Throughout this article, some of the most difficult examinations across the globe will be featured and analyzed for their key peculiarities and the factors that have contributed to their high level of difficulty.
1. Mensa IQ Test
The Mensa Intelligence Test is a test that aims at identifying those people who have a very high level of intelligence. Having a minimum passing score of thirty five the test is ranked among the hardest in the world. It measures one’s abstract and logical thinking on verbal as well as numerical data and spatial orientation.
2. UPSC Civil Services Examination (India)
The Civil Service in India’s Union Public Service Commission or UPSC examination is no less well-known for its tough selection process It covers areas of history, geography, and current affairs and all these fields offer considerable challenges to candidates. Currently, it has about 0 percent success rate which is a considerable improvement from previous trials. It all means that even passing for 1%, the UPSC exam is one of the toughest in the world.
3. California Bar Exam (USA)
The California Bar Exam is among the state bar tests that any individual, who wants to practice law in California state, must take. The exam is familiar to all by now, especially its high level of difficulty in which only 50% of the candidates would pass. Some of them are focused on testing the knowledge of the legal provisions and how the candidate deals with them in the process.
4. Gaokao (China)
The Gaokao is the college entrance examination in China that, based on the results of the examination, defines a student’s right to continue their education. Often referred to as a high-stakes examination, the success of the same can shape the life of students for the coming future. Chinese, Mathematics, and Foreign Languages are a few of the many subjects tested in Gaokao; this exam is considered one of the most difficult in the entire world.
5. NEET (India)
NEET stands for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test which is used to grant admission to students in the medical and dental colleges in India. The exam is extremely talent-intensive, in which more than a million learners vie for a few slots. The NEET is a multiple-choice question that is used to evaluate the candidate’s knowledge in biology, chemistry, and physics and is considered among the hardest exams in the world.
6. LSAT (USA)
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is one of the standardized tests that assess the aptitude required to undertake study at the Law School. The test is an important part of the admission procedure in the United States’ law schools and is also famous for the logic games and reading parts.
7. GMAT (Global)
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized exam that measures verbal, quantitative, analytical writing, and integrated reasoning skills. The GMAT is used by business schools around the world as part of their admission process and is known for its challenging questions and time constraints.
8. MCAT (USA)
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized exam that measures critical analysis and reasoning skills, as well as knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social sciences. The MCAT is a crucial component of the medical school admission process in the United States and is known for its comprehensive coverage of various subjects.
9. GATE (India)
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an exam that tests the comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects in engineering and science. The GATE is used for admission to postgraduate programs and jobs in public sector undertakings and is known for its challenging questions and high competition.
10. CFA (Global)
The CFA Program is a set of three examinations that test the candidate’s ability to use knowledge in the field of investment analysis and portfolio management. The CFA exams are considered very important since they test the participant’s knowledge in all the different aspects related to finances and have a pass rate of roughly 40%.
Check the table given below for eligibility criteria for all the exams-
| Rank | Exam Name | Country/Location | Duration | Minimum Score Required | Purpose |
| 1 | Gaokao | China | 2 days | Varies by province, generally around 450-600 out of 750 for top-tier universities | College Entrance Exam for high school |
| 2 | IIT JEE Advanced | India | 3 hours | 75% in Class 12 and top percentile in JEE Main | Undergraduate admission to Indian Institutes of Technology |
| 3 | UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) | India | 2-3 hours | Varies; typically requires a score in the top 0.1% of candidates | Recruitment to administrative posts |
| 4 | GATE | India | 3 hours | Varies by discipline; generally requires a score above 25-30% | Postgraduate studies admission, recruitment |
| 5 | GRE (Graduate Record Examination) | Worldwide | 3 hours 45 minutes | 300+ out of 340 for competitive programs | Admission to MBA and MS Courses |
| 6 | Master Sommelier Diploma Exam | USA | Varies | Pass rate below 10% in practical and theory sections | Certified Sommelier |
| 7 | ICAI CA Exams | India | 2-3 hours | 50% in each subject to qualify | Training and certifying Chartered Accountants |
| 8 | CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert) | USA | 2 hours | Pass both written and lab exams; lab pass rate around 20% | Technical certifications for networking professionals |
| 9 | Mensa International | Worldwide | – | Minimum IQ score of 130 | Society for the top 2% of intelligence |
| 10 | CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) | Worldwide | Varies | Pass rate is around 40% for each level | Designation for investment professionals |
These exams are among some of the toughest examinations any place in the universe and they call for commitment, assiduity, and talent. While the specific reasons for their difficulty may vary, they all share a common trait: the rightful right to challenge a person to go to his/her fullest extent.
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