Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World [Updated 2025]

Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World
Table of Contents

Think you have been through rigorous examination? Think again. 

Every country has examinations whose difficulty level will compel candidates to think twice about their capability. 

While studying for these exams, you fail or succeed depending on how brilliant, strong, and determined you are. These tests are generally extremely stressful regardless of whether an academic marathon or a professional certification examination, with pass rates usually less than 1%. 

More candidates, but hardly any of them get successful!

So, are you eager to experience the most profound concepts of an argumentative debate? 

Now, let’s get down to the list of the toughest exams in the world for 2025 and try to learn why these exams are considered to be the ultimate challenge.  

What Factors Make Exams Tough?

Have you ever thought why some exams are considered a mountain to be climbed?

This is usually due to their voluminous syllabi, which contain course content that requires comprehension and learning time. 

In addition, there is an extremely high number of candidates, low pass rates, and cut-throat competition, making it very important to be unique.  

There is mental and physical wear and tear, including the night-studying schedule, immeasurable practice tests, and the daily stress of keeping up. 

The evaluation process is challenging, with questions designed to test one’s ability to think, analyze, and devise solutions.  

There are distinctive differences between an academic, professional, and competitive examination, each with unique hurdles. 

That is why it is such a rewarding experience to meet them and thrash them!  

Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World

Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World

Let us now dive down into the top 10 toughest exams in the world with every detail. 

1. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) – India

The UPSC Civil Services Examination is the toughest exam in India. The exam prepares candidates for the country’s most lucrative public services like IFS, IAS, and IFS.  

More familiarly known as one of the most difficult exams in India and around the globe, its invigilation ascertains the prowess of an individual proficiency, analytical mindset, and character. 

It would only admit the best through the steps, which are prelims, mains, and interviews.

Success Rate: Less than 1%.

Why is it considered tough?

  • Comprehensive Coverage: Covers aspects like history, geography, economics, and international relations, among other areas of study.
  • Stiff Competition: About a million candidates sit examinations and competitions for less than 1000 jobs.
  • Exhaustive Preparation: Requires investment of years of education and a morning newspaper.
  • Intense Interviews: The three activities will help to assess ethical decision-making and leadership skills.

Eligibility

  • Indian citizens with a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
  • The age limit varies by category.

Exam Format

Three stages include the Preliminary (MCQs), Mains (written exam), and Personal Interview.

What are the Post-exam Employment Opportunities? 

  • Bright career in India’s prestigious Civil Services like IAS, IPS, IFS
  • Opportunities in other government positions.

What is the Minimum Score Required to Crack the UPSC Exam?

There is no fixed passing score. Candidates MUST clear the cut-off marks for every stage (Prelims, Mains, Interview), which differ each year.

2. Gaokao – China

Gaokao also stands for China’s National College Entrance Exam, which can change the lives of millions of students. This exam, like any other, rates student performance, and most of the country’s premier universities use its results to determine admission.

There is a lot of pressure to excel due to its societal significance. 

Why is it considered tough?

  • Marathon Format: Known as a two-day, 9-hour test not only of endurance but knowledge.
  • Subject Variety: Mathematics, sciences, and language even extends to philosophy.
  • Unforgiving Scoring: The difference between top positions can be very slim, and even small changes can harm one’s position.
  • High Stakes: Defines future schooling and working experience.

Eligibility

  • High school graduates in China
  • Some agility for international students.

Exam Format

The exam format includes subjective and objective questions covering Chinese, math, foreign languages, and electives.

What are the Post-exam Employment Opportunities? 

  • Admission to top Chinese universities like Tsinghua and Peking University
  • Opportunities in government jobs and corporate sectors

What is the Minimum Score Required to Crack the Gaokao Exam?

Minimum scores for this exam vary by province and university. The top-tier universities typically need 600+ on a scale of 750.

3. IIT-JEE (Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Exam) – India

The IIT-JEE is renowned for the excellence of engineering education nationwide and is India’s toughest exam. JEE Main and JEE Advanced show how they select some of the best brains dreaming of joining IITs. This is particularly so because the examination emphasizes problem-solving, whereas IIT-JEE ranks as one of the most demanding tests in the world.

Success Rate: ~1% for top institutes.

Why is it considered tough?

  • Extremely Low Success Rate – Admission rates as a percentage of candidates are below 1%.
  • Challenging Syllabus – This calls for a great understanding of physics, chemistry, and Mathematics.
  • Problem-Solving Skills – Challenges the analytical,  appropriate, and innovative ability.
  • Strong  Preparation – Accomplishing these goals sometimes requires rigorous effort for years.

Eligibility

  • High school graduates in the science stream with particular percentage criteria
  • Limited attempts are allowed.

Exam Format

The exam format has two levels, i.e., JEE Mains, which includes MCQs, and JEE Advanced, which includes conceptual and application-based questions.

What are the Post-exam Employment Opportunities? 

  • Admission to prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
  • High-paying jobs in engineering, technology, and research field

What is the Minimum Score Required to Crack the IIT-JEE Exam?

For JEE Main: Around 90-100 marks, i.e., General category, to qualify for JEE Advanced. 

For JEE Advanced: Minimum cutoff varies yearly but is typically around 30% of the total score.

Engineering Innovations by IIT Alumni

  • Affordable Insulin Pens  

Creating new, cheaper means for delivering insulin with help from IIT alumnus K. R. Sridhar – a boost to millions of people with diabetes.

  • Hotmail ( Email Revolution )  

Sabeer Bhatia, an IIT alumnus, founded Hotmail. He offered the world its first free web-based email service.

  • Advancements in Using Artificial Intelligence  

Infosys Co-founder Nandan Nilekani, an IIT-Mumbai pass-out, currently oversees India’s Aadhaar project, which employs AI for identification.

  • Low-cost Electric Vehicles  

Working on sustainable innovation, IIT graduates introduced EV technologies to improve their scalability and become available globally.  

4. UPSRLM (Union of Professorial Scientific Research Level Mastery) – Global

UPSRLM is an impressive and competitive flagship examination that assesses the candidate’s hallmark of modern scientific research practices. It is created for those seeking the highest quality scientific education and professional practical work. 

The exam is general since it touches on several interdisciplinary scientific areas that demand mastery and first-hand application of theories and research methods.

Success Rate: 2%-5%

Why is it considered tough?

  • Extensive Syllabus – The UPSRLM exam covers a broad spectrum of questions concerning science in general, both from a theoretical perspective and from the standpoint of applying scientific methodology.
  • Low Pass Rates – This exam is given sparingly, and the pass rate is generally below 30 % because of the amount and type of knowledge one is expected to have.
  • Time-intensive Preparation: Candidates spend hundreds of hours on their preparation, which can span years of research, academic learning, etc.
  • Practical Application: The UPSRLM exam requires students to solve real-life problems using various scientific facts and theories. These are usually difficult to grasp because they require critical thinking.

Eligibility

  • Postgraduate degree in the relevant scientific sector
  • Prior research experience is usually needed

Exam Format

The exam pattern involves written exams and research-based practical assessments.

What are the Post-exam Employment Opportunities? 

  • Invitations to international research conferences, academic leadership roles, and global collaborations in scientific research.

What is the Minimum Score Required to Crack the UPSRLM Exam?

Generally, passing requires a score above 70%. However, this depends on the institution or organization conducting the exam.

5. CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) – Global

The CFA is a rigorous test for which finance professionals worldwide may apply. It is a competitive examination with a voluminous course structure designed to test prospective engineers. 

Holding a CFA certification is a ticket to the best positions in finance.

Success Rate: ~10%-15%

Why is it considered tough?

  • Extensive Study Hours – Only 30% to 40% of a level can be taught without preparation time, and this course requires over 300 hours per level.
  • Low Pass Rates – Less than 50 percent of the time for Level I and II exams.
  • Complex Topics – Requires knowledge of business and finance, economics, and business ethics.
  • Sheer Commitment – All three levels, i.e., Baby I level 2-3 years, Elementary level 3-4 years, and Junior high level 3-4 years.

Eligibility

  • Bachelor’s degree OR equivalent OR
  • Final-year undergraduates
  • Professional work experience is also considered

Exam Format

The exam involves three levels, with MCQs and essay-type questions that test financial analysis and portfolio management.

What are the Post-exam Employment Opportunities? 

Career opportunities in –

  • Investment banking
  • Asset management
  • Financial analysis
  • Senior roles in finance across the world

What is the Minimum Score Required to Crack the CFA Exam?

No fixed passing score is needed. According to the available data, candidates require around 65-70% to pass each level, but this varies with the difficulty level of the exam. 

6. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) – India

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is one of the most popular examinations in India. It assesses the understanding and knowledge of engineering students in different streams. 

It is mostly applicable for admission to postgraduate courses and selecting employees in leading engineering firms. GATE is a competitive examination with a voluminous course structure designed to test prospective engineers.

Success Rate: Around 15%-17%

Why is it considered tough?

  • Comprehensive Syllabus – GATE mostly assesses students in engineering specializations such as Computer Science, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, and Chemical Engineering. 
  • Low Pass Rates—The GATE pass rate is usually low, between 15% and 20% each year, due to the high demand for the examination and its challenging nature.
  • Time-consuming Preparation – Candidates devote several months or years to preparing for GATE exams. 
  • Practical Application — Although conceptual knowledge is checked and emphasized throughout the GATE, there are also MCQs and numerical questions that candidates must quickly solve within a given period.

Eligibility

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, technology, or science
  • Final-year students are also eligible

Exam Format

The exam consists of a single paper with multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and numerical questions to test the student’s technical knowledge and aptitude. 

What are the Post-exam Employment Opportunities? 

  • Admission to the top graduate programs in India
  • Rising demand in public sectors, research roles, and private sector jobs.

What is the Minimum Score Required to Crack the GATE Exam?

The minimum qualifying marks range from 25 to 35 out of 100. They also depend on the subject and category (General, OBC, SC/ST).

7. Mensa  IQ Test – Global 

The Mensa IQ test is a closed test that reveals the capacity of a person’s mind, including problem-solving proponents, vital-thinking proponents, and logical reasons. 

Passing this test is accepted only by the top 2% of the population, allowing one to join Mensa, the largest high-IQ society used to select candidates for admission, a mathematical difficult test widely used to sit the most talented students and workers.

Moreover, for students that start preparing for tough exams, using tools like ai Math solver can help students to simplify and solve complex mathematical problems quickly and accurately. 

Success Rate: Top 2% scorers qualify

Why is it considered tough?

  • Detailed Assessment: The Mensa IQ Test assesses a person’s critical thinking competence, spatial orientation, and creativity. It comprises the parts of word and number skills and spatial ability.
  • Low Pass Rates: Being one of the oldest and most selective intelligent quotient testing services, Mensa only allows participants who perform in the top two percent of worldwide test-takers. 
  • Time-Intensive Preparation: Like most aptitude tests, the Mensa IQ test does not require memorizing fixed facts. However, much of the preparation entails honing reasoning ability, particularly through tackling the sample test and other mind-building activities.
  • Practical Usage: The Mensa IQ test is aimed at established intelligence, particularly the potential for fast decision-making in extreme conditions and emergencies.

Eligibility

Open to all – no specific educational qualifications are required to appear in the exam.

Exam Format

The Mensa IQ test is timed with pattern analysis, logic, and problem-solving questions.

What are the Post-exam Employment Opportunities? 

  • Membership in the Mensa society
  • Opportunities for IQ-based competitions
  • Networking with like-minded intellectuals

What is the Minimum Score Required to Crack the MENSA IQ Exam?

A score in the top 2% of the population (typically an IQ of 130 or higher) is needed for Mensa membership.

8. USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) – USA

The examination, referred to as USMLE, is among the top 5 toughest exams in the world. It is a sequence of tests administered to healthcare students or graduates who plan to practice medicine in the USA. 

Indeed, it is a general test covering all aspects of basic science, clinical competencies, and patient practice.

Success Rate: ~75% pass rate for all steps combined.

Why is it considered tough?

  • Multistage Testing: Passing three tough phases over three or four years.
  • In-depth Knowledge: Challenges comprehension and practical application of medical theory in students.
  • High Stakes: These are crucial in all the residency placements and licensing for personnel in the United States.
  • Lengthy Preparation: This requires significantly more years of education or training and clinical experience.

Eligibility

Medical students or graduates from recognized institutions across the globe.

Exam Format

The exam format involves – 

Three steps: 

Step 1 –  Basic Sciences 

Step 2 – Clinical Knowledge and Skills 

Step 3 – Patient Management

What are the Post-exam Employment Opportunities? 

  • Medical licensure in the U.S.
  • Opportunities for residency programs in different specializations and clinical roles.

What is the Minimum Score Required to Crack the USMLE Exam?

  • Step 1: Minimum score of 196
  • Step 2: Minimum score of 209
  • Step 3: Minimum score of 198

Please note that scores can change slightly over time.

9.  GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test widely used for admissions to graduate schools across the globe. That measures a candidate’s verbal ability, mathematical ability, and writing skills. 

Thus, the GRE is expected to be complex due to the presented subject area and a requirement for various general cognition and academic achievements.

Success Rate: ~50% (for competitive programs) 

Why is it considered tough?

  • Comprehensive Syllabus: The GRE measures the candidate’s ability to reason using words, numbers, and writing, focusing on several subjects.  
  • Competitive Scoring: It takes several attempts to attain a high score for the elite group of programs.  
  • Intensive Preparation: Skills in using certain words, numbers, and methods for writing essays are achieved for several months under examinations.  
  • Real-world Application: The exam focuses on real-life problem-solving using logic and reasoning.  

The GRE is more challenging institutionally due to its wide coverage, the high standards it sets for achievement, and the pressures that candidates must meet.  

Eligibility

  • Bachelor’s degree from a well-known institution
  • No specific field of study is needed

Exam Format

The exam format includes a computer-based test with sections for verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and writing.

What are the Post-exam Employment Opportunities? 

Admission to top graduate programs across the world in fields –

  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Sciences
  • Research and teaching opportunities

What is the Minimum Score Required to Crack the GRE Exam?

No official passing score is available for the exam. Competitive programs often require 310+ (out of 340) in both the Verbal and Quantitative sections.

10. Bar Exam – Global

The Bar Exam is the final step before lawyers are admitted to practice in their jurisdictions or regions/states. It is administered and managed differently in different countries. This examination tests candidates’ legal knowledge, critical thinking, and ethical perspectives. 

This Bar Exam is a great challenge for law graduates because of the low pass rates and strict preparations expected of its takers.  

Success Rate – 40% – 60%

Groundbreaking Cases Won by Bar Exam Top Graduates

  • Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Thurgood Marshall triumphantly won a case that eradicated school segregation and changed the course of civil rights in America.

  • Roe v. Wade (1973)

Sarah Weddington was able to put the legal emphasis on constitutional rights in the Roe v. Wade decision.

  • Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) 

These legalizations were all made possible by the advocacy of Mary Bonauto.

  • Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co. 

Benjamin N. Cardozo’s decision led to a shift in the concern of negligence and foreseeability in tort law.  

Why is it considered tough?

  • Exhaustive Syllabus: The syllabus covers the most difficult topics, including criminal law, contract law, constitutional law, civil procedure, and the procedures of various courts.  
  • Very Low Pass Rates: In many jurisdictions, the pass rate for the Bar exam ranges from 40% to 50%, and it is even lower in others.  
  • Time-taking Preparation: Sometimes, applicants devote a few months to avoid turnovers in a stale study regimen.  
  • Practical Application: Challenges the capacity to dissect legal issues and implement approaches credibly within a limited period.  

Eligibility

  • Law graduates with a degree from well-known institutions
  • Eligibility varies by country or state

Exam Format

The exam format includes a written exam covering procedural and substantive law, and the format changes by jurisdiction.

What are the Post-exam Employment Opportunities? 

  • Legal practice in respective jurisdictions
  • Opportunities to work in famous law firms, government roles, or as a judge.

What is the Minimum Score Required to Crack the BAR Exam?

Passing scores for this exam vary by jurisdiction. Let us say that in the U.S., most states need a score of 260-280 (scaled) on the Uniform Bar Exam. 

What are the Common Preparation Tips for Tough Exams?

So, are you preparing for tough exams? 

So, here are some practical ways to help. Below are some easy-to-implement ways to make the journey more productive and less cumbersome.  

1. Order and Punctuality  

First things first – discipline is your best friend. 

What’s more, would you believe that students who set and follow a study schedule are about 40% more likely to succeed? 

Time management helps you deal with all facets of your work without facing the squeezing worry. 

Divide your day into study sessions, and include a break in between because constant studying is stressful.  

2. Correct Study Methods  

Research has shown that not all available study methods yield the same results. 

Methods of study that involve a lot of memorization do not work the same way as methods involving reasoning. 

Using strategies such as near-distance reading may increase the productivity of modern students’ memory by 90%. 

Include mock tests in the list. They reveal the problem points and familiarize themselves with the test structure. 

Try to make a note in your mind that it is not longer hours into learning that are needed, but wiser hours. 

3. Coping Prevention and Recovery

Science examinations are ordinarily tough, and how one can effectively balance between the tests is quite brilliant. 

A fun fact you probably did not know is that exercising for half an hour can reduce stress levels by a quarter. 

You add this to good sleep and right eating and you will be in a good state to study. 

But do not neglect the issue of stress. Simple breathing exercises or meditation can help calm you down before the exam.  

While success with difficult exams is commonly perceived as hard work, it also requires being smart, focused, and healthy. You’ve got this!  

The Global Effect of Tough Exams

Understand here what can be the global impact of tough exams in detail – 

Building Careers 

While there may be no hard and fast ways to prepare for tough examinations, choosing careers depends on these tests. 

For example, clearing some examinations such as the Bar Exam, Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), or Mensa IQ Test gives you access to the most renowned professions while also allowing you to gain advanced study and work anywhere in the world. 

High-stakes industries opting for 75% percent use certification from difficult exams as one key filter because candidates that undertake them are perceived to be strong and capable. 

Moreover, these examinations reflect the idea of the highest achievements, and most of society respects and admires such people.  

Inspiring Success Stories

Many examples can be listed where people had hard times passing exams but finally got success. 

For example, Satya Nadella, who now leads Microsoft, was once a brilliant student in India who passed competitive engineering tests. 

Similarly, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, not only passed the Bar Exam but encouraged many women to challenge the legal profession. 

According to research, only 3 out of 5 people who managed to pass difficult tests become tutors or motivators of others.  

Difficult tests are not only challenges but resources for understanding and changing the world, transforming people into models and the world itself.  

An Overview of the Top Toughest Exam in the World 

Exam Average Success Rate  Notes
UPSC (India) 0.1% – 0.2% Over 1 million applicants annually. Only ~1,000 are selected.
Gaokao (China) 0.003% to 0.004% Varies as per the region. Top universities have significantly lower acceptance rates.
MENSA IQ Test (Global) ~2% Requires candidates to score in the top 2% of the population.
IIT-JEE (India) 0.5% – 1% Less than 1% of candidates secure admission to IITs.
GATE (India) 15% – 18% Only a small fraction qualifies for top institutions or PSU jobs.
CFA (Global) 40% – 50% (per level) The cumulative pass rate for all three levels is even lower.
USMLE (USA) Step 1: ~95%, 

Step 2:~96%

Pass rates due to extensive preparation. International candidates may have lower rates.
Bar Exam (Global) 40% – 60% Varies by country. First-time test-takers generally perform better.
GMAT (Global) ~50% (for target scores) Success hinges on achieving scores required by top business schools.
GRE (Global) ~50% (for competitive programs) Focuses on achieving scores that meet or exceed program requirements.
LSAT (USA) ~50% (for competitive law schools) Success is calculated by admission to top-tier law schools.
SAT (Global) ~60% (for competitive scores) High scores (1400+) have become a benchmark for top universities.
CPA (USA) 50% – 55% (per section) Candidates must pass all four sections, making the cumulative success rate lower.
CMA (Global) ~50% Demands mastery of advanced management and financial concepts.
ACT (Global) ~60% (for competitive scores) Like the SAT, needing scores for top colleges is considered a success.

Wrapping Up 

Guys, these exams are not just tests of knowledge but of persistence, discipline, and mental stamina!

Whether people are taking exams to enter a prestigious university or to achieve a professional standard, clearing these hurdles speaks volumes about commitment. 

Despite the idea of a hard exterior, they encourage us to come out of our comfort shells and work hard till success is achieved without facing the worst situation possible. So, are you interested in climbing your own Everest?

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are some of the hardest exams that can be taken worldwide?

The hardest tests worldwide are Gaokao (China), IIT-JEE (India and Common for all), CFA (International), Bar Exam (USA), CMA (International), UPSC (India), LSAT (USA), MCAT (USA), and GRE (International and Common for all). These exams are conducted annually and are considered very hard.

  1. What makes this examination among the most difficult in the world?

Gaokao is among the most challenging examinations because it covers all the areas it tests. Its conduct determines a student’s future, as it offers a chance to get into the most prestigious universities in China.

  1. What is the chance of passing the IIT-JEE examination?

IIT-JEE has a success rate of 1- 2% of the courses on offer competition, syllabus, and accuracy in mathematical and scientific problems.

  1. What period lasts for the UPSC Civil Services Exam preparation?

UPSC aspirants normally take a year to two years to prepare, which involves reading more and mastering broad syllabi covering topics such as current events, history, and political science.

  1. What makes the CFA exam so difficult?

The CFA exam is challenging as it includes a wide range of topics and demands candidates to study many financial theories and models. Besides, its passing rate is low regardless of its levels: 1, 2, and 3.

  1. What should one do in order to succeed in the Bar Exam?

Bar exam preparation needs time, often in terms of months, majoring in areas like criminal law, civil procedure, the constitution, and contracts, among other areas. Most students enroll for bar prep courses with the aim of passing in order to fit into the system.

  1. What are the types of LSAT?

The LSAT entails multiple-choice questions, reading comprehension sections, logical sections, and an LSAT writing sample. The LSAT is required of all applicants to law schools in the United States and is recognized as one of the most important admission tests.

  1. Why is the CMA exam considered challenging?

The difficulty level of the CMA exam is comparatively high because, in this case, the candidate has to encompass a vast scope of financial and managerial accounting wherein, besides the indicators of memorizing the essential facts and norms.

  1. What could you do to increase your probability of passing the GRE?

Tips on preparing for the GRE include practicing often, mastering the styles of the questions usually asked, and enrolling in GRE preparation classes. Another point is time management during the exam, too.

  1. What is the MCAT, and why is it considered difficult?

MCAT exam is an entrance examination to medical college in the United States of America. It challenges biology, chemistry, physics, and the ability to evaluate information critically. Its difficulty stems from the number and complexity of the scientific themes addressed.

  1. In which subjects is the IIT-JEE examination conducted?

The IIT-JEE exam covers physics, chemistry, and mathematics; the questions can be solved, and ideas can be applied at very high difficulty levels.

  1. How to prepare for Gaokao?

Peaks’ preparation for Gaokao takes years; during the examinations, students sit for the exams compressed in time. They are tested on Chinese literature, mathematics, one or two foreign languages, and sciences.

  1. Which exam, between the CFA or CMA, is more difficult?

The two are difficult exams, but the CFA is generally regarded as more demanding than the CMA because it covers much more ground, has multiple levels, and expects candidates to know many detailed principles about money.