What is the world's hardest paper?

Asked by: Matteo Bechtelar  |  Last update: February 25, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (29 votes)

The "world's hardest paper" can refer to incredibly strong materials like graphene oxide paper or wood-based nanopaper (stronger than steel!), or it could refer to notoriously difficult exams like China's Gaokao or India's UPSC Civil Services, depending on interpretation. For materials, it's advanced composites; for tests, it's intense academic or professional challenges.

Which is the world's hardest paper?

Gaokao (China's National Higher Education Entrance Exam) is considered the toughest exam in the world with 000.4% success rate. Other difficult exams include the USMLE, the Master Sommelier Diploma, and the CFA. The hardest exams in India include UPSC Civil Services, JEE Advanced, and ICAI CA/ICMAI CMA.

What is the most difficult paper in the world?

FAQs on The Toughest Exams in the World: 2025 Student Edition

  • Gaokao (China)
  • IIT-JEE (India)
  • UPSC Civil Services (India)
  • Mensa IQ Test (Worldwide)
  • California Bar Exam (USA)
  • USMLE (USA)
  • CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
  • GATE (India)

Is step 1 the hardest exam in the world?

While USMLE Step 1 is widely considered one of the most challenging exams due to its immense breadth of basic science knowledge, massive scope, and high stakes, calling it the single "hardest in the world" is subjective, as exams like China's Gaokao and India's IIT JEE also rank as extremely tough, demanding immense preparation and intense focus, with some sources citing the Gaokao as the most difficult globally. Step 1's difficulty stems from its comprehensive nature, testing clinical reasoning across all basic sciences in an 8-hour format, but recent shifts to Pass/Fail scoring and variations in preparation levels mean its perceived difficulty changes, though it remains a huge hurdle for medical students. 

Which is the top 10 toughest exam?

Top 10 Toughest Exams in India

  • UPSC CSE.
  • JEE Advanced.
  • GATE: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.
  • IIM CAT.
  • NDA.
  • CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
  • Chartered Accountant (CA) Exam.
  • UGC NET.

How This Guy Folds and Flies World Record Paper Airplanes | WIRED

25 related questions found

What is the passing grade for Step 1?

According to the USMLE, “On the three-digit score scale, the Step 1 passing score is 196.” Granted, this may be difficult to interpret—when completing Qbank blocks or an NBME/CBSE mock exam, you'll likely receive a number equal to the percentage of questions you answered correctly.

What score is 75% on step 2?

Getting 75% correct on practice questions for USMLE Step 2 CK is a strong performance, often translating to the 75th percentile or higher (scores ~255+), indicating you're doing better than 75% of test-takers, which is excellent for most specialties but might be needed for very competitive fields like surgery or dermatology. A common high-scorer benchmark on UWorld is 75-85% correct on the second pass, so you're in a great position, but focus on consistently hitting high percentages and understanding why you miss questions to further solidify your score.
 

What is the world's easiest exam?

While discussing the "easiest exams in the world" , we have delved into the globe to bring the most simple, straightforward, and stress-free exams that you can crack without much effort. IELTS General Training Test , SAT, TOEIC, and NIOS exams are often considered the easiest exams in the world which are easy to pass.

What are the top 5 hardest exams in the US?

The top 5 hardest exams in the U.S. often cited include the USMLE (medical licensing), CFA (finance), Bar Exam (law, especially California's), CPA (accounting), and either the MCAT (medical school entry) or GRE (graduate school), chosen for their rigorous content, low pass rates, extensive preparation, and high stakes in becoming licensed professionals or entering elite graduate programs, notes student accommodation and MastersDegree.net. 

Are "tough" exams truly valuable?

Tough exams serve as critical gateways to prestigious universities and professional opportunities.

Which exam is tougher: JEE or NEET?

JEE Advanced is considered to be harder than NEET due to its complex physics and math problems. NEET is a very competitive exam but the questions are direct and concept-based.

Which is the 3 toughest exam in the world?

The top 3 toughest exams globally consistently include China's Gaokao (college entrance), India's IIT-JEE Advanced (engineering), and India's UPSC Civil Services Exam (government jobs), due to their extreme competition, vast syllabi, and life-altering consequences, though other candidates like the All Souls Prize or Master Sommelier Diploma are also noted for extreme difficulty. These exams demand immense knowledge, analytical skills, and endurance, with failure often meaning significant setbacks, making them notoriously difficult.
 

What should I eat before an exam?

Here are some great kinds of food to eat before a test to improve brain health.

  • Fish for Omega-3s. Omega-3s are excellent brain food for exam preparation, and people most often talk about fatty fish as the top brain food. ...
  • Dark fruits and veggies for antioxidants. ...
  • Complex carbohydrates. ...
  • Quality protein. ...
  • Water.

Which is the world's hardest math?

The "hardest math" often refers to famous unsolved problems, with the Riemann Hypothesis frequently cited as the most important and difficult, concerning prime numbers and holding a $1 million prize. Other famously tough problems include the P vs. NP problem, Goldbach's Conjecture, Collatz Conjecture, and the Navier-Stokes Existence and Smoothness, all representing deep, unsolved mysteries in pure mathematics. 

How to be a top 1% student?

Becoming a top 1% student requires a shift to proactive, consistent, and strategic learning, focusing on deep understanding through active recall (flashcards, practice tests), asking questions, utilizing diverse resources (not just lectures), developing strong routines (early, focused study blocks), managing time ruthlessly by saying "no" to distractions, and maintaining physical/mental health for peak performance. It's about doing more and smarter than the baseline, adopting a "mental athlete" mindset with discipline and consistent systems to stay in the game longer than others. 

Which is the no. 1 hard subject?

Some of the toughest courses in the world include Medicine (MBBS/MD), Engineering, Neuroscience, CA, Quantum Physics and Mathematics. The toughest courses in India include MBBS, IIT Engineering, CA, and Architecture (B. Arch).

In which country is education very easy?

Countries like the UK, USA, Sweden and Denmark are among the best in the world when it comes to higher education.

Has anyone ever gotten a 300 on Step 2?

The highest possible score for the USMLE Step 2 CK is 300, but no one has ever achieved a “perfect” score. A score around 280 would be considered a top Step 2 CK score.

Is 240 a bad step 2 score?

To pass the Step 2 CK exam, you have to score 218 out of 300. What qualifies as a “good” score depends on many factors: what specialty you're applying for, what program you're applying to, if you're applying to a community or an academic institution, etc. Generally, a “good” Step 2 CK score is between 240 and 260.

How to get 270 on step 2?

To get a 270+ on USMLE Step 2 CK, you need a strong foundation from clerkships, master question banks like UWorld and Amboss through active learning and detailed review, use high-yield resources like Divine Intervention podcasts, take frequent NBME practice exams and CMS forms, focus on clinical reasoning over rote memorization, and develop a consistent, burnout-free study schedule, often around 4-6 weeks of dedicated study after rotations. 

How many students fail Step 1?

While exact numbers vary, thousands of people fail USMLE Step 1 annually, with failure rates increasing after the exam switched to pass/fail scoring in 2022; in 2023, over 11,500 test-takers failed, with rates around 10-11% for first-time US MD students and significantly higher for repeat takers and International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
 

What if I fail the Step 1 exam?

Most medical schools provide opportunities for remediation, allowing students to retake the exam after a structured review period. However, failing Step 1 may limit certain residency options, as competitive programs often prioritize strong academic performance.

Is Step Pass failing now?

On January 26, 2022, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 exam transitioned to a pass-fail grading system instead of the conventional three-digit score.