The world of anime can put supernatural or fantastical twists on many real-life concepts, such as attending an elite school or even taking an exam. In real life, studying for a test is perfectly mundane, but in anime, students aren't just studying algebra or history. They are taking tests where everything is on the line.

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An examination is a perfect way to determine who is worthy of a rank, certificate or more, and anime series of many different genres involve tough examinations that not everyone can pass with flying colors. Anime students and examinees might be tested for their intelligence, combat aptitude, culinary skills, and much more. Which exams are tough to pass in anime?

10 The Chunin Exam Weeds Out All Unworthy Genin (Naruto)

Chunin Exam Battles Naruto

Few anime exams in recent history are as famous as the chunin exam arc from Naruto, and this story arc took place remarkably early in the series. Naruto and the rest of Team 7 barely returned from the Land of Waves by the time these exams were about to begin, and Kakashi Hatake was confident that his three genin could handle it.

Prospective chunin must outfox the examiners in a written test, and covertly collect intel and cheat. Then, they must clear the Forest of Death with two scrolls, and then take part in a single-elimination tournament. Truly, only the best ninjas can beat this exam.

9 The Captain Qualification Exam Is Apparently Quite Demanding (Bleach)

bleach captains

Although this particular exam is very rarely seen in the main events of Bleach, supplementary materials make it clear that there is a tough test for Soul Reapers to gain the rank of Captain. Only a smart, powerful and charismatic Soul Reaper can lead an entire squad, and there are just a few ways to qualify.

The most brutal method is for the prospective Captain to defeat a current Captain in a duel, and that's how Kenpachi Zaraki earned his rank. Prospective Captains can also be nominated by enough current Captains, or pass an exam where they demonstrate proficiency with performing bankai.

8 The Demon Slayer Final Exam Involves Mortal Combat (Demon Slayer)

Demon Slayer Tanjiro Kamado

Tanjiro Kamado trained for two grueling years with Sakonji Urokodaki to become a swordsman, and even then, he was only barely ready to take the final exam to qualify as a full-blown demon slayer. The test's venue is a mountain ringed with wisteria trees at its base, to make sure the demons inside cannot escape.

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Tanjiro and his fellows spent a week within that massive test arena, and countless demons were eager to kill them, including the many-armed demon. Tanjiro was one of only a few candidates to pass, and all the rest died in the attempt.

7 The S-Rank Wizard Test Demands The Best (Fairy Tail)

tenrou island fairy tail

The remote Tenrou Island is the venue for the Fairy Tail Guild's most demanding test: the S-rank wizard exam. Only the most worthy wizards can even take part in it, let alone pass. Makarov Dreyar invited a large handful of the guild's best wizards to this idyllic island, and the test began.

S-rank is the highest rank of all, and Natsu Dragneel, Gajeel Redfox, Juvia Lockser and other top-rated Fairy Tail wizards had to face Gildarts Clive, Mirajane Strauss and Erza Scarlet (all S-rank) to pass this test. However, the Tenrou Island arc took an unexpected turn with the arrival of the Grimoire Heart dark guild.

6 To-Oh Only Accepts Elite Students (Death Note)

light death note test

Unlike some other anime examinations, the entrance exam for To-Oh University was perfectly ordinary, since no magic or monsters are involved. But that doesn't mean that the test is easy to take. Even the brilliant Light Yagami studied hard for days on end to get ready for this test.

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Granted, Light was also using that study time to dupe L with the Death Note. Still, Light would only attend an elite university, and it's easy to extrapolate that this entrance exam is a demanding one. Light got a perfect score in the end, and so did L, who took the test under the name "Hideki Ryuga".

5 The U.A. Entrance Exam Only Allows The Very Best To Pass (My Hero Academia)

entrance exam mha

Izuku Midoriya has undertaken two major examinations so far in the story of My Hero Academia, and the first one was the entrance exam. Thousands of students took the written and physical components of the entrance exam, and only a handful will have any hope of passing.

Izuku and his peers faced giant robots in a replica city, and only candidates with incredible Quirks and combat skills had any hope of passing. Izuku scored 0 points until he bravely rescued Ochaco Uraraka from the biggest robot, earning him enough rescue points to pass. That was a close call.

4 The Provisional Hero License Exam Is A Merciless Affair (My Hero Academia)

Anime My Hero Academia Provisional Hero License Exam Battle Royal Class 1-A

This is the other major exam that Izuku has undertaken, and it was also his first exposure to students from other Hero schools in Japan, such as Shiketsu and Ketsubutsu, among others. A few thousand Hero students competed to see who could rack up three "kills" first, touching orange balls to sensor pads on each other's costumes.

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This was a massive and chaotic melee, and fortunately, everyone in Class 1-A passed the first phase. Then the second phase arrived, which involved rescuing disaster victims while also fighting off Gang Orca and his followers. Shota Aizawa commented that even for actual Pro Heroes, this was a brutal scenario.

3 State Alchemists Must Prove Their Worth With A Display Of Expert-Level Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

fullmetal alchemist Edward leans forward and frowns

State alchemists effectively have the rank of Major, and they have access to state funding and research materials. Such alchemists are also expected to defend the nation of Amestris from all enemies, even fellow Amestris citizens, so only expert alchemists can pass the exam to gain this rank.

The exam might vary slightly based on the candidate's particular type of alchemy, but overall, it takes a lot of careful study and research to perform alchemy that can impress the examinees. Edward Elric, for his part, transmuted a staff and thrust it right at King Bradley, the chief examiner. Bradley sure liked Ed's guts.

2 Hell Camp Rapidly Weeded Out Unworthy Chefs (Food Wars!)

yuki in camp food wars

Students at the elite Totsuki school are challenged in all sorts of ways, and their culinary skills were really put to the test during the hell camp training arc early on. Hundreds of students visited the private Totsuki Resort and had to cook vast quantities of high-quality food for crowds of hungry patrons. They hardly even got a chance to sleep.

Soma Yukihira himself nearly failed this exam during the egg breakfast sequence. He cooked the wrong kind of food at first, but at the last minute, he invented a simple but effective dish, and sold 200 servings just before the timer ran out.

1 The Hunter Exam Challenges People In Unexpected Ways (Hunter X Hunter)

Examinees following the examiner in the first phase

Gon Freecss was eager to take the Hunter Exam, and he made some new friends along the way, including the elite assassin boy Killua. Gon needed all the help he could get, since the Hunter Exam was incredibly demanding and challenged the candidates in odd ways. An 80-kilometer run to test everyone's endurance was just the start.

Candidates also had to risk their very lives to collect and cook giant spider eggs and boars, and they had to make it through a massive tower where their combat skills and wits alike were put to the test against deadly criminals. Finally, the fourth phase pitted the prospective Hunters against one another on a desert forest island, and Gon's target was none other than Hisoka himself.

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