, citizens of India, Nepal, or Bhutan can apply for the test. Also, people who originated in India and migrated from other nations to settle permanently in India can apply for this exam.
• Also, Tibetan refugees who permanently settled in India before 1 January 1962 can apply for the UPSC test.

4. Mensa International - England

Mensa International is not an exam. It is a society of members with higher IQs and intelligence. The society was founded in 1946 in England. The society believes in non-political among the aspirants and is free from all kinds of discrimination based on race, religion, or nationality.

About the Exam

The test offered by this society is one of the toughest exams in the world. It is conducted in approximately 90 countries, such as the US, the UK, India, Ireland, and Germany. The test is based on IQ and intelligence.

Purpose of the Test

The main purpose of this society is to identify and nurture human intelligence so that it benefits humanity and its characteristics and encourages research into nature. It offers its members a stimulating intellectual and social environment.

Format and Duration of the Exam

The famous IQ exams and their Mensa cutoff score are as follows:

• Stanford-Binet - 132 and above
• Cattell - 148 and above
• These tests have around 35 questions that the students need to solve within 25 minutes.

Number of Applicants and Pass Rate

There are around 145,000 Mensans in about 90 countries in the world. The competition to get into this society is very high. The society is open only to those who gain scores within the top 2% of the general population. Thus, the pass rate of these exams is 0.02%. Hence, it became the 4th most hardest exam in the world.

Eligibility Criteria

Mensa India tests only on children over 10 years of age. However, there is no such age limit for joining this society. Thus, if a child below 10 years gives the results of the authorized intelligence tests that meet the score criteria, are eligible to get recruited in Mensa.

5. GRE - USA and Canada

The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is considered the fifth most difficult exam in the world. This test evaluates an applicant's ability to pursue a master's in foreign institutes, mainly in the USA and Canada. Earlier, this exam was targeted at US-based universities, but now it is recognized by institutes in over 90 nations.

About the Exam

The GRE test was established in 1936 and is owned by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). This exam is responsible for measuring a student's verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, quantitative ability, critical thinking, and analytical writing.

Purpose of the Test

The sole purpose of the GRE test is to offer admissions to master's and doctoral degree programs in various universities, especially in the USA and Canada.

Format and Duration of the Test

The computer-based GRE consists of 6 sections. The 1st section is about analytical writing. While the next 4 sections include 2 verbal reasoning sections and 2 quantitative reasoning sections. Also, the last section is either an experimental or research section. The duration of this test is about 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Number of Applicants and Pass Rate

The number of applicants participating in the GRE every year is over 11 lakh. Therefore, the competition level is high due to a large number of candidates. Thus, the pass rate for the same is 43%, which makes the test considered as 5th world's toughest exam.

Eligibility Criteria

As per the Educational Testing Service (ETS), there are no rules for eligibility for taking the GRE. Students from any academic background are allowed to appear for the exam.

e are a few difficult tests that are accepted worldwide. One such exam is the GRE, which is accepted by the institutes of the USA and Canada for applying for a master's degree. Thus, students must get the right guidance to excel in this test and get enrolled in their dream universities. Therefore, overseas education consultants offer coaching for this test preparation and help aspirants ace it.

Also Read: What Are the Different Entrance Exams for Studying Abroad?

6. CFA - USA

If you are looking forward to joining the workforce in the field of investment or finance, here's an exam for you. Passing this exam is the dream of many finance professionals. Hence, several students attempt this exam every year.

About the Exam

The CFA stands for Chartered Financial Analyst. Students take it from a business or economics background. You can go onto their official website and check out the valid dates, your exam center, etc.

Purpose of the Exam

After clearing this exam, the scholars get the positions of executives and senior managers. These job roles revolve around economics, finance, asset, and risk management.

Format and Duration of Exam

It is one of the world's toughest exams with 3 levels:

Level 1: It has 2 sessions of 2 hours and 15 minutes each. These are multiple-choice questions.

Level 2: This one has 2 sessions of 2 hours and 12 minutes each. These are vignette multiple-choice questions.

Level 3: The last one also has 2 sessions of 2 hours and 12 minutes each. This section has vignette-supported essays and multiple-choice questions.

Number of Applications and Pass Rate

Last year, in 2023, more than 60,000 people took the CFA exam. However, the recent level 1, 2, and 3 CFA exams were conducted in February 2024. In level 1, 17,000 people took the exam and the pass rate was around 44%. The level 2 had a similar turnout as the first level. Moreover, level 3 had 14,000 people who appeared for the exam, yet, 49% of the people managed to pass it.

Eligibility Criteria

To appear for the level 1 exam:

• Firstly, you have to fulfill at least one of the two criteria:

you must have a certain work experience of 4000+ hours in a related field. You must use analytical thinking and business-related skills.

However, you may also be an undergraduate or a degree holder (UG or PG).

• Secondly, you must have an international travel passport.
• Thirdly, you must know English and take the test in English.
• Lastly, there are certain countries where CFA institutes don't work. Therefore, your country should be on the list of participating countries.

To appear for the level 2 exam, you must have cleared the level 1 exam

Likewise, you must have cleared the level 2 exam, to appear for the level 3 exam.

Let us now discuss another exam

7. CCIE - USA

These are a bunch of certifications provided by Cisco. These exams are tough to crack and the people taking the tests have to go through hard learning and marking strategies.

About the Exam

The CCIE exam stands for Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. It is a series of exams related to networking professionals. These programs are designed to test people's development and troubleshooting skills.

Purpose of the Exam

The purpose of these exams is to certify individuals with global credibility for their skills. There are several different exams under the CCIE for testing various skill sets. They include network architecture, design, and other IT related projects.

Format and Duration of Exam

The written part of the CCIE exam is of 120 minutes in which you have to answer 90-110 questions. The lab exam is of 8 hours straight (ends within one day). Earlier, the lab exam used to continue for 2 consecutive days.

Number of Applicants and Pass Rate

There are a total of 68,206 CCIEs as of now in 2024. The pass rate of the CCIE exam is around 26%.

Eligibility Criteria

The only criterion for appearing for the CCIE exam is that you must have passed 10+2 from a recognized board. The minimum percentage you must have is 55%.

8. GATE - India

GATE is an exam held in India and is only accepted within the nation. However, it is one of the toughest exams in the world. This national-level examination is also one of the most applied for.

About the Exam

The GATE exam is for Indian students who wish to pursue their post graduate degree in IITs or NITs and other top engineering institutes in India.

Purpose of the Test

The purpose of the GATE exam is to test the students who wish to secure a seat for studying in the most prominent colleges in India. However, the GATE exam is only for those who want to study ME and M tech in their PG degree. Moreover, there are many recruiters who hire the ones who score well in this exam.

Format and Duration of Exam

The GATE exam pattern 2025 is going to be 3 hours. Moreover, the test will be computer-based. The exam format will include MCQs, MSQs, and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.

Moreover, there are a total of 65 questions in 30 pages of question paper.

Number of Applicants and Pass Rate

In the year 2022, more than 8,00,000 people applied for the exam, and only 15% passed the exam. The GATE exam is highly competitive and hard to crack considering the country's size.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicants must have a bachelor's degree in engineering or technology. In addition, students studying in any science field can also apply for the GATE exam.

9. All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam - UK

All Souls College, Oxford University students can apply for this fellowship exam. This prize is for those who are up for researching under senior scholars. The amount given to the ones who pass this exam depends on how many hours they dedicate to the research field.

About the Exam

This exam assesses the overall knowledge of the students on topics like classical studies, law, history, and literature. There is no key rule to clearing this exam. Yet, it would help if you only wrote scripts that describe you the best. There is also a viva segment which is held on the last Saturday of October. This viva lasts for around 25 minutes. There is a lot of

Purpose of the Test

Upon clearing these fellowship exams, students are expected to serve as teachers in the university itself. The purpose of this exam is to cream out the most talented scholars of the college.

Format and Duration of Exam

There are two parts: Examination and election. In the examination, there is a written exam and a 25 minute viva. Moreover, the essays and scripts that students write are uploaded on the college website. The vivas are very friendly and you are encouraged to be the best of yourself.

The election, however, is done the very next day. If you are to become a fellow, you will know that by the next day.

Number of Applicants and Pass Rate

Normally, the number of applicants does not exceed 200. However, the passing rate is 1%.

Eligibility Criteria

Stated below are the eligibility criteria for applying for the All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam:

• Firstly, if you are enrolled for a degree at the Oxford University.
• Secondly, you should be pursuing a degree related to social sciences or Humanities.
• Thirdly, you must have passed all the exams held during your BA or a similar degree from the University of Oxford or elsewhere.
• Lastly, if you are applying for the 2024 exam, your degree should be not older than Summer 2022.

10. California Bar Exam - USA

The California Bar Exam is conducted twice a year. This exam is one of the toughest exams in the world. It is for those who wish to pursue a career in law in California, USA.

About the Exam

This exam has an enrollment fee of $ 500. Candidates are assessed on their knowledge of the US law and the law of the state of California. Moreover, upon unsuccessful payment of the enrollment fees, they will not register you for the exam.

Purpose of the Test

This exam licenses the attorneys by assessing their basic knowledge and understanding. Moreover, this exam also judges the candidates on the basis of their analytical thinking. In addition to this, this is the minimum criteria to enroll for studying law in the state.

Format and Duration of Exam

It happens for 2 days and has the following types of questions:

1. One hour essay questions x 5
2. A performance test of 90 minutes.
3. The Multistate Bar Examination has typically 200 MCQs.

Number of Applicants and Pass Rate

In the year 2023, 7,555 students took the California Bar exam. Out of these applicants, 51.5 % passed the exam.

Eligibility Criteria

If you want to practice law in California, you must have the following:

• You must have finished your 2 years of studies (at least) at the college level.

These were some of the toughest exams in the world in 2024. However, there are more hard-to-crack exams in the world apart from these. The next section will talk about the exam preparation tips for candidates.

Tips for Exam Preparation

The scholars or applicants of these exams struggle with a lot of things while preparing for the exams. However, experts suggest the following 7 ways to maintain a constant focal point:

1. Maintain a Separate Space to Study
2. Follow a Strict Timetable
3. Take Mock Tests if Available
4. Use Diagrams and Flowcharts in Notes
5. Adhere to Professional Study Plans
6. Stay Aware of Your Strengths and Weaknesses
7. Plan to Initiate Revision Early

The above pointers have a detailed explanation below:

Maintain a Separate Space to Study

Firstly, try to get a segregated space where you can study without unnecessary distractions. Now, a room that has a TV and game station can work too if you can control it well. However, if you are the type of person who can't study with visible distractions then change the room. Moreover, you may also try to get away from people including family and friends. Seek a quiet place to study.

Follow a Strict Timetable

Secondly, it is vital to make a timetable before following it religiously. Moreover, keep in mind that you cannot make a timetable in hyperactivity and expect yourself to follow it without a hitch. However, you should build a practical list of things you need to do and be consistent. Dedicate hours or minutes to these tasks and try to abide by them. If you expect to study for hours with a 15 minutes of break in an entire day, it won't go as planned. You must understand your body, its sleep cycle, and its capacity.

Take Mock Tests if Available

Thirdly, take a good look on the internet for available sample tests and mock exams. It would be wise to practice them before sitting for the actual paper. If, in case, the format and question type do not change this year then you would have an advantage!

Use Diagrams and Flowcharts in Notes

Fourthly, there are several ways to enhance your note-making skills. If you use diagrams, flowcharts, and colors, you will get a better understanding of the concepts. Moreover, you will also be able to remember the key points and words while taking the exam.

Adhere to Professional Study Plans

Fifthly, several experts on the internet can help you build a study plan for any exam. You can contact them and hire them for the same. Moreover, you can also get it personalized by sharing your requirements with them.

Stay Aware of Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Furthermore, you should study yourself before studying for the exam. You must be aware of where you can excel easily and where there would be more effort required.

Plan to Initiate Revisions Early

Lastly, it is best to finish the syllabus and main topics of the exam and start revising them way before the exam. The timetable or the study plan must have a slot for revision as well. It keeps you in the habit of studying and helps you memorize things well.

In this blog, you learn about some of the toughest exams in world with their details. This information consists of the purpose of these tests, their eligibility, pass rate, format and other essential data. You also learned about the criteria used to determine which exam is the toughest in the world. These criteria involve the level of difficulty, the competition level, scope, coverage, impact, and other crucial information needed to determine the same.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which 5 Countries Are Known to Have the Hardest Exams in the World?

The 5 countries that are known to have the hardest exams in the world are China, India, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.

2. Can Indians Apply for the Gaokao Exam in China?

No, Indians cannot apply for the Gaokao exam in China to gain entrance to higher education institutes. But if you have dedicated your time and efforts to learning Mandarin Chinese, you can choose to take this exam.

3. What Tests Are Needed to Apply for a Master's Degree in Universities in the USA and Canada?

The tests needed for applying for a master's degree in universities of the USA and Canada are GRE as well as a language proficiency test such as IELTS. Various education consultants provide online IELTS classes to study abroad. They also offer coaching for GRE preparation.

4. Can Citizens of Other Countries Apply for the UPSC Exam in India?

No, citizens of other countries cannot apply for the UPSC exam in India. The only exception is the Tibetan refugees who permanently settled in India before 1st January 1962.

5. What Is the Toughest Exam in Asia?

The Gaokao exam is the toughest in Asia. It is conducted by the Government of China for final-year high school students to get admission to graduation in higher educational institutes in the country.

6. What Is the Toughest Exam in India?

The UPSC exam is the toughest in India. This exam is conducted to recruit aspirants for various civil services for the government of India. These services include IAS, IPS, and IFS. It is one of the most competitive exams among Indians.