This article is especially helpful for individuals aspiring to secure high-level positions that are notoriously difficult to attain. Achieving such roles often requires candidates to give their absolute best and pass some of the most challenging exams and they are looking for the list of that exams. To make things easier, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the top 10 toughest exams in the world.
List of Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World
- Gaokao Exam (China)
- IIT JEE: Indian Institutes of Technology (India)
- UPSC: Union Public Service Commission (India)
- Mensa: Mensa International (England)
- GRE: Graduate Record Examinations (United States/Canada)
- CFA: Chartered Financial Analyst (United States/Canada)
- CCIE: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (United States)
- GATE: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (India)
- USMLE: United States Medical Licensing Examination (United States)
- All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam (Oxford University, UK)
1. Gaokao (China)
Gaokao is a University entrance exam based in China, which considered one of the most mentally and physically demanding exams, with students preparing for years. It decides the future of millions of students and determines their access to higher education.
2. IIT-JEE (India)
IIT-JEE is an engineering entrance exam for admission into India's elite engineering institutes (IITs) based in India, which is also known for its highly analytical and conceptual questions in physics, chemistry, and math, where the acceptance rate is below 1%.
3. UPSC Civil Services Examination (India)
UPSC Civil Services Examination is conducted for top government posts like IAS, IPS, and IFS based in India, which includes three rigorous stages, Prelims, Mains, and Interview, and it takes over a year. The vast syllabus and low selection ratio (less than 1%) make it extremely challenging.
4. Mensa IQ Test (England)
Mensa IQ Test is a test to qualify for the high IQ society, Mensa, based in England, United Kingdom. Only the top 2% of the population on a standardized IQ test are eligible.
5. GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
The Graduate Record Examination is required for graduate programs in the United States and other countries. Its complexity lies in the combination of verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections that test deep reasoning skills.
6. CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
Chartered Financial Analyst exam for finance and investment professionals. Only about 10–20% of those who start all three levels finish, where each level requires a deep understanding of economics, ethics, and investment analysis, with pass rates around 40% or less.
7. CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert)
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) is a prestigious and internationally respected certification in the networking field. It demonstrates advanced expertise and proficiency in designing, deploying, managing, and troubleshooting sophisticated network infrastructures.
8. GATE: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (India)
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) exam is conducted for postgraduate engineering programs and PSU jobs in India, which also includes a high level of technical detail in engineering subjects, with a highly competitive selection process.
9. USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination)
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is for medical licensure in the United States. It is categorized into three stages, which test both medical knowledge and clinical skills, with a rigorous grading system and high expectations.
10. All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam (Oxford University, UK)
The All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam is conducted for the selection of research fellows at All Souls College, Oxford, which is also considered one of the hardest exams in the world academically. It includes essay-based questions on abstract topics, and only a few candidates are selected every few years.