Most challenging high school exam globally?

Hey everyone! I've been hearing a lot about various standardized high school exams worldwide. Can anyone share insights into which is often considered the most difficult exam high school students can take globally? Thanks!

Sure! It's hard to definitively say which exam is the most difficult, as it can greatly depend on the student's strengths, interests, and preparation. However, one exam that is frequently considered to be extremely challenging is the Gaokao, a college entrance exam in China.

The Gaokao is taken over two days and includes Chinese, Mathematics, and a foreign language (often English), along with either Social Sciences or Natural Sciences. The total examination time is about nine hours. The pressure to perform well is high, as the Gaokao score largely determines the university to which a student can apply, and subsequently the career paths available to them. The content of the Gaokao is very rigorous and requires high-level critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

However, within the US, many students find the AP (Advanced Placement) exams to be quite challenging, particularly in subjects like AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C, or AP Chemistry, which often cover college-level material.

In the UK, the A-levels (Advanced Level Qualifications) are often perceived as difficult due to the depth of knowledge required. They're subject-specific exams taken by students in the final two years of high school which heavily influence university admission.

In India, the IIT-JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) for admission into engineering programs is considered one of the toughest exams due to its high competitiveness and the complexity of the questions.

Remember, though, that the difficulty of an exam can depend on a variety of factors, such as the individual student's aptitude and preparation. What one student might find to be the most challenging exam could be different for another student.