The Hardest Test in the World May Get You Buzzed

Considered by many to be the hardest exam in the world, this rigorous exam for wine experts has one of the lowest pass rates globally: Only about 3 to 8 percent of candidates succeed.

The exam consists of three parts: theory, service, and blind tasting. Candidates must identify grape variety, region and vintage by taste alone.

Most students study for years, and many never pass. The test is as much about palate precision as it is about poise under pressure.

This exam determines a student’s entire academic future in China. The Gaokao lasts up to nine hours—spread over two to three days—and covers subjects from mathematics and Chinese literature to foreign language and science.

With millions of test takers and sky-high pressure, it's often cited as one of the world's toughest exams. Students start preparing years in advance, knowing that their test scores determine admission to top universities.

Finance professionals aiming for the CFA designation face a notoriously difficult exam. Administered by the CFA Institute, the test covers portfolio management, financial analysis, and investment tools across three levels.

Each level’s pass rate is relatively low: roughly 40 percent for Level I, 45 percent for Level II, and just over 50 percent for Level III.

The entire program takes an average of four years to complete. It's often called the gold standard for investment professionals.

This exam selects candidates for prestigious roles like the Indian Foreign Service and Indian Police Service. It includes a preliminary exam, main exam and personality test.

With more than a million applicants annually and a success rate under 1 percent, it's one of the toughest exams in the world. The questions demand deep knowledge, critical thinking, and awareness of current affairs.

Known as one of the most difficult exams in the U.S., the California Bar Exam tests future lawyers on state and federal law.

The exam is administered over two days and includes five one-hour essay questions, one 90-minute Performance Test, and the 200-question Multistate Bar Examination.

It lasts two days and has a notoriously low pass rate. For most students, it's the final (and most punishing) step before practicing law.

Medical graduates aiming to practice in the U.S. must pass this three-step test. It covers clinical knowledge, clinical skills, and basic concepts needed for medical practice.

The exam duration stretches over multiple days and evaluates whether a candidate is ready for patient care. It's a benchmark for medical licensing exams worldwide.

The JEE Advanced is a grueling test of physics, chemistry and mathematics. It's the gateway to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), among the world’s top engineering schools.

Only the top performers from the JEE Main qualify. With complex problems requiring deep conceptual understanding, it’s widely regarded as India’s hardest exam.

Used for postgraduate studies and study abroad, the GRE tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing.

While it’s standardized, the level of critical thinking required makes it a difficult exam for many. International students often face the extra challenge of competing in a second language.

To join Mensa, the "high IQ" society, applicants must score in the top 2 percent of the population on an approved intelligence test. The questions are designed to assess logic, pattern recognition and problem-solving abilities.

There's no curriculum to study—just raw brainpower. It's a unique but demanding test for those seeking intellectual validation.

This legendary written exam, open to top Oxford undergraduates, is administered by All Souls College. It tests critical analysis, general knowledge and argumentative writing.

One infamous question: "Does the moral character of an orgy change when the participants wear Nazi uniforms?"

It’s not just the hardest exam at Oxford; it's quite possibly the hardest test in the world. Prize fellows receive seven-year fellowships to pursue academic research.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.