Best Exam to Crack: Top Competitive Exams in India for 2025

When people ask what the best exam to crack is, they’re really asking: IIT JEE, India’s premier engineering entrance exam that opens doors to the Indian Institutes of Technology, or NEET, the medical entrance test that determines who gets into top medical colleges? Maybe it’s IAS, the Indian Administrative Service exam, the most prestigious government job in the country? Or perhaps it’s an MBA, a postgraduate degree that can skyrocket your salary if you get into the right school? These aren’t just tests—they’re life-changing gateways.

The best exam to crack isn’t the hardest one—it’s the one that matches your goals, strengths, and tolerance for pressure. IIT JEE is brutal: only 0.2% of applicants get in. NEET is even more crowded, with over 20 lakh students fighting for 1 lakh seats. But if you’re after power, prestige, and long-term stability, IAS is the ultimate prize—even though less than 1% of candidates clear it. Meanwhile, an MBA from a top school can double or triple your salary in just two years, but it demands real work experience and sharp negotiation skills. These exams don’t just test knowledge; they test endurance, strategy, and mental toughness.

What’s clear from the data is that the most sought-after exams in India are tied to high-paying careers. IAS officers earn over ₹4 lakh a month. Top NEET graduates become doctors in elite hospitals. IIT graduates land jobs paying ₹20-50 lakh annually. And MBA grads from top B-schools often start at ₹15-30 lakh. But none of these are easy wins. They require years of focused preparation, smart resource use, and the ability to handle failure. If you’re serious, you need to pick one path and stick with it—not chase every option at once.

Below, you’ll find real insights from students and teachers who’ve been through these exams. Whether you’re wondering how many hours to study, which city gives you the best shot, or whether you even need to be good at math to succeed, the answers are here. No fluff. No hype. Just what actually works.