Gaokao (China): This high-stakes national exam determines university placement for millions of Chinese students. It covers a wide range of subjects, including math, science, language, and history. The intense pressure to succeed makes the Gaokao a truly daunting experience.
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IIT JEE Advanced (India): This entrance exam is the gateway to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It's known for its challenging physics, chemistry, and mathematics problems. Only a tiny fraction of test-takers achieve a high enough score to gain admission to an IIT.
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Civil Services Examination (CSE) (India): This exam is for those who aspire to prestigious careers in the Indian civil service. It's a multi-stage process that tests a candidate's knowledge, analytical skills, and personality. The competition is fierce, and the pass rate is incredibly low.
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Master Sommelier Diploma Exam: This grueling exam tests a candidate's wine knowledge and tasting ability. To pass, you need to be able to identify wines by sight and taste alone, as well as answer in-depth questions about wine production and regions.
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All Souls Prize Fellowship Exam (UK): This highly competitive exam is for a fellowship at All Souls College, Oxford University. It's open to those who have already achieved a high level of academic distinction, and it tests the candidate's knowledge in their chosen field.
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Mensa International (Mensa): Mensa is an international society for people with high IQs. The entrance exam is designed to test your reasoning and problem-solving skills. While not exactly a professional qualification, a Mensa membership can open doors to exclusive networking opportunities.
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Graduate Record Examination (GRE): This standardized test is required for admission to many graduate programs in the United States. The GRE assesses your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills.
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Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program: This professional designation program is highly respected in the financial industry. The CFA exams cover a wide range of investment analysis topics, and they're known for their difficulty.
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Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE): This certification is for experienced network engineers. The CCIE lab exam is notoriously difficult, and it requires a deep understanding of complex networking technologies.
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Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) (India): This exam is for Indian students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies or research in engineering. It covers a wide range of engineering disciplines, and the competition for top scores is intense.
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