The world is full of difficult school exams that can be the bane of the life of students. Different exams have different areas of difficulty and require varying levels of preparation and knowledge to ace them.
This article will discuss some of the hardest school exams in the world and the qualities that make them more difficult than an average exam.
1. SAT
The SAT (formerly Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a standardized test used by U. S.
universities to assess the aptitude of an applicant for college or graduate school. It is a multi-subject exam which tests the student’s knowledge on various sections like language, mathematics, essay writing, and research-based reading and writing. The exam checks an applicant’s aptitudes in a range of subjects and assesses the ability to interpret and use information presented.
It is a comprehensive assessment tool used by colleges and universities to measure an applicant’s ability to understand complex situations in a time-limited manner. The SAT consists of two sections: the Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW). The Math section tests the student’s knowledge in problem solving and data interpretation.
There is a critical reading section as well which tests the student’s ability to interpret, compare and analyze the data given. Furthermore, the essay writing portion measures the student’s ability to think and communicate clearly.
Unlike other exams, the SAT does not require previous knowledge in the subject; instead, it tests for the student’s ability to process and use the data given. This makes it one of the hardest school exams in the world.
2. ACT
The ACT (formerly American College Testing program) is another exam used by U. S. universities to measure the aptitude of an applicant for college or graduate school.
It is mainly used to assess the student’s aptitudes in four main subject areas, namely English, Math, Science, and Reading. The English section tests the student’s understanding of English grammar, punctuation, and usage.
The Math section assesses the student’s ability to solve mathematical equations and interpret numerical data. The Science section evaluates the student’s problem-solving ability and understanding of scientific concepts.
Finally, the Reading section tests the student’s comprehension of complex texts. Unlike the SAT, the ACT also evaluates non-academic skills such as measurement, judgment and organization. Moreover, the exam also has an optional writing section which assesses the student’s written communication skills.
The difficulty in the content of the exam and the presence of the optional writing section makes it one of the hardest school exams in the world.
3. Indian Civil Services Exam
The Indian Civil Services Exam (ICS) is one of the toughest exams in the world. It is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to select officers in various departments of the Government of India. The exam is considered one of the most difficult exams in the world as it is conducted annually and requires in-depth understanding of various topics.
The exam consists of three stages: the Preliminary Exam, the Main Exam, and the Personality Test. The Preliminary Exam tests the student’s general knowledge and comprehension on various topics like English, current affairs and general sciences.
The Main Exam is divided into eight papers, which include general studies, Indian language, law, and essay writing. The Personality Test is a personal interview by the UPSC board to assess the suitability of the candidate for public service.
This exam has a very rigorous selection process and tests even the most qualified and well-prepared students in the world. The complexity of the topics covered and the assessment of the candidate’s personal skills make it one of the toughest school exams in the world.
4. Swedish Higher Education Admission Test
The Swedish Higher Education Admission Test (Högskoleprovet) is a national admissions test administered by the Swedish Council for Higher Education. This exam is required for admission to various undergraduate and graduate programs at universities, colleges and other higher education institutions.
It consists of four papers: Mathematics, English, Biology and Chemistry. Each of the papers consists of multiple-choice questions, and the student has to answer all of them correctly to pass the exam. This makes the exam very difficult, as the student has to possess a good knowledge of the subject as well as understand the nuances of multiple-choice questions.
Furthermore, the exam sets a high bar for admission and is one of the toughest school exams in the world.
5. Gaokao
The Gaokao is the national college entrance examination in the People’s Republic of China. It is conducted annually and is one of the toughest school exams in the world.
The exam is divided into two parts: the written and the spoken part. The written part consists of Chinese language, mathematics, English, physics, chemistry and other subjects. The spoken part consists of oral examinations and interviews.
The difficulty of this exam lies in the number of questions that are asked and the amount of knowledge required to answer them correctly. Furthermore, there are very strict regulations for the exam which further makes it one of the toughest school exams in the world.
6.International Baccalaureate Program
The International Baccalaureate Program (IB) is a worldwide educational program aimed at preparing students for higher education. It is an academically rigorous program that has established itself as one of the toughest school exams in the world. It is a two-year diploma program during which the student has to complete a range of examinations in six different subject groups.
The student is required to study for six areas: language, literature, mathematics, sciences, social sciences, and the arts. The final exam is a comprehensive three-hour written exam which covers all the areas of study.
Furthermore, there is a physical education exam, a Theory of Knowledge exam, and a service project that the student has to complete. The combination of these different elements and the level of difficulty of the exam make it one of the toughest school exams in the world.
7. Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
The GMAT (formerly known as Graduate Management Admission Test) is a three-hour test administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). It is widely used by management schools to assess the aptitude of an applicant for business school. The exam consists of four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative and Verbal.
The Analytical Writing Assessment tests the student’s ability to think critically and present a critical argument. The Quantitative and Verbal sections consist of multiple-choice questions on critical reasoning, mathematics and grammar.
The Integrated Reasoning section combines the different types of questions from the other sections. The GMAT is extremely difficult as it tests the student’s aptitude on multiple areas and requires a high level of understanding and preparation.
Furthermore, the exam has a very rigorous selection process which makes it one of the toughest school exams in the world.
8. Matriculation Examination
The Matriculation Examination is an annual examination conducted by several countries’ governments to certify that a student is eligible for enrolling in a university. The subjective nature of the questions and their depth makes this exam one of the toughest school exams in the world. The exam consists of two levels, the elementary (lower) level and the advanced (higher) level.
The Lower level is conducted in the tenth grade and consists of eight papers in eight different subjects. The Higher level is conducted in the twelfth grade and consists of six papers in six different subjects.
The Lower level exam consists of multiple-choice questions that require detailed knowledge of the subject matter. The Higher level exam tests the student’s analytical and critical thinking skills by asking open-ended questions. This makes the Matriculation Examination one of the toughest school exams in the world.
9. Abitur
The Abitur is a German higher education entrance examination. It is required for admission to universities and other higher education institutions in Germany.
The exam consists of written and oral components. The written part consists of multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions. The oral component consists of one-on-one oral examinations.
The difficulty of this exam lies in its rigor and depth. The exam tests the student’s knowledge in seven distinct subjects such as mathematics, arts, law, music and foreign languages.
Furthermore, the student has to pass both the written and the oral components in order to be admitted to university. This makes the Abitur one of the toughest school exams in the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, school exams vary in difficulty and complexity, and some exams can be harder than others. The exams discussed in this article are some of the toughest school exams in the world, and have been chosen based on the rigorous selection process and the expertise level required to pass them. The students who opt for higher education have to work hard and prepare extensively in order to pass these exams, thus making them some of the toughest school exams in the world.