25 Dec,2023

The 10 Toughest Exams in the World A test of your mental mettle

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01

The Gaokao is a nine-hour exam that all Chinese students must take in order to enter university. It is notoriously difficult, and only a small percentage of students score high enough to be admitted to the top universities.

Gaokao Exam (China) 

02

The IIT JEE is an entrance exam for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), which are some of the most prestigious engineering schools in the world. The exam is extremely competitive, and only a tiny fraction of students who take it are actually admitted to an IIT. 

IIT JEE (India) 

03

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is one of the most difficult exams in India, and it is the gateway to a career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Indian Police Service (IPS), and other elite civil services. The exam is known for its vast syllabus and its rigorous interview process. 

UPSC  (India) 

04

Mensa is an organization for people with IQs in the top 2% of the population. The Mensa International admission test is designed to be challenging, and only about 2% of test-takers score high enough to qualify for membership. 

Mensa International (Worldwide) 

05

The GRE is a standardized test that is required for admission to many graduate schools in the United States and other countries. The GRE is known for its challenging verbal and quantitative reasoning sections. 

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) 

06

The CFA Program is a professional certification program for financial analysts. The CFA exams are notoriously difficult, and only about 50% of test-takers pass each level of the exam on their first try.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program 

07

The CCIE is a professional certification for network engineers. The CCIE exams are some of the most difficult IT exams in the world, and only a small percentage of test-takers pass them. 

Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) 

08

 The GATE is an exam that is required for admission to postgraduate engineering programs in India. The GATE is known for its difficulty and its high level of competition.

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) (India) 

09

The USMLE is a three-step exam that is required for all doctors who want to practice medicine in the United States. The USMLE is known for its challenging content and its rigorous testing procedures.

United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) 

10

The California Bar Exam is one of the most difficult bar exams in the United States. The exam is known for its long length and its high level of difficulty. 

California Bar Exam