Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World 2025

The top 10 toughest exams in the world in 2025 are the Gaokao exam, IIT JEE Advanced, UPSC/CSE (Civil Services Exam), Mensa International, GRE, CFA (Charted Financial Analyst), CCIE, GATE, All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam, and Master Sommelier Diploma Exam. This list is according to the latest update from the World Ranking website. The selection rate for some exams is below 1%, with only a few fortunate students managing to pass these challenging tests.

Notably, among the top 3 world’s toughest exams, two of them are from India: UPSC and IITJEE Advanced. The Gaokao Exam in China is the most difficult exam in the world. Keep reading this article if you are interested in exploring the hardest exam in the world. Here we will discuss the list of the top 10 toughest exams in World including difficulty level, exam duration, purpose, pass percentage, and much more.

List of Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World

The list of the top 10 toughest exams in the world (rank-wise) which are hardest to crack are as follows:

1. Gaokao Exam

The National College Entrance Exam (NCEE) or Gaokao exam (高考; ‘Higher Exam’), introduced in 1952, is considered one of the toughest exams in the world. It is an entrance exam conducted by the People’s Republic of China, mainly to pursue an undergraduate level of study at Chinese institutions. The exam is so difficult as the examinees are asked to answer complex questions related to Arithmetic, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geography, Chinese literature, Political Science, etc. Held annually, it lasts about 9 hours and over two days (depending on province). Most final-year high school students take this test to join higher education institutions (HEIs) in mainland China. Though Gaokao is designed for third-year high school students (18 years old on average), it involves extensive preparations that need to begin in childhood, spanning 12 years.

The exam usually takes place in early June (mostly June 7,8 or 9). Gaokao's passing score is very low (<0.25%), which is why it is one of the toughest yet most popular exams in China.  Even the minimum score to pass this test varies by province and conducted year. Each province may have set its own grading and scoring system, and the overall scores lack a single numerical representation. This challenging exam causes psychological stress to students that leads to mental breakdown, sadness, and suicide. Conversely, students cracking high scores in the Gaokao exam can pave the way for a bright and fruitful career.

Test duration and format: 9 hours

Application fees: ¥150 (INR 1700)

Number of candidates appear: 12 million/year

Pass Percentage: <0.25

Competition level: Very High

Scope and coverage: Held annually in Mainland China. Subjects covered are Science, Maths, Language

2. IIT-JEE

The IIT-JEE or JEE Advanced exam is ranked 2nd toughest exam in the world and the first most difficult exam in India. IIT-JEE is the national-level exam and the only entrance exam for Engineering programs at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).  Candidates who clear this exam might be eligible for the Siemens Scholarship, which supports their bachelor’s degree in Engineering. The JEE exam has two parts: JEE Main and JEE Advance. Candidates should note that admission to IITs involve a multi-tier selection process, so after clearing JEE Mains they are eligible for JEE Advanced.

The JEE Main exam is held twice a year (January & April) in three different question papers. The upcoming test date is between January 22 to 31, 2025 and April 1 to 8, 2025. And JEE Advanced test is conducted once a year by 7 IITS (  (IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, & IIT Guwahati). The upcoming test date for JEE Advanced 2025 is May 18, 2025. Attaining a good score will help you to secure admission to bachelor’s degree-related programs in engineering, Technology, architecture, and planning.

Test Duration and Format: 3 hours, 90 questions, 4 marks each

Application fee for JEE Main: INR 1000 for general candidates; INR 900 for OBC, General EWS; INR 800 for females

Application fee for JEE Advanced:  INR 3200 for General; INR 1600 for females, SC,  ST, and PWD candidates

Number of Candidates: 2,51,673 in 2023

Pass Percentage: 26.17% in 2023

Competition level: Very High

Scope and coverage: Held annually in all states in India. Subjects covered are Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, & Biology

3. UPSC/ CSE

Union Public Service Commission or UPSC is a central government agency that administers India’s Civil Services Examination (CSE) for Indian aspirants. UPSC is one of the top 5 toughest exams in the world. This century-old exam, regarded as India’s toughest exam is fiercely competitive and rigorous. Students spend years in preparation to crack this test. Moreover, there exists a limit on the number of attempts. General candidates can attempt to take the test a maximum of 6 times and OBC 9 times. Aspirants must be aged 21-32 years to qualify for this test.

The main goal of this test is to select the best candidates for positions in civil service organizations such as the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and others. UPSC is exceptionally challenging, with 1000 candidates selected out of 5 lakhs applied annually. Similar to IIT JEE, the test is divided into two parts. The preparatory (preliminary) phase, held yearly in March has two generic research papers with objective inquiries. The primary part (mains), held yearly in December includes seven subjective-question papers. Individuals who cleared the prelims and mains will be called for an interview. The interview panel will decide the candidate's suitability for civil service through intellect, personality, and logical thinking tests.  The upcoming test dates for the UPSC Mains 2025 is scheduled to begin on August 22, 2025 and will span 5 days, covering 9 papers in total. Civil Service Interview dates await announcement.

Test duration & Format: 3 hours, 2 MCQ type papers, General Studies Paper (1&2) (CSAT)

Application fee: INR 100 for General & OBC (male and female); Nil for candidates who are under below poverty line (BPL)

Number of Candidates: 13 lakh aspirants applied in 2023 and 14,624 were selected for the next round

Pass Percentage: 0.2%

Competiton level: Very High

Scope and coverage: India

Anand Mahindra, an Indian billionaire businessman and the chairman of Mahindra group wrote, “After seeing #12thFail I checked around and spoke to a number of young people about the relative difficulty of our entrance exams. One of them was a graduate of IIT who is involved in a business startup but who has also taken the UPSC exam. He stated EMPHATICALLY that UPSC is much tougher than the IIT JEE."

4. Mensa

Mensa International (M1) is not an exam, it is an international organisation for a group of top test scorers. Mensa is one of the world’s oldest societies, a high-intelligence IQ group with members greater than 98% IQ, placing them in the top 2% of the world. This society is non-political and no discrimination based on race or religion. The IQ exam by this society is very tough as it assesses one’s intellect on criteria of thinking, problem-solving, and logic.

For Membership in Mensa, the age group can range between 2 years to 100 years, as known. People who are qualified to be a part of Mensa belong to an elite community with an Internationally high IQ. So far, Mensa boasts 145,000 members in nearly 100 countries, including 3,881 members in India. The popular IQ tests and their Mensa cutoff score are - Stanford-Binet- 132 & above, Cattell- 148 & above.

Test duration & Format: 25 minutes to solve 35 problems.

Application fee: INR 750

Difficulty level: Very high

Pass Percentage: 0.02%

Competiton level: Very High

Scope of the exam & coverage: conducted in approximately 90 countries such as the US, UK, Ireland, and Germany.

5. GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE), conducted by ETS, is one of the most challenging exams in the world, as it tests one's credibility to pursue Master’s abroad, mainly in the USA. For instance, to acquire the world’s toughest degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a good GRE score is crucial to kickstart. GRE is for those who want to study overseas, mainly to pursue Master’s, MBA, and PhD programs at foreign universities. 

Though the GRE was initially targeted for US universities, now it is accepted in more than 90 countries. GRE is considered to be complex compared to other tests due to its syllabus structure. GRE evaluates skills in Verbal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, Critical Thinking, and Analytical Writing. Hundreds of people prepare for this highly competitive test for different purposes like study and migration, making it a tough nut to crack. Hence rigorous preparation is essential before taking the test.  Individuals can take the GRE General test once every 21 days, up to five times a year.

Test duration & Format: 3 hours 45 minutes

Application fee: INR 22,550

Number of Candidates: over 11 lakh

Pass Percentage: 43%

Competiton level: High

Scope and coverage: Across the World

6. CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) test, related to finance discipline, is the most rigorous and harsh exam. This degree might be eligible for the hardest degree in the Guinness World Record. Over 100,000 applicants from around 100 countries, including Asia, strive to pass CFA every year. CFA is recognized as the most respected designation in Finance and Investment Management. The CFA exam is intended to test finance professionals on relevant finance tools and practices. Clearing this exam can unlock numerous opportunities as a CFA in India.

Candidates need to clear three levels (CFA Level 1, CFA Level 2, CFA Level 3) to be awarded a Charter holder designation by CFA institute. Each level has a challenging 6-hour test with 240 questions. Additionally, candidates must get 48 months of professional experience. The questions are objective in the first two levels, whereas in the third level, it is subjective. Passing these three difficult levels may take an average applicant four attempts. Upon clearing, you need to have four years of professional experience to become a CFA Charter holder. 

Test duration & Format: 6 hours, 240 questions

Application fee: INR 78,000

Number of Candidates: 25000

Difficulty level: high

Pass Percentage: 35% in level 1

Competiton level: High

Scope and Coverage: All over India. Few of the subjects covered are Economics, Financial Reporting & Analysis, and Portfolio Management.

7. CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert)

Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE), administered by Cisco Systems to networking professionals is one of the top 10 toughest exams in the world. The CCIE exam comprises a series of tests that must be taken by professionals to build, maintain, and troubleshoot complex network infrastructures. Mainly Cisco engineers are qualified to take part in the exam. More CISCO engineers and less success rate make this test series the toughest to crack.

This challenging test is divided into six sections to asses collaboration, routing, security, and other aspects. It is conducted in two stages. Applicants who cleared the first stage are eligible to take the second one, which lasts 8 hours (1% pass rate). Since this test is extremely difficult, prospective examinees are advised to have an in-depth knowledge of networking technologies along with 7 to 10 years of industry experience. If successfully cleared this test, you will get a CCIE certification which is regarded as the most prestigious award in the networking business. 

Test duration & Format: 2 hours, 6 series of tests

Application fee: 450 USD for written test, 1600 USD for lab exam

Number of Candidates: 63000

Difficulty level: high

Pass Percentage: 30 %

Competiton level: High

Scope and Coverage: CISCO Engineers tested on subjects like Network Infrastructure, Software Defined Infrastructure, Infrastructure Structure and Services.

8. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, India)

GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a national-level online exam conducted in India to test students' mastery of engineering concepts and technical aptitude. The exam is highly competitive, with a high difficulty level, making it tough for candidates to pass. Longer study sessions are essential for passing this test. 

Most students take the GATE exam every year for admissions to Masters and Ph.D. programs at IITs, NITs, IIITs, IISc, IIMs (for fellowships), and other reputed institutes across India. Even Indian Public sector companies like Indian Oil, GAIL, Hindustan Petroleum, etc. use the GATE scores to recruit candidates. Some German and Singapore universities also use GATE scores when awarding scholarships. The mode of questions includes both MCQs and Numerical questions from engineering to life sciences. Compared to other top 5 difficult exams, the GATE exam questions may not be tough, however, the huge curriculum causes struggle in students and makes this test difficult. Nearly 10,00,000 applicants take the GRE every year in February.

Test duration & Format: 3 hours, MCQ (total 65 questions, of which 10 are general aptitude questions, and the remaining 55 are technical-related, based on the candidate’s chosen paper)

Application fee: INR 1800 for General Candidates; INR 100 for Female/SC/ST/PwD candidates.

Number of Candidates: almost 10 lakh

Difficulty level: high

Pass Percentage: 18%

Competiton level: High

Scope and Coverage: India, Singapore and Germany. Technical related subjects like Aerospace Engineering, Information Technology, Chemical Engineering and Computer Science.

9. All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam

Oxford University’s All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam is a historic test conducted every autumn for decades. This challenging test is renowned among the world’s most difficult trials list. Oxford University conducts this exam to grant a 7-year fellowship. Every year, out of 80 candidates, only one or two are chosen. Applicants must submit four essays on any topic, from various Humanity areas. The maximum time limit for each essay is 3 hours. Due to the abstract nature of the questions, preparation for the exam is extremely difficult. Only students with strong humanities background can take part in the exam.

The questions are tough to answer as they are subjective and lack obvious acceptable or incorrect responses (for example, Is Edward Snowden a hero or a villain?). It aims to discover students with exceptional skills in debate and analysis that aid in assisting the college in electing new examination or prize fellows. The other qualities include knowledge breadth, independence of judgement and thinking, clarity and carefulness of explanation, and exposure to unresolved issues. Applicants who pass this challenging test are called for viva, which involves an oral explanation of their answers.

Test duration & Format: 3 hours for 4 papers each

Number of Candidates: 80

Difficulty level: high

Pass Percentage: 2.5 %

Competiton level: High

Scope and Coverage: English Literature, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Candidates can choose any topic to write their two specialised papers

10. Exam for the Master Sommelier Diploma

The Master Sommelier Diploma Exam is held by the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) to work on increased levels of beverage services provided by sommeliers, primarily in wine and food matching. This rigorous examination is designed to promote higher standards of knowledge and service in the entire hospitality industry like hotels, restaurants, homestays, etc. The success rate of this exam is only 10% on average even after several reattempts and retakes. 

The three main levels of this test are Theory, Service, and blind tasting. In the final phase, applicants must guess the year, date, and area where the wine was made. This task makes this exam the most difficult wine test in the world. Experts would need at least three attempts, whereas regular applicants may pass this wine-tasting exam on their 5th or 6th attempt. At first,  Students must clear the first level of the test (Theory), and then within three years, they can complete the other two test levels (Practical Restaurant Wine Service and Salesmanship; and Practical Tasting). For instance, if students clear one or two levels this year, then the failed test level(s) can be retaken within 2 years. If failed to crack within 3 years, then they must retake the entire test (all 3 parts). So far only 269 people have passed since it started in the UK in 1969. The upcoming Master Sommelier Diploma exam 2025 in India is scheduled for March 2 to 4, in Mumbai.

Test duration & Format: 50 minutes

Application fee for Paper 1: $1059

Application fee for Paper 2 & 3: $999 & $1899 USD

Number of Candidates: 70

Difficulty level: high

Pass Percentage: 5-10%

Competiton level: High

Scope and Coverage: conducted yearly once in the UK and twice per year in the US.

Hence, the above-mentioned are the top 10 toughest exams in the world. There are many other most difficult exams such as the California Bar Exam in the USA, Indian Engineering Services (IES), NEET, Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT), JLPT (Japan Language Proficiency Test), and IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The country with the hardest exam is China as it is home to the world’s no.1 toughest exam Gaokao while India has 3 of the world’s top 10 toughest exams.

A Quick Glance of exams that are Toughest in the World 2025

Below are consolidated toughest exams in world for our readers.

Toughest Exams in the World 2025
Rank	Exam Name	Conducting body/ Country	Difficulty Level	Exam duration	Exam purpose
1	Gaokao exam	People's Republic of China	Very high	2 days	College Entrance Exam
2	IIT-JEE or JEE Advanced exam	IITs from India	Very high	3 hours	IITs Undergraduate admission
3	UPSC/ CSE	Union Public Service Commission, India	Very high	2-3 hours	Recruitment to administrative posts
4	Mensa International	International General Council, Worldwide	Very high	-	join in top 2% intelligence society
5	GRE	ETS / accepted Worldwide	High	3 hours 45 minutes	Admission to MS, MBA courses abroad
6	CFA (Charted Financial Analyst)	Charted Financial Institute/ Worldwide	High	Varies	Designation for investment professionals
7	CCIE	Cisco, USA	High	2 hours	Networking professionals technical certification
8	GATE	IISC & IITs, India	High	3 hours	Admission to postgraduate studies in IITs, IISC, NITs
9	All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam	Oxford University, UK	High	Varies	to get seven-year fellowship at Oxford University
10	Master Sommelier Diploma Exam	The court of Master Sommeliers, USA	High	Varies	Certified Sommelier

How to Pass a Difficult Exam?

If you intend to attempt the most difficult exam, here we have compiled a list of things to be considered while preparing. To pass a difficult exam, go through the exam preparation tips given below and customize them based on your exam type and what works best for you. 

• Create your study space: Before you start preparing, make sure you have a proper study space to concentrate and study properly without any distractions. You can pick a room with proper lighting and airflow that helps you stay motivated and positive throughout your exam preparation.
• Avoid Distractions: Since tough exams need a lot of focus and concentration, you must avoid distractions like video games, weekend trips, social media, and movies/TV series.
• Know the Exam Format: Before making a study plan familiarize yourself with the exam pattern. Understand the type of questions asked, number of sections, test duration, resources available, and other related information.
• Prepare a Time Table: Time constraints add to the difficulty of the exam. It is always best to draft a timetable for your preparation. This can help you stick according to the plan, and track the portion you covered and yet to cover.
• Prepare a realistic study plan: While creating a study plan make sure it is simple and performable. Avoid extravagant plans that lead to total burnout or disappointment.
• Practice Note Making: Always note important points or take notes. This helps you in your revision process.
• Use Maps, Flow Charts, and Diagrams: While studying a topic or making notes try framing maps or flow charts to understand the concept easily. This will help you remember the points later as well.
• Attempt Mock tests and old Question Papers: Attempting previous year’s question papers will help you understand the test pattern and question types. Try solving as many mock tests, and sample papers as possible.
• Remember to Take Breaks: Balancing your daily routine and study plan is important in your exam preparation. Don’t burn yourself out with sleepless nights or by studying continuously for hours. Take short breaks, stay hydrated, grab some snacks, and restore your concentration.
• Start your revisions early: Allocate time for revisions after completing your exam preparation. Refer to the entire syllabus, study notes, and flow charts you prepared to remember the crucial points. 

Whether you are a student or a working professional, taking exams can be tough. Hence by drafting your study plans in this way, you can pass the most difficult exam. But remember constant practice is the key to success in any exam. Especially, for students who aspire to study abroad, taking numerous exams is essential in your journey. you'll need to take some of the toughest exams in the world like the GRE, IELTS, etc. Use your study time to build good learning habits. If you're stressed about exams, reach out to Kanan’s study abroad consultants for help in making the right choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the top 5 toughest exams in the world?

Gaokao Exam, IIT-JEE, UPSC, Mensa and GRE are the top 5 toughest exams in the world. These exams are renowned for their difficulty, rigour and limited success rate.

2. Which is the hardest exam in the world?

The Gaokao exam is considered as the toughest exam in the world. It’s a national-level exam organised by China for its undergraduate admissions. The Gaokao is well known for its level of difficulty, comprehensive coverage, and extreme competition.

3. Is NEET the toughest exam in India?

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET is considered as one of the toughest exams in India. It is formerly the All India Pre- Medical entrance test conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for students to get admission to Indian medical colleges.

4. Which exam can I take to get into medical school in the US?

To get into US Medical school, You must clear the USMLE (The United States Medical Licensing Examination). It is a standard test for medical licensure in the USA. The National Board of Medical Examiners and The Federation of State Medical Boards administer the test.

5. Which countries have the hardest exams?

The USA, UK, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Singapore have the hardest exams.

6. What are the toughest medical exams in the world?

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), held in the USA, is the toughest medical examination in the world. It is a three-step examination for medical licensure in the United States, regarded as one of the most challenging medical exams.

7. Which is the most difficult exam in the world? 

According to the popular belief, the Gaokao Exam in the China is by far the most difficult exam in the world due to immense competition, extensive syllabus, lengthy exam duration, strict timeline and low pass rate.

8. Which is the toughest exam in India?

The Civil Services Exam (CSE) or IAS Exam, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is considered as the toughest exam in India due to its vast syllabus, subjective nature, and need for in-depth knowledge across diverse subjects, including current affairs. Indian aspirants undergo a lot of pressure to crack this exam.

9. Which is the most toughest exam in world?

Gaokao exam of China which is conducted for 2 days holds the title world toughest exam followed by IIT JEE Advanced, Civil Services Exam (CSE), GATE and GRE.