India's IIT JEE and UPSC Among World's Toughest Exams

IIT JEE: The Toughest Exam in India

IIT JEE is recognized as the most challenging examination in India: A recent report has highlighted the difficulty of passing exams in India, confirming the perception that these assessments are indeed tough. The online education platform 'Erudera' has compiled a list of the world's most difficult entrance exams, featuring three from India, including JEE Advanced for IIT admissions and the UPSC Civil Services Exam.

Ranking of JEE Advanced and UPSC: Let's explore where JEE Advanced and UPSC rank on this global list of challenging entrance exams and the reasons for their inclusion.

Challenges of JEE Advanced:

According to Erudera's findings, JEE Advanced is not only the hardest exam in India but also ranks as the second most difficult globally. This is primarily due to its low acceptance rate; over 1.2 million candidates compete for approximately 11,000 available seats in IITs, resulting in an admission rate of just about 1%.

The report indicates that students typically dedicate around two years to prepare for this exam, contributing to its increasing difficulty each year. On average, around 32,000 individuals search for information about JEE Advanced monthly.

UPSC: The Second Most Challenging Exam:

Following JEE Advanced, the UPSC Civil Services Exam ranks third on the list, making it the second most difficult exam in India. The low success rate is a significant factor in its ranking.

Approximately 500,000 candidates take the preliminary stage of the UPSC exam, yet fewer than 1,000 positions are available, leading to a passing rate of only 0.1% to 0.4%. Preparation for this exam typically requires at least a year, and candidates must also pass an interview that assesses their intelligence and analytical skills. Monthly, around 67,000 people search for UPSC-related information online.

GATE: Another Challenging Exam:

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is recognized as India's third most difficult exam, ranking eighth globally. Candidates usually spend about six months preparing for GATE, with 800,000 to 1 million students attempting the exam each year, and a pass rate of 16% to 18%.

Global Ranking of Exams:

The most challenging exam worldwide is China's 'Gaokao', which spans nine hours and sees participation from 12 million students annually. Following Gaokao, England's Mensa exam ranks fourth, with other notable mentions including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), and the California Bar Exam.