What is the longest exam in the world?

The longest test in the world, by duration and days played, is the infamous "Timeless Test" in cricket between England and South Africa in Durban, March 1939, which lasted 12 calendar days (with 9 days of play) before being abandoned because England had to catch their ship home, ending in a draw as they chased a massive target. For a single, continuous test-like event, the South Korean Suneung (college entrance exam) can be taken over 13 hours, while the University of Queensland's Pitch Drop Experiment has run for nearly a century, showcasing different forms of extreme testing.

What was the longest exam ever?

Thirteen hours by touch – inside one of the world's longest exam days. Every November, South Korea comes to a standstill for its infamous college entrance exam. Shops are shut, flights are delayed to reduce noise, and even the rhythm of the morning commute slows down for the students.

What is the world's longest exam?

Nearly 550,000 students across South Korea are appearing for the Suneung, or College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), a marathon 12-hour exam that halts the nation, decides careers, and shapes futures. Across South Korea, nearly 550,000 students will appear for the World's longest exam today.

Is Gaokao harder than Harvard?

Yes, the Gaokao (China's college entrance exam) is widely considered much harder to get into top universities with than Harvard due to its extreme competition (millions taking one test for few elite spots), immense pressure, and single-score, zero-human-intervention system, making it arguably the world's toughest academic hurdle, even if Harvard's holistic admission process is also incredibly selective for the few who get in. 

What is the world's biggest exam?

Gaokao (China)

Known as the number 1 toughest examination in the world, the Gaokao or National College Entrance Exam is China's gateway to higher education. Conducted annually, it determines university placements for millions of students, shaping their entire academic and professional future.

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Which is the top 10 toughest exam?

Top 10 Toughest Exams in India

1. UPSC Civil Services Exam. ...
2. IIT-JEE (Joint Entrance Exam – Advanced) ...
3. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) ...
4. CAT (Common Admission Test) ...
5. NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) ...
6. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) ...
7. Chartered Accountancy (CA) ...
8. NDA (National Defence Academy)

What happens if you fail gaokao?

Ultimately, whether they are accepted or rejected will be determined based on their gaokao score. Because of this, students who fail the test and thus cannot attend college will sometimes spend another year studying and retake the test the following year.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Has anyone gotten a perfect score on gaokao?

TIL That while hundreds of students get perfect SAT scores each year, no student has EVER gotten a perfect score on China's 9-hour equivalent, the Gaokao, a test taken by close to 10M people each year.

What is the #1 school in the world?

There isn't one single "top 1 school" as rankings vary by methodology, but the University of Oxford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) consistently lead global university rankings for 2025-2026, with Oxford often #1 in Times Higher Education (THE) and MIT often #1 in QS rankings, alongside strong showings from Harvard, Cambridge, and Stanford. Oxford is top for THE (2026), focusing on research/teaching, while MIT leads QS (2026) for overall reputation, followed by MIT, Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge in various top spots across different lists.
 

What is the 52 hour rule in Korea?

South Korea's 52-hour rule caps the total workweek at 52 hours (40 standard + 12 overtime) to combat chronic overwork, improve work-life balance, and boost productivity, applying to most businesses based on size, though some industries have temporary exemptions or flexible options. The law replaced a longer workweek (up to 68 hours), with penalties like fines or imprisonment for non-compliant employers, impacting large firms first and gradually rolling out to smaller businesses. 

Why is the gaokao so intense?

Although today's admission rate is much higher than in 1977, 1978 and before the 1990s, it is still fairly low compared to the availability of higher education in the Western world. Consequently, the examination is highly competitive, causing prospective examinees and their families to experience enormous pressure.

Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?

Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the bar exam, but not on her first attempt; she failed the Illinois bar exam the first time she took it but passed on her second try after graduating from Harvard Law School, later working as a lawyer before becoming First Lady.
 

What is the highest score in gaokao?

625/750 is top 1%ile. Highest human score is ~720-740. Gemini 2.5 Pro gets 655, barely making the cut for Tsinghua!

What's the hardest test in the USA?

Top 10 Toughest Exams in the United States

• USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) ...
• Uniform Bar Examination/ California Bar. ...
• CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Exam. ...
• CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Exam. ...
• NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) ...
• GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

What SAT score is top 1%?

A top 1% SAT score generally starts around 1530 and above, with scores like 1530-1600 placing you in the 99th percentile, indicating exceptional performance, though exact thresholds shift slightly year to year with the test takers. A score of 1450+ is often cited as the top 10% or so, while 1500+ firmly puts you in the top 1-2% for college admissions, with scores like 1560+ often seen as competitive for top universities. 

Does Harvard accept gaokao?

Step 4: Send an Official Secondary School Transcript

For example: British A levels, French Baccalaureate, Gaokao Results, International Baccalaureate, etc. Credentials must be in English or accompanied by a certified translation. Transcripts will be verified.

Which is the no. 1 toughest exam?

There isn't one single "first toughest exam," as difficulty is subjective, but the Gaokao (China's college entrance exam), India's UPSC Civil Services Exam, and India's IIT-JEE are consistently ranked among the world's most challenging due to immense competition, vast syllabi, and low success rates, often determining life paths for millions. Other famously tough tests include the Master Sommelier Diploma, USMLE (Medical Licensing), and CFA (Finance).
 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

What is the easiest ivy?

Cornell is considered the “easiest” Ivy League to get into because it has the highest Ivy League acceptance rate.

What is the 3-hour rule in China?

China's "3-hour rule" is a strict government regulation from 2021 limiting minors (under 18) to playing online video games for only three hours per week, specifically from 8 PM to 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, enforced through real-name ID verification to combat gaming addiction. While intended to protect youth mental and physical health, reports suggest many minors circumvent the rules using adult accounts, though some studies show reduced playtime, with effectiveness debated due to workarounds like account sharing.
 

Will one F ruin my GPA?

Yes, an "F" grade counts towards your GPA, typically as 0 grade points per credit, significantly lowering your average because it's included in the total credits attempted, even though you earn no credit hours for the course, which is why retaking a failed course (if allowed) is important to improve your GPA. 

What is the 4 2 1 rule in China?

The "4-2-1 rule" in China describes the demographic challenge where one child, the product of the former {One-Child Policy}, faces the immense responsibility of supporting two parents and four grandparents (4 grandparents, 2 parents, 1 child). This structure places heavy financial and emotional burdens on the single child, straining traditional filial piety, the healthcare system, and social services as China's population rapidly ages, creating a significant social and economic problem.