We have all grown up preparing for difficult exams, anxiously waiting for the results and worrying if we managed to get the grades we were aiming for. Were the tests that I faced really that difficult? We are sure some of you must have thought to yourselves, “What really are the toughest exams in the world?”. We have a comprehensive list of exams all over the world that many deem to be the hardest exams in the world. These tests have gained global acclaim for being extremely demanding, not just mentally but also physically, with the amount of time you have to put into preparing for them. Let us explore these difficult exams and see what exactly qualifies for the toughest exams in the world!
The Top 10 Hardest Exams in the World in 2024
There are many exams conducted around the world. However, some stand out from all the exams conducted in the world. These exams are usually regarded as one of the hardest exams in the world to appear for. This is usually due to the intense course module or exam module for the exam. Here are the top 10 toughest exams in the world that you should know about
Worldwide
Out of the top hardest exams in the world, these are some exams that are conducted worldwide, and anyone from any nationality can partake in these exams and also appear for them. Here are the top toughest exams in the world, their application fees, and purpose:
1. Mensa
Dates for 2024: Different timings in different parts of the world
Exam Level: Worldwide
Conducted By: Mensa International
Exam Eligibility: No qualification is needed.
Purpose of the Exam: To test your IQ and belong to an elite community of people with internationally high IQs.
Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes
Application Fees: $50
As compared to many other tests on this list, the Mensa Test challenges your IQ or Intelligence Quotient. This test is truly one of the world’s toughest exam to crack. Mensa Members are also chosen through this examination. Exam participants whose IQs are higher than the 98th percentile globally are chosen to become Mensa Members. Thus, only 2% of the world is qualified to become Members. Being one of the hardest exam to pass, exam participants are tested on various parameters such as problem-solving, reasoning, and logic.
2. Graduate Record Examination - GRE
Dates for 2024: This can be taken at any time of the year, depending on the availability of slots.
Exam Level: Worldwide
Conducted By: Educational Testing Services (ETS)
Exam Eligibility: Undergraduate degree from a college or university.
Purpose of the Exam: An entrance exam to get into colleges for MS
Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes
Application Fees: $271
The Graduate Record Examination, also commonly known as the GRE, is also considered one of the hardest exams in the world. GRE is conducted every year for the master's or PhD level for students across the world. The exam is conducted as an entrance examination for students who are looking to pursue a degree abroad, especially for universities in the US. Many universities accept GRE scores. However, the major chunk belongs to universities in the US, which is why thousands of students prepare for the test globally! Check out our ultimate guide to preparing for the GRE!
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3. Chartered Financial Analyst - CFA
Dates for 2024: Feb-May-Aug-Nov
Exam Level: Worldwide
Conducted By: CFA institute
Exam Eligibility: Undergraduate degree/be in the final year of undergraduate degree/hold four years of qualified work experience/hold four years of combined work experience and college.
Purpose of the Exam: For CFA Charter qualification
Duration: 6 hours - total 240 questions
Application Fees: $940
CFA, also known as Chartered Financial Analyst, is also known to be one of the hardest exams in the world. It is a way of testing the financial knowledge of the aspiring finance professionals. It was reported that in 2023, 16,959 students sat for the level 1 exam. Out of the 16,959 students, only 38% managed to proceed to the next level. Aspiring finance professionals have to undergo three levels. Each exam is six hours long and has a huge sum of 240 questions. After you have passed all three levels, you will still need a cumulative of 48 months or four years of professional experience to attain the CFA Charter
4. Bar Exam
Dates for 2024: March 2024
Exam Level: Worldwide
Conducted By: Bar institution
Exam Eligibility: Undergraduate degree in law from an institution approved by the Bar Council.
Purpose of the Exam: To assess one’s knowledge of law so they can qualify to practice law
Duration: 3.5 hours
Application Fees: $405
The bar exam is considered one of the most difficult exams in the world when it comes to the field of law. The exam is conducted all over the world and is regularly updated and changed according to the country’s laws, regulations and customs. The exam is conducted over a period of two days and covers subjects like criminal laws, contacts, evidence and more. The exam is so tough one can make a list of the toughest bar exams in the world. The bar exam conducted in California is considered one of the toughest bar exams in the world. The South Korea Bar exam is another contender for the hardest exams in the world and is on the podium for difficult exams. The South Korean exam has a low acceptance rate of a mere 40%.
5. Master Sommelier Diploma Exam
Dates for 2024: 3-5 Sept 2024
Exam Level: Open to all, held in the UK and USA
Conducted By: The Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS)
Exam Eligibility: Students who pass the Advanced Sommelier Exam must also have passed 10th grade with more than 45% grades.
Purpose of the Exam: To ensure that the individual has a better knowledge of beverages and a robust overall understanding of the hospitality industry.
Duration: 50 minutes
Application Fees: $1059
The Master Sommelier Diploma Exam is one of the toughest exams in the world in its own right! The term “sommelier” refers to a professional wine steward or server, someone who has been trained and is knowledgeable about the world of wines and spirits. The Master Sommelier Diploma Exam is the test that aspiring sommeliers must take in order to gain certification in it. The exam is divided into three sections: theory (not written, but rather an oral examination), an examination of wine tasting of six wines, and a wine service examination. One would wonder about our claims of this being one of the toughest exams in the world! But you would gain some clarity when you realise that the Master Sommelier exam has only about an odd 200 people who have passed it since its inception more than 40 years ago in 1969. Many students give two to three times to pass, and some do so even six times!
6. JLPT (Japan)
Dates for 2024: Sunday, 7th July 2024, and Sunday, 1st December 2024
Exam Level: Japan and 40 overseas countries
Conducted By: The Japan Foundation
Exam Eligibility: Open to all non-native Japanese speakers
Purpose of the Exam: Japanese language proficiency test to ensure the individual is aware of the Japanese language
Duration: 1.5 hours
Application Fees: $100
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is a surprise entry in this list, but it is fully deserving of its spot. The test is similar to the more popular English language proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOEFL and more. Unlike these tests, however, the JLPT is divided into five levels from N5 to N1, where N5 is the easiest and N1 the hardest. The N1 JLPT test is one of the hardest exams in the world and rightly deserves its reputation as a member of difficult exams. There are instances where even native Japanese speakers have studied with N2 and N1 tests, which should be enough proof for you to gauge how difficult these tests are! The tests are divided into sections titled “Reading” and “Listening” and are composed of multiple-choice questions. The test is to verify Japanese language proficiency within Japan as well as abroad for potential job or education opportunities.
7. Gaokao (China)
Dates for 2024: June 7 - June 8, 2024
Exam Level: All China
Conducted By: Union Public Service Commission
Exam Eligibility: After Secondary School
Purpose of the Exam: Entrance exam to get into Chinese universities
Duration: 9 hours taken in the span of 2-3 days
Application Fees: $50
China is renowned for the brilliant minds it produces day in and day out. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that it would also be home to one of the toughest exams in the world. The Gaokao is the standard test every student must take to enter college in China. In lieu of tough exams in the world, the Gaokao hits another ceiling altogether! The “higher education” or gaokao happens in early June, and in this period of two days, the whole of Mainland China comes to a standstill. The students who ace this test, one of the toughest exams in the world, are almost guaranteed great career prospects, while those who don’t often struggle. This string of tough exams in the world is highly anticipated, so much so that TV show hosts discuss the exam in great detail, and ambulances are placed outside of exam centres in case of any nervous mishaps. The exam is gruelling but highly important as the three-digit score one receives at the end can determine the students’ career trajectories!
8. UPSC Civil Services Examination (India)
Dates for 2024: 26 May 2024 - Preliminary | 20 Sept 2024 - Mains
Exam Level: All India
Conducted By: China Ministry of Education
Exam Eligibility: Postgraduate
Purpose of the Exam: To join the Civil Services in India
Duration: 3 hours
Application Fees: Rs. 100 for Indian students
One cannot outrun the mention of UPSC when talking about the hardest exams in the world. The exam is a means to recruit the top contenders for highly acclaimed administrative positions in the Central Government of India. This series of difficult exams covers positions such as Indian Administrative Service(IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and is conducted over three different sets of tests. These tests are the Preliminary Exams, the Main Exam and the interview or personality test follows. The subjects covered within the UPSC exam are quite vast and can range from Geography to Botany to even ethics and ancient history! Approximately 1.4 million hopefuls took one of the toughest exams in the world, UPSC, out of which just 14,624 were selected to attempt the second round.
9. IIT-JEE (India)
Dates for 2024: JEE Main 2024 - Session 1: January 24th, 2024, to February 1st, 2024 | JEE Main 2024 - Session 2: April 4th, 2024, to April 15th, 2024 | JEE (Advanced) 2024: The JEE (Advanced) - Sunday, May 26th, 2024
Exam Level: within India
Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Eligibility: School graduates in the Science field in India.
Purpose of the Exam: To enter the top engineering colleges in India
Duration: 3 hours
Application Fees: Rs. 1000 for male candidates and Rs. 800 for female candidates
The Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination is perhaps the toughest engineering exam in the world! IITs in India hold a special place in the hearts and minds of every Indian and are regarded as the holy grail of engineering colleges. This toughest engineering exam in the world tests students in Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, demanding elite knowledge and a sharp brain. The IIT-JEE is conducted in two stages - the first is the Main level, and the second is the Advanced. For 2024, the official cutoff percentage for IIT-JEE Main was 90.77% for the General category, 73% for OBC, 51% for SC, and 37% for ST, 75% for EWS. The JEE Main scores enable one to gain admission to the many colleges offering bachelor’s in engineering around India. The JEE Advanced, however, is the toughest engineering exam in the world and is only reserved for admission in one of India’s 12 IITs.
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10. GATE (India)
Dates for 2024: February every year
Exam Level: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and more
Conducted By: Indian Institute of Science and 7 IITs
Exam Eligibility: undergraduate degree from an accredited university.
Purpose of the Exam: To get admitted to top colleges such as IITs, IISC, IIITs, NITs, and other prestigious institutions in India
Duration: 3 hours
Application Fees: Rs. 1800
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) in India is one of the top 10 toughest exam in the world for engineering. India is known for its preference for aspiring and successful candidates pursuing the engineering field. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that there are a host of engineering exams in India that test candidates on their knowledge. The test is held in other countries as well, such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, UAE and more, but the one conducted in India is perhaps the toughest engineering exam in the world, perhaps due to the intense competition in the country. Candidates are tested in areas such as Mathematics, Engineering, Science, and General Aptitude. Some colleges in Germany and Singapore use GATE scores to gauge a candidate’s skills as well. Engineering graduates usually take the exam for their pursuit of a postgraduate degree, and the computer-based test consists of MCQs and numerical questions and lasts more than three hours, making it one of the most difficult exams in the world.
So these were the top 10 toughest exams in the world. We believe we have done justice to our representation of the toughest exams in the world. We made sure to provide as diverse a viewpoint as possible and introduce you to exams you may not have heard of before. Giving difficult exams can be quite a rewarding experience for any student as it not only tests you on your knowledge and skills but also teaches you the importance of perseverance and consistency. Regularly studying every day and utilising multiple hours of hard work can seem like a daunting task; check out our blog on dealing with exam stress, but it can be a beneficial experience for your personal and professional development. These might be some of the toughest exams in the world, but you need not worry, as once you go through our exam section, you will have good clarity.
