Headline

10 Most Difficult Exams In The World In 2025

Published

5 months ago

February 1, 2025

Exams asses what we know and how hard we work. But some exams are much harder than others. These tough tests need not just knowledge but also a lot of effort and mental strength. Passing them often takes years of study, determination, and sometimes many tries.

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.

In this article, we’ll explore the 10 hardest exams in the world that only the toughest can pass.

10. Master Sommelier Diploma Exam

The Master Sommelier Diploma Exam is run by the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS). It focuses on improving beverage services, especially wine and food pairing. The exam is very difficult, with a pass rate of only 10%, even after multiple attempts.

There are three levels in the exam: theory, service, and blind tasting. In the final level, candidates must identify the year, region, and type of wine. This makes it the hardest wine exam in the world. Most candidates need at least three tries, and some take five or six attempts. Candidates must pass the theory level first and then complete the other two levels within three years. If they fail, they must retake it within two years. If they don’t pass all levels within three years, they must retake the entire exam. Since 1969, only 269 people have passed.

The exam lasts 50 minutes. Around 70 candidates take the exam each year, with a 5-10% pass rate. The exam is held once a year in the UK and twice a year in the US.

9. All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam

The All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam is held every year by Oxford University. The exam offers a 7-year fellowship, with only one or two people chosen from about 80 each year. Applicants must write four essays on topics from humanities subjects, with 3 hours for each essay. The questions are abstract and hard to prepare for. Only people with a strong background in humanities can apply.

The questions are subjective and have no clear right or wrong answers, like “Is Edward Snowden a hero or a villain?”. The exam looks for students with strong debate, analysis, and judgement skills. Candidates must also show clear thinking, independence, and broad knowledge. Those who pass the written exam are invited for a viva, where they explain their answers orally.

The exam lasts 3 hours for each of the 4 papers. About 80 people take the test each year, with a pass rate of only 2.5%. The competition is tough. The exam covers subjects like English literature, philosophy, politics, and economics. Candidates can choose any topic for their specialised papers.

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

The GATE exam is an online test in India that checks students’ knowledge of engineering and technical skills. It is very competitive and tough, so long study hours are needed to pass. Many students take GATE every year to get into master’s and Ph.D. programs at top institutes like IITs, NITs, IIITs, IISc, and IIMs. Public sector companies like Indian Oil and GAIL also use GATE scores to hire people. Some universities in Germany and Singapore give scholarships based on GATE scores.

The exam has 65 questions: 10 on general aptitude and 55 on the candidate’s chosen subject. It lasts 3 hours and includes both multiple-choice and numerical questions. The questions are not too hard, but the large syllabus makes the exam tough. The pass rate is 18%, and the competition is high. The exam is recognised in India, Singapore, and Germany and covers subjects like aerospace engineering, IT, chemical engineering, and computer science.

7. CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert)

The CCIE exam, run by Cisco, is for networking professionals who need to prove their skills in building, maintaining, and troubleshooting complex networks. Only Cisco engineers can take the test, and the low success rate makes it very hard to pass.

The exam has six sections, covering topics like routing, collaboration, and security. It has two stages. Candidates who pass the first stage can move on to the second, which lasts 8 hours with a 1% pass rate. To succeed, candidates need deep knowledge of networking and 7 to 10 years of experience.

The exam includes a 2-hour written test and six other tests. Around 63,000 people take it each year, with a pass rate of 30%. The exam covers topics like Network Infrastructure, Software Defined Infrastructure, and Infrastructure Services.

6. CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)

The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exam is one of the hardest exams in finance. Every year, over 100,000 people from about 100 countries take the CFA exam. The CFA designation is one of the most respected in finance and investment management. The exam tests candidates on important finance tools and practices. To get the CFA Charter, candidates must pass three levels: CFA Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Each level has a tough 6-hour exam with 240 questions. Candidates also need 48 months of work experience. The first two levels have multiple-choice questions, and the third level has essay-style questions. On average, it takes four attempts to pass all three levels. After passing the exams, candidates need four years of work experience to become a CFA Charterholder.

5. GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination), run by ETS, is one of the hardest exams in the world. It tests if someone is ready to pursue a master’s degree abroad, mainly in the USA. For example, a good GRE score is necessary to get into top universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The GRE is for those who want to study abroad, especially for master’s, MBA, and PhD programs.

Although the GRE was first created for US universities, it is now accepted in more than 90 countries. It is more complex than other exams because of its detailed syllabus. The test measures skills in verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, quantitative ability, critical thinking, and analytical writing. Many people prepare hard for this test for different reasons, like studying or moving abroad, making it tough to pass. Therefore, strong preparation is needed.

The GRE General Test can be taken once every 21 days, up to five times a year. The test lasts 3 hours and 45 minutes, and the pass rate is 43%.

4. Mensa

Mensa International (MI) is a global group for people with very high IQs. It is one of the oldest and most respected high-IQ societies. To join, a person must score in the top 2% on an approved IQ test. This means their IQ is higher than 98% of people. Mensa is non-political and does not discriminate based on race or religion. The IQ test for Mensa is very hard. It tests logical thinking, problem-solving, and intelligence.

People of all ages, from 2 to 100 years old, can take the test. If they pass, they can join a community of highly intelligent people worldwide. Mensa has 145,000 members in nearly 100 countries. Some IQ tests for Mensa membership include Stanford-Binet (132 and above) and Cattell (148 and above). The test takes 25 minutes and has 35 hard problems.

The pass rate is only 0.02%, making it one of the hardest IQ tests. Mensa tests are held in about 90 countries, including the US, UK, Ireland, and Germany. Passing the test is a big achievement, as it gives membership to one of the most exclusive high-IQ societies.

3. UPSC CSE

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Civil Services Examination (CSE). It is one of the top five hardest exams in the world. This exam has been held for over 100 years and is highly competitive. Many students prepare for years to pass it. There is a limit on the number of attempts. General category candidates can try six times, while OBC candidates can try nine times. To take this exam, candidates must be between 21 and 32 years old.

The UPSC CSE selects top candidates for civil service jobs like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and Indian Police Service (IPS). Every year, about 500,000 people apply, but only 1,000 get selected.

The exam has three stages: Prelims, Mains, and an Interview. The prelims is held in March and has two objective-type papers. The Mains, held in December, has seven descriptive papers. Candidates who pass these two stages are invited for an interview, where a panel tests their knowledge, personality, and logical thinking. This exam is extremely difficult, with a pass rate of just 0.2%. In 2023, about 1.3 million candidates applied, but only 14,624 moved to the next round.

The exam lasts three hours and includes multiple-choice and descriptive papers on General Studies (Paper 1 & 2—CSAT). The UPSC CSE is held once a year across India. Passing this exam gives candidates the chance to work in top government positions in India.

2. IIT-JEE

The IIT-JEE (Joint Entrance Examination Advanced) is the second toughest exam in the world and the most difficult exam in India. It is a national-level test and the only way to enter the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Students who pass this exam may get the Siemens Scholarship, which helps them pay for their engineering degree. The JEE exam has two levels: JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Students must first pass JEE Main before they can take JEE Advanced. The JEE Main exam happens twice a year, in January and April, while the JEE Advanced exam happens once a year and is conducted by seven IITs.

This exam is very competitive, as many students try for a few available seats. In 2023, 251,673 students took the exam, but only 26.17% passed. The test lasts for three hours and has 90 questions, each worth four marks. It includes Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.

1. Gaokao Exam

The Gaokao, or National College Entrance Exam (NCEE), is a very difficult test in China. It was introduced in 1952 and is the main exam for students who want to enter Chinese universities. The exam has tough questions in subjects like math, chemistry, biology, physics, geography, Chinese literature, and political science. It takes place once a year, usually in early June, and lasts about nine hours over two days. The schedule may be different in each province.

Most students take the Gaokao in their last year of high school, around age 18. However, preparation for this test starts early and often takes 12 years of hard work. The exam is very competitive, with a low passing rate of less than 0.25%. Each province has its own scoring system, so the passing score is different in each region and year. The pressure to do well is very high. Many students experience stress, anxiety, and other mental health problems because of this exam.
(VANGUARD)

Headline

PHOTOS: 796 Babies Feared Buried In Septic Tank At Catholic-run Home For Unwed Mothers

Published

11 hours ago

June 18, 2025

Editor

Irish authorities have commenced excavation at a site in Tuam, County Galway, believed to contain the remains of nearly 800 infants who died at a Catholic-run institution for unmarried mothers.

According to Sky News on Tuesday, the site, formerly home to the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home, was operated by an order of Catholic nuns between 1925 and 1961. The facility catered to unmarried pregnant women, many of whom were victims of rape or sexual abuse and were forced to give up their babies after delivery.

A general view of the remembrance garden on the former site of the Bon Secours Mother and Baby home can be seen on June 15, 2025 in Tuam, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Local historian, Catherine Corless, who brought the case to national attention in 2014, discovered death certificates for 798 children but found burial records for only one.

Her investigation sparked widespread outrage and prompted a government inquiry into Ireland’s system of institutional care for women and children.

Preliminary findings showed that the remains of many of the children, some as young as 35 weeks in the womb, were dumped in what used to be a septic tank on the premises, an area now surrounded by a modern apartment complex.

Corless told Sky News that the structure, referred to as “the pit,” may hold the remains of 796 infants, most of whom were never given a proper burial.

The excavation, which began this week, is part of efforts to identify the remains and accord them dignified reburials. The process is expected to last up to two years.

“I don’t care if it’s a thimbleful, as they tell m

“There wouldn’t be much remains left; at six months old, it’s mainly cartilage more than bone,” Annette McKay, whose sister is believed to be one of the 798 victims, told Sky News.

Annette McKay, whose sister is believed to be among the deceased, recalled how her mother, Margaret O’Connor, was informed about her baby’s death.

Her mother, Margaret “Maggie” O’Connor gave birth to a baby, Mary Margaret, at the home after she was r@ped at the age of 17.

The girl died six months later, and her mother only found out when a nun told her.

“She was pegging washing out and a nun came up behind her and said ‘the child of your sin is dead,’” said Annette, who now lives in the UK.

The Bon Secours facility was part of a broader system of state-sanctioned institutions across Ireland where pregnant women were confined, forced into unpaid labour, and separated from their children. Women who became pregnant again were often sent to Magdalene Laundries, infamous religious-run institutions for “fallen women.”

Originally, the term “fallen women” was applied mostly to sex workers, but the Magdalene laundries later started taking in “seduced” women, victims of rape and incest, and female orphans or children abandoned or abused by their families.

The last of the Magdalene laundries only closed their doors in the 1990s.

A 2021 state inquiry revealed that about 9,000 children died in 18 similar homes, mainly from preventable illnesses such as gastroenteritis and respiratory infections.

In 2014, the Irish government issued a formal apology to survivors. In 2022, it launched a compensation scheme, which has so far paid out over $32m to more than 800 individuals.

Headline

Princess Of Wales, Catherine Pulls Out Of Royal Ascot Race Meeting

Published

11 hours ago

June 18, 2025

Editor

Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is recovering from cancer, has pulled out of attending the Royal Ascot race meeting, her Kensington Palace office said on Wednesday.

The famed sporting event in Berkshire in southern England is a key event in the royal calendar.

Catherine, also known as Kate, would not be attending Royal Ascot with her husband Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla as she continued to “find the right balance following her battle with cancer” the domestic Press Association news agency added.

The 43-year-old future queen has been making a gradual return to public duties since she announced she was cancer free in September 2024.

In March that year, the mother-of-three revealed she was undergoing a course of “preventative chemotherapy” for an undisclosed cancer.

Kate, who in January revealed she was in remission, was said to be disappointed not to able to attend Royal Ascot, a renowned social and sporting occasion for which the royal family come out in force.

The annual five-day race meeting was said to be the late Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite sporting event.

Royal Ascot begins each day of the week with the Royal Procession, a historic tradition in which the monarch and various accompanying members of the royal family arrive along the track in horse-drawn carriages.

They then watch the racing from the exclusive Royal Enclosure.

The enclosure operates a strict dress code of top hats and morning coats — jackets with a long “tail” — for men and hats and knee-length or longer dresses or skirts for women.

Charles, 76, has also faced his own cancer battle.

The king announced in early 2024 that he too had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer.

He has since returned to public duties, but is still undergoing treatment.

Catherine on Saturday appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the rest of the royal family following Charles’s annual birthday parade.

On Monday she was photographed attending an official royal event at St George’s Chapel on the royal family’s Windsor estate, west of London.

AFP

Headline

Iran TV Urges Deletion Of WhatsApp, Alleges It Shares Data With Israel

Published

12 hours ago

June 18, 2025

Editor

WhatsApp has said it is “concerned” that its services could be blocked in Iran after a state broadcaster urged the public to delete the messaging app, claiming it was sharing data with arch-rival Israel.

State television IRIB appealed to Iranians on Tuesday to delete WhatsApp from their phones, alleging that the app collects users’ personal data, including “last known locations and communications”, and shares them with Israel.

On Wednesday, Israel and Iran exchanged fire for the sixth consecutive day, with Israel stating it had struck a nuclear site near Tehran.

A WhatsApp spokesperson dismissed the IRIB’s claims, saying all messages sent on the app are “end-to-end encrypted”, with only the sender and recipient able to access them.

“We’re concerned these false reports will be used as an excuse to block our services at a time when people need them most,” the spokesperson told AFP.

“We do not track your precise location, we don’t keep logs of who everyone is messaging, and we do not track the personal messages people are sending one another,” they said.

WhatsApp also does not “provide bulk information to any government”.
Israel launched a massive bombing campaign against Iran on Friday, targeting nuclear and military facilities as well as residential areas.

Iran has responded by launching missiles and drones, and early on Wednesday said it had fired hypersonic missiles at Israel.

Tehran announced on Friday that it was placing temporary restrictions on the internet for the duration of the conflict.

Numerous sites and apps have since become at least partially inaccessible.

The authorities appealed to the public on Tuesday to “minimise their use of equipment connected to the internet and to take appropriate precautions” online.

For their own safety, civil servants and their security teams have been banned from using any connected devices, including smartphones, watches, and laptops, during the Israeli air offensive.

In the wake of nationwide protests triggered by the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, Iranian authorities blocked several apps and online services, including WhatsApp.

AFP