Most Hardest Exam in The World in 2026
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A lot of students, professionals, and graduates all over the World prepare and attempt a variety of tough exams to get admission in their desired University and to acquire certifications, licenses, recognition, and so on. Tests such as IIT-JEE Advanced, UPSC (CSE), Gaokao, etc. are amongst the hardest exams in the World and it requires immense dedication and discipline to clear them. Such exams are considered difficult due to the extreme level of competition, academic pressure, and broad syllabus.
Furthermore, this blog presents a list of the toughest exams in the World in 2026 and includes their respective details like conducting body, exam frequency, and others.
Contents
 Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World
Check the following pointers to get information about the list of the top 10 toughest exams in World in 2026:
1. UPSC Civil Services Exam (India)
- Conducted By: Union Public Service Commission
- Exam Level: National
- Exam Frequency: Annually
- Category: Central Government Recruitment for Services like IAS, IFS, IPS, and so on.
- Official Website: gov.in.
The UPSC (CSE) exam, known for its reputation, exposure, and competitive nature, is one of the hardest exams in the World. Its curriculum consists of a variety of subjects and topics including History, Geography, Economics, Current Affairs, General Science, etc. The exam is divided into 3 stages namely; Preliminary, Mains, and a Personality test. Each exam assesses individuals’ skills in a different area.
2. Gaokao (China)
- Conducted By: Ministry of Education of China
- Exam Level: National
- Exam Frequency: Annually
- Category: National University Entrance E
- Official Website: info
Gaokao is a National level entrance exam in China and is known for its rigorous and challenging syllabus. Clearing the exam allows students to get admission in the undergraduate courses at the country’s top Universities and its score determines their academic paths, career prospects, etc. The test is considered to be one of the hardest exams in the World due to its massive competition, social significance, high pressure environment, and impact on students’ careers.
Also Check: Toughest Exams in India
3. California Bar Exam (USA)
- Conducted By: The State Bar of California
- Exam Frequency: Twice a year
- Category: Eligibility to practise law in California.
- Official Website:ca.gov
To practise Law in the state of California, individuals have to clear the California Bar exam which is amongst the hardest exams in the World. It assesses individuals’ knowledge of Legal subjects like Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, etc, along with their reasoning and analytical skills. In addition, the exam consists of three main components including essay questions, performance tests, and MCQs.
4. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Conducted By: CFA Institute
- Exam Level: International
- Exam Frequency: The exam has 3 levels which occur in the below-given frequency every year:
- Level 1: 4 times
- Level 2: 3 times
- Level 3: 2 times
- Category: Professional Credential in Investment Management and Financial Analysis.
- Official Website: org
The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program is a professional certification in the field of Investment Management and Financial Analysis. Offered by the CFA Institute, it is Globally recognised for its value and is considered one of the toughest exams in the World. It covers a wide range of topics and subjects such as, Economics, Equity Investments, Professional Standards, etc.
5. GRE (Global)
- Conducted By: Educational Testing Service (ETS)
- Exam Level: International
- Exam Frequency: The frequency of the test depends on its type, which are given-below:
- General Test: 5 times a year
- Subject Test: 3 times a year
- Category: Standardised Test for Graduate School Admissions
- Official Website: org/gre
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is used to assess students’ preparation for Graduate level programs. The test is of two types, the General & Subject. In addition, the GRE test is amongst the hardest exams in the World due to its vast syllabus, complex questions, and time limitations. This exam is accepted by several Universities at Global level for offering admission in Management and other courses.
6. IIT-JEE Advanced (India)
- Conducted By: Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on a rotational basis.
- Exam Level: National
- Exam Frequency: Annually
- Category: For admission to Undergraduate Engineering programs at IITs.
- Official Website: ac.in.
IIT Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced is one of the hardest exams in the World due to a variety of factors including, challenging format, analytical questions, negative marking schemes, etc. The exam assesses students’ ability to apply theoretical knowledge to solve real-World problems and acts as a gateway for admission in India’s top Institutions including IITs. The exam is computer-based and its syllabus consists of 3 main subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
7. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
- Conducted By: Cisco Systems
- Exam Level: International
- Exam Frequency: Conducted Several times a year
- Category: Networking Certificate for Information Technology
- Official Website: com.
The CCIE test, held by Cisco Systems, is considered one of the hardest exams in the World of Networking and Information Technology due to its intense and practical nature. It is divided into 2 main categories which are a written test and a practical exam. Both the tests analyses’ individuals’ foundational knowledge in areas like Network Architectures, Virtualisation Technologies, Automation & Programming concepts, and many more.
8. United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
- Conducted By: The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
- Exam Level: International
- Exam Frequency: 3 times a year
- Category: Professional Medical Licensing Exam
- Official Website: org
In order to obtain a Medical license to practise medicine in the United States, individuals have to clear the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMILE). The test is divided into 3 parts and is considered one of the hardest exams in the World. The curriculum consists of a variety of subjects such as Anatomy, Pathology, Pharmacology, and so on.
9. Mensa IQ Test
- Conducted By: International Mensa
- Exam Level: International
- Exam Frequency: Conducted Several times a year
- Category: Standardised Intelligence assessment (IQ test)
- Official Website: org
The Mensa IQ Test is conducted to determine whether an individual qualifies for the membership of the Mensa society, which is one of the oldest and most prestigious non-profit International organisations. The test consists of multiple choice questions which evaluate individuals’ cognitive abilities in areas such as spatial awareness, verbal comprehension, and logical reasoning.
10. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
- Conducted By: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and different Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on a rotational basis.
- Exam Level: National
- Exam Frequency: Annually
- Category: For admission in Postgraduate & Direct Doctoral courses in Engineering, Technology, etc. disciplines in IITs and other Institutions.
- Official Website: iitg.ac.in
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an entrance exam which is held in the English language for a duration of 3 hours. Moreover, it is a Computer-based Test which offers admission to the students in PG & Doctorate programs in Engineering, Science, Humanities, etc. disciplines. The strict criteria and low pass rate of this test is one of the reasons why it is among the list of top hardest exams in the World.
Also Check: Common Entrance Exams for Studying Abroad
Conclusion
To conclude, there are a variety of tough exams which students and professionals can opt for in 2026 as per their choice and future goals. Some of the hardest exams in the World include IIT-JEE, GATE, USMLE, CCIE, and the list continues with many others. Additionally, to ace any of the stated exams, it is important for the students and professionals to prepare with extreme discipline, dedication, and choose a strategy which will lead them to secure excellent marks.
