India Sarkari Naukri
Apr 25
Top 10 Most Difficult Exams in India: Expert Tips on Passing Them
Date / Time of Post: 25/04/2024 | 04:00 PM
Top 10 Most Difficult Exams in India: To succeed in today's competitive world, competence is paramount. Competition permeates every field. In this era of competition, regardless of your profession, continual self-improvement is essential. Only then can you thrive in this highly competitive world and carve a path to success not only for yourself but also for your profession. To achieve success in life, we must surpass milestones, and to surpass those milestones, we must remain steadfast in our goals. This applies to certain competitive professions as well. To qualify for a specific career, we must excel in entrance exams. Competitive exams are organized to assess our abilities, whether we are suited for a particular profession or not.
In this blog, we will discuss Top 10 Most Difficult Exams in India. Due to increasing competition, clearing entrance exams becomes challenging. It may seem daunting, but once you pass the exam with good scores, nearly half the battle is won.
India offers various career paths through many difficult exams. Several top universities, schools, and professional institutions utilize these exams to find the best candidates. By analyzing their competitive exams, they seek individuals who are perfectly suitable for professional competence. Let's now turn our attention to India's most challenging exam.
1. UPSC- (Union Public Service Commission)
You must have heard about UPSC (Union Public Service Commission), which is known for conducting some of the most challenging examinations in India. The UPSC Civil Services Examination is a symbol of excellence, selecting candidates for the most prestigious administrative posts within the Central Government of India. It requires a high level of seriousness, dedication, unwavering determination and hard work to be successful in UPSC which is a four-tier examination which includes Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, Personality Test and Interview. The exam covers various services including IAS, IFS and IPS.
Full Name |
Union Public Service Commission |
Conducted by |
Union Public Service Commission, Government of India |
Pre Exam Date |
16 Jun 2024 |
Mains Exam Date |
20 September 2024 |
Medium of Exam |
English and Hindi |
Types of Questions |
Objective type questions; Main Exam: Descriptive type questions |
Here are some challenging aspects you should be aware of:-
Annual Candidates: Approximately 8 to 10 lakh candidates appear for the exam each year.
Passing Probability: The probability of passing ranges from 0.1% to 0.3%.
Syllabus: Encompasses a wide range of subjects covering all domains such as General Studies, Life Sciences, Economics, Current Affairs, etc.
Exam Levels: Preliminary, Main, and Interview.
For those aspiring for prestigious administrative roles, the UPSC examination is the ultimate gateway. Are you ready to take on the challenge?
2. JEE (Joint Entrance Examination)
JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) is one of the standardized national-level examinations conducted to select students from the science stream of the 12th grade who aspire to build their careers in engineering. This examination is divided into two levels: JEE Main and JEE Advanced. To gain admission to the top IIT (Indian Institutes of Technology) institutions, you need to excel in both groups. Many engineering colleges, including IITs, accept JEE scores.
JEE is considered one of the toughest exams due to its extensive curriculum and application-based questions for competition. Another factor that makes the exam challenging is the competition among peers, as approximately 15 lakh candidates appear for JEE every year, with only 5 lakh students securing seats in IITs.
Full Name |
Joint Entrance Examination |
Conducted by |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
JEE Main Exam Date |
January 24, 27, 29, 30, 31, and February 1
Second Session: April 4 to April 15 |
Official Website |
jeemain.nta.nic.in |
Exam Level |
All India Level |
3. NEET-UG - National Eligibility Entrance Test
This examination is also a centralized national entrance test for students aspiring to pursue a medical career. Many students take the exam, and due to increasing competition, passing NEET with respectable scores has become challenging. However, those students aspiring to become doctors and possessing the necessary qualifications take the exam. Additionally, it includes students who will be selected for prestigious national institutions of the country (like AIIMS and AFMC), making passing the exam even more difficult.
Full Name |
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test |
Conducted by |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
NEET 2024 Exam Date |
February 9 - March 9, 2024, May 5, 2024, June 14, 2024 |
Official Website |
neet.nta.nic.in |
Qualification of Exam |
12th grade or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, |
Exam Level |
All India Level |
4. GATE – Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is a nationally standardized examination considered one of the toughest in the country. When it comes to students specializing in engineering and science, GATE is a name that needs no introduction. Regarded as one of the premier examinations in India, it offers various benefits.
Full Name |
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering |
Conducted by |
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) |
GATE 2024 Exam Date |
January 4, 2024, February 3, 4, 10, 11, 2024 |
Official Website |
gate.iitkgp.ac.in |
Qualification |
Graduation in Science or Engineering |
5. CAT (Common Admission Test)
CAT (Common Admission Test) is considered one of India's toughest examinations. Many CAT aspirants make multiple attempts to gain admission to top IIM (Indian Institutes of Management) institutes. This exam is conducted once a year, usually at the end of November. After passing this exam, students with the highest percentiles are invited by IIMs for interviews and group discussions. Upon completing this exam, students are selected for admission.
6. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is one of the toughest examinations in India for students aspiring to build a career in law. This national-level exam is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs. When appearing for this exam, it's essential to have knowledge about current economic and legal affairs. Questions primarily revolve around legal issues along with current affairs.
Full Name |
Common Law Admission Test |
Conducted by |
National Law University |
CLAT 2024 Exam Date |
December 3, 2024 |
Official Website |
https://consortiumofn |
Type Of Exam |
Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) |
Qualification of Exam |
UG: Minimum 45% marks in Class 12th
PG: Minimum 50% marks in a 3-year LLB program |
Exam Level |
All India Level |
7. NDA (National Defence Academy)
The National Defence Academy (NDA) examination is a prestigious test that selects candidates for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. It is conducted twice a year to choose the most courageous and honest candidates for the country's most esteemed defence institutions. The technical entrance process for NDA requires candidates to appear for the Joint Entrance Examination (Main).
Full Name |
National Defence Academy |
Conducted by |
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
UPSC NDA 2024 Exam Date |
April 21, 2024 |
Official Website |
https://nda.nic.in/ |
Qualification |
Candidates need to meet the national-level criteria. |
8. SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission)
SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level) is considered one of the largest examinations in the country for graduate students. To apply for the exam, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria specified by the Staff Selection Commission. Applicants must be over 18 years old but not more than 32 years old. Upon successfully passing the exam with good scores, students are presented with numerous job opportunities. Depending on their work experience, they can advance their careers in various departments or ministries.
9. CA (Chartered Accountant)
Becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA) is a professional course that is regarded as one of India's toughest examinations. If you aspire to become a CA, you should seek admission under the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). The CA examination consists of three levels:
CA Foundation Examination
CA Intermediate Examination
CA Final Examination
After completing the 12th grade, students primarily appear for the CA Foundation. Some individuals prefer to pursue CA after graduation. If you plan to pursue CA after graduation, there's no need to go for the CA Foundation. You can directly register for the CA Intermediate Examination. Apart from the CA examination, you must complete a 3-year Articleship Training to become a certified CA member.
Full Name |
Chartered Accountant |
Conducted by |
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India |
UPSC NDA 2024 Exam Date |
Notified Soon |
Official Website |
icaiexam.icai.org |
Qualification |
Minimum 60% in 12th grade |
10. ACET (Actuarial Common Entrance Test )
Have you heard about Actuarial Science? Actuarial Science studies how statistical, mathematical, and analytical skills are applied to commercial and business challenges. To enter this field, you'll first need to take the university-level ACET entrance exam.
The Actuarial Common Entrance Test (ACET) is a competitive entrance exam for students aspiring to build a career in Actuarial Science. Upon successfully passing this exam, you can gain admission to top institutes under the Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI).
Top 10 Toughest Exams in India: Ways to Crack Them
Know the Test: Understand how the exam is structured and what topics it covers.
Make a Plan: Create a schedule that gives you enough time to study each subject.
Practice Regularly: Solve old exam papers and practice questions to get used to the test format.
Work on Weak Spots: Focus more on subjects or topics where you're not so strong.
Keep at It: Study regularly and don't give up. Consistency is important.
Use Good Study Tricks: Find ways to study that work for you, like making summaries or flashcards.
Stay Healthy: Get enough sleep, eat well, and take breaks to keep your mind sharp.
Stay Positive: Believe in yourself and stay motivated. Reward yourself for progress.
Stay Updated: Keep an eye on any changes to the exam and stay informed.
Manage Your Time: Practice doing the exam within the time limit to make sure you can finish.
In conclusion,
These exams are important steps toward various career paths. Understanding the exam format and preparing consistently are key. Manage your time wisely during the exam, and remember to stay confident. Each exam presents its challenges, but with dedication and practice, success is within reach.