Examinations are the universal measure of one’s academic proficiency. They test the knowledge of the appearing candidates in various fields and subjects. They often play a significant role in one’s academic as well as professional journey. Many important exams are often considered the key to the dreams of many. However, many examinations are renowned for their difficulty levels pushing candidates to their mental as well as physical limits. These exams do not only test academic excellence but also resilience, problem-solving skills, and the ability to perform under pressure. This article brings you the Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World that test the appearing candidate’s intellect, endurance, and determination.
Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World
1. China’s Gaokao Exam
China’s Gaokao Exam, also famous as the High Exam, is a national-level college entrance examination conducted in July. The exam is considered one of the toughest exams in the world, with passing percentages ranging from 0.003 to 0.004%. The exam lasts for a duration of 9 hours and is conducted in 2 or 3 days.
More than 13 million Chinese students take the examination every year. However, only 50,000 to 60,000 seats are available in the top national Chinese universities. Hence, this makes it one of the toughest exams all across the globe. The students need around 600 marks to secure a seat in the top universities. It is definitely not easy and the exam pressure is also very high as well.
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2. India’s JEE Advanced
India’s JEE Advanced is also one of the toughest exams conducted all over the world. Candidates who wish to get admitted into the top Indian technology institutes appear for these exams. It is a national-level examination for entrance into undergraduate engineering courses. The duration of these exams is 3 hours, and around a million students appear for them. The passing percentage of the JEE Advanced exam is 26.77%.
It is considered one of the toughest exams all across the globe because of the high number of applicants who appear for the examination every year. Another reason is the depth and the difficulty of the study material. It involves various advanced topics such as Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. The exams are also designed to test the time management skills of the candidates. The students are required to solve multiple questions in a limited time frame.
3. India’s UPSC CSE
The Indian UPSC CSE is the third toughest exams in the world. It is also famous for the IAS exams in India. The candidates who wish to be recruited for any of the government’s administrative jobs appear for these examinations. The Union Public Service Commission conducts these examinations. The duration of these exams is around 4 hours for prelims and 27 for mains. The pass rate of these exams is 0.0011%.
The main reason why these exams are considered so tough is the tough syllabus. It covers many important topics like Indian history and governance. The competition is also pretty high. More than 900 candidates appear for recruitment over 1 job. The selection process is also pretty tough.
4. All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam
The All Souls Prize Fellowship exam is conducted at the All Souls College at Oxford University. Students who have recently completed graduation from Oxford University or are registered for any higher degree appear for these exams. The passing rate of this exam is less than 1%.
The reason why it is considered one of the toughest is because only a few applicants are actually selected for the exam. It is known for its unconventional questioning, immense pressure, and dual testing method.
5. US’s USMLE
The United States Medical Licensing Examination is also one of the toughest exams in the world. All the physicians who wish to practice medicine in the US have to appear for the examination. Candidates often have to invest many months of dedication to pass it. It plays an important part in admission into residency programs.
It is considered the toughest because of the extensive time one has to invest in cracking this exam. Step 1 of USMLE is considered significantly competitive, with a passing rate ranging between 94-96%. It covers various topics like foundational sciences, clinical diagnosis, treatment protocols, and much more. The significant career impact also pressurizes candidates to do well.
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6. Master Sommelier Diploma Exam
The Master Sommelier Diploma Exam is conducted in three phases. These three phases include an oral theory examination, a deductive tasting of 6 wines, and lastly a practical wine service examination. The candidates require at least 75% marks to pass in all three phases. The passing rate of the oral theory examination is 10%.
It is considered one of the most toughest exams across the globe because of various reasons. The first is the need for deeply understood comprehensive knowledge of winemaking as well as service etiquette. Since 1969, only 269 candidates have actually passed this exam. Therefore, it requires a lot of resilience and strength to pass it.
7. India’s ICAI CA/ ICMAI CMA Exams
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India conducts the CA exams in India. While the Institute of Cost Accountants of India conducts the CMA exams. These exams are conducted for candidates who have a graduation degree in Commerce and wish to pursue a career in fields like cost management, accounting, auditing, taxation, or finance.
Both of these exams have three stages namely the foundation stage, the intermediate stage, and the final stage. The candidates have to cover a vast syllabus and the number of seats available in these courses is also limited. This makes these exams hard to crack. The passing rate of CA is 9.42% while the passing rate of CMA is 25.76%.
8. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert, commonly known as CCIE, is also one of the toughest exams in the world. It is a series of certifications related to technology for senior networking professionals. These professionals build complex networking infrastructures for big enterprises.
It includes certification programs in six different tracks namely collaboration, data centre, routing and switching, security, service provider, and wireless. The duration of it is 2 hours and the pass rate is only 26%. This makes it pretty difficult to pass.
9. Mensa International
Mensa International is not a typical exam but a society of members. The society has people who have scored up to 2% more than the average general population in the approved IQ test. The minimum IQ required to become a member of the Mensa is 132.
It is not based on your general knowledge or your ability to do math equations. But, it is based on 35 puzzles that you will have to solve to pass these exams. The puzzles keep getting harder every minute testing your real intelligence and thinking abilities.
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10. Chartered Financial Analyst
Chartered Financial Analyst, commonly known as CFA globally, is another one of the toughest exams in the world. It is considered one of the most reputed finance courses globally. The course helps the candidates gain valuable insights into the finance and investment landscape of the world. It is also conducted in three stages, namely CFA Level 1, CFA Level 2, and CFA Level 3. The passing rate of this course is 44% and over 16,932 students take this course.