Toughest Exams in the World List (2025)

Master Sommelier Diploma Exam
All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam
UPSC – Union Public Service Commission
CFA (Chief Financial Analyst)
Mensa
JEE-Advanced
GATE
CCIE
Gaokao
GRE

LNAT or Law National Aptitude Test, conducted by the University of Oxford, is an entrance test for students willing to study Law at the institution.

The Gaokao is considered one of the hardest exams because of the intense academic pressure it places on students. It determines which university a student can attend, and consequently, their future career prospects. The exam spans 2-3 days and covers a range of subjects, including Chinese literature, mathematics, and a foreign language (usually English). The competition is fierce, with millions of students taking the exam every year, and only a fraction can secure a place in top universities. The preparation for the Gaokao often starts years in advance, and students face enormous societal and family pressure.

The IIT-JEE (Indian Institutes of Technology Joint Entrance Examination) is a highly competitive and difficult exam for students who wish to enter India’s prestigious IITs. The exam consists of two stages: JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Students need to have a thorough understanding of physics, chemistry, and mathematics at an advanced level to succeed. The exam is difficult because of the complexity and depth of the questions, which require not just rote memorization but also problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and a strong grasp of concepts. The competition is intense, with hundreds of thousands of students applying for only a limited number of seats.

The UPSC Civil Services Exam is one of the toughest exams in India, and it usually requires 1-2 years of dedicated preparation. The exam consists of three stages: Preliminary, Mains, and the Interview. The syllabus is vast, covering subjects ranging from history and geography to ethics and general studies, and there are multiple papers in each stage. The preparation involves not just academic learning but also developing analytical thinking and a deep understanding of current affairs. Due to the exam’s complexity, aspirants often take coaching, participate in mock tests, and study for long hours. The competition is intense, and the exam requires a high level of perseverance and time management skills.

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam is widely regarded as one of the most challenging professional exams. It is divided into three levels: Level I (focuses on knowledge and comprehension), Level II (focuses on analysis and application), and Level III (focuses on synthesis and decision-making). The exam covers a broad range of topics, including economics, financial reporting, corporate finance, and portfolio management. The sheer breadth and depth of the content require students to have both strong analytical skills and a thorough understanding of finance. Pass rates for each level are low, and candidates often spend months, sometimes years, preparing for the exam.

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized exam used for medical school admissions in the United States. It is challenging because it assesses a wide range of knowledge, including biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology, and requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The exam is long, typically taking around 7.5 hours to complete, and it includes multiple-choice questions, data interpretation, and essay writing. Furthermore, it tests how well students can apply their knowledge in practical, real-world situations, which makes preparation time-consuming and intense. The MCAT is designed to assess the cognitive and analytical abilities necessary for success in medical school.

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is known for its difficulty due to its focus on logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, and reading comprehension. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and an essay, and it tests a student’s ability to think critically, analyze complex scenarios, and read dense legal texts with precision. The logical reasoning section is particularly tough because it presents challenging puzzles and requires quick problem-solving skills. The LSAT is essential for gaining admission to law schools in many countries, and it’s challenging because students must not only demonstrate knowledge but also show that they can handle legal reasoning and critical analysis under time constraints.

The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. It is less difficult than some of the other exams on this list, such as the Gaokao or IIT-JEE, but still requires significant preparation. The SAT includes sections on reading, writing, and mathematics, and it tests students’ ability to reason, think critically, and solve problems. The exam is known for its strict time limits and the need to answer a wide variety of questions quickly and accurately. While not as rigorous as exams like the Gaokao, it is a crucial part of the college application process for many students.

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is used for admissions to graduate programs worldwide. The exam consists of sections on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. It is difficult because it requires both general knowledge and advanced problem-solving skills, particularly in quantitative reasoning. The verbal reasoning section tests vocabulary, reading comprehension, and critical thinking skills, while the quantitative section includes challenging math problems. The GRE is challenging due to its wide-ranging content and the competitive nature of graduate school admissions, requiring candidates to perform well across multiple disciplines.

The ACT (American College Testing) is similar to the SAT but is generally considered more challenging by some students. The ACT has a faster pace, and it includes a science section, which is not part of the SAT. The science section tests students’ ability to interpret data, analyze experiments, and apply scientific concepts. The math section of the ACT is also broader, including some more advanced topics. While the SAT focuses more on reasoning skills, the ACT emphasizes content knowledge and speed, making it a more demanding test for many students.

The Chartered Accountant (CA) exam is one of the most difficult professional exams in fields like accounting, taxation, and auditing. It requires students to have a deep understanding of financial accounting, business law, taxation, and auditing principles. The CA exam is difficult because it is highly technical, and students are expected to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world financial scenarios. The syllabus is extensive, and the exam has both written and practical components, requiring a high level of proficiency in each subject area. Furthermore, the pass rates are typically low, adding to the pressure for students to succeed.

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is an important exam for students applying to MBA programs. It tests skills in verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, integrated reasoning, and analytical writing. The exam is difficult because it requires not only knowledge in business-related subjects but also the ability to think critically and solve complex problems under time pressure. The GMAT’s integrated reasoning section, which tests data analysis and interpretation skills, is particularly challenging because it requires students to process large amounts of information quickly. The exam is designed to assess how well a candidate can handle the kind of complex, real-world business challenges that they will face during an MBA program.

The UMAT (University of Melbourne Admission Test) was designed to test students’ critical thinking, logical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities for entry into medical programs. The UMAT (now replaced by UCAT) is challenging because it assesses cognitive skills that are critical for success in medicine, including pattern recognition, abstract reasoning, and data interpretation. The exam tests students’ ability to make quick decisions and analyze complex information under time pressure. Preparing for the UMAT is difficult because students must be able to think on their feet and apply reasoning to diverse, unfamiliar situations.

Oxford and Cambridge university admissions are highly competitive, and the admission tests are tough because they assess not only academic knowledge but also analytical ability, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking. The tests, such as the LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law), BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test), and others, require students to apply their knowledge ttop 5o unfamiliar problems and scenarios. These tests are challenging because they are designed to select the brightest minds, and the questions are often designed to stretch students’ abilities beyond the typical curriculum.

The top 5 toughest exams in the world are Gaokao, MENSA International, JEE Advanced, CISCO CIE, and CFA.