What is the CSCA Exam? Complete Guide for 2026

What is the CSCA Exam?

The CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is a standardized entrance examination required for international students who want to pursue bachelor's degree programs at Chinese universities. Organised by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and developed with experts from Chinese universities, the CSCA was first sat on 21 December 2025 and gives universities across China a single, unified standard they can rely on.

If you're an international student with dreams of studying at a Chinese university — whether that's Tsinghua, Peking University, Fudan, Zhejiang, or any of the hundreds of other institutions — the CSCA is your gateway. Every university in the Chinese Government Scholarship programme (the list is on campuschina.org) now asks its international bachelor's applicants for CSCA scores, scholarship or not.

Think of the CSCA as China's version of the SAT or ACT, but specifically designed for international students. It tests your academic readiness across key subject areas, ensuring you have the foundational knowledge needed to succeed in a Chinese university environment.

Who Needs to Take the CSCA?

The CSCA is required for international students (non-Chinese passport holders) applying to bachelor's degree programs at participating Chinese universities. This includes:

• High school graduates from any country who want to study in China
• Gap year students looking to enter a Chinese university
• Transfer students applying to start a new bachelor's program in China
• Students from any educational background — whether you studied the IB, A-Levels, American curriculum, or any other system

You do not need the CSCA if you are applying to master's or doctoral programs (those have separate admission requirements), language programs, or short-term exchange programs. The CSCA is specifically for full bachelor's degree admission.

The 4 CSCA Subjects

The CSCA exam covers four subject areas. You don't necessarily take all four — the subjects you need depend on your intended major at university.

1. Mathematics

Mathematics is compulsory: the official site lists it as a required subject for every applicant to a Chinese Government Scholarship university, with or without the scholarship. The math section covers algebra, functions, geometry, trigonometry, sequences, probability, statistics, and introductory calculus. The difficulty level is roughly equivalent to a strong high school math curriculum.

2. Physics

An optional subject on the official list, but applicants to science-related majors (engineering, computer science, agriculture, medicine) must take at least one of Physics and Chemistry: check which one your university and major ask for. Topics include mechanics (kinematics, Newton's laws, energy, momentum), thermodynamics, electromagnetism (electric fields, circuits, magnetic fields), optics, and modern physics fundamentals.

3. Chemistry

Also optional on the official list, and the other way to meet the science-major rule above; whether your major (for example medicine, pharmacy or chemical engineering) needs Chemistry specifically is set by each university, so check its requirements. Covers atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, chemical equilibrium, reaction kinetics, acids and bases, organic chemistry basics, and common laboratory concepts.

4. Professional Chinese

Tests your ability to use Chinese in an academic context. This is different from general language proficiency tests like HSK. Professional Chinese is made up only of single-answer multiple-choice questions of six types (识解汉字, 选词填空, 辨析词语, 选词成段, 补全语句, 阅读理解): recognising characters, choosing a word for a blank, telling near-synonyms apart, completing a paragraph, completing a sentence, and reading comprehension of academic texts. There is no writing and no listening section.

Professional Chinese is offered in two streams, and you pick the one that matches your intended major: Humanities Chinese (文科中文) for humanities and social-science programmes such as literature, history, philosophy, law, education and the arts, and STEM Chinese (理科中文) for science and engineering programmes; your university says which one each major needs. Both are the same length and carry the same weight — only the subject-specific vocabulary and reading passages differ. Unlike Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, this paper is only available in Chinese.

Exam Format and Structure

Understanding the CSCA exam format is critical for effective preparation. Here's exactly what to expect:

Feature	Details
Questions per subject	48 questions (Math, Physics, Chemistry) / 80 questions (Chinese)
Time per subject	60 minutes (Math, Physics, Chemistry) / 90 minutes (Chinese)
Format	Computer-based test, answered on screen
Question types	Single-answer multiple choice only, marked automatically
Testing mode	At a test centre, or home-based online (with webcam proctoring) where no test centre is available
Languages	Available in English and Chinese (except the Chinese subject)

For the science and math subjects, you have 48 questions in 60 minutes, which gives you approximately 75 seconds per question. Time management is absolutely crucial — you cannot afford to spend too long on any single question. The Professional Chinese section gives you 90 minutes for 80 questions, which is roughly 68 seconds per question.

Scoring System

Each CSCA subject is scored on a scale of 0 to 100 points. Your scores are reported individually for each subject you take — there is no combined or composite score, though universities may also see your percentile rank among test takers worldwide. Universities set their own minimum score requirements, which vary by institution and program.

No official score bands exist: csca.cn says only that scores "serve as a reference for universities, which will set their own admission criteria". Check each university's admission guide for its own minimum, and aim as high as you can, since universities also see your global percentile rank.

Your CSCA scores are valid for 2 years from the test date, so you can use them across multiple application cycles if needed.

When and How Often Can You Take the CSCA?

One of the great advantages of the CSCA is its flexibility. It runs a sitting most months: the official schedule has six between November 2026 and June 2027, in:

• November
• December
• January
• March
• April
• June

Each sitting runs over two days: Professional Chinese and Mathematics on the first, Physics and Chemistry on the second.

There is no limit on attempts, and you may usually submit your best valid score, subject to each university's policy. This means if you don't perform as well as you hoped on your first attempt, you have several more chances throughout the year to improve.

How Much Does the CSCA Cost?

The CSCA exam fee structure is straightforward:

• 1 subject: 450 RMB (approximately $62 USD)
• 2 or more subjects: 700 RMB (approximately $96 USD)

This is a per-session fee — if you retake the exam, you pay again. However, the pricing is quite reasonable compared to other standardized tests globally. If you're planning to take multiple subjects, the bundled pricing at 700 RMB offers significant savings over paying for each subject individually.

How to Register for the CSCA

Registration for the CSCA is done online through the official website at csca.cn. Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Create an account on csca.cn with your email and personal information
2. Upload required documents: a clear photo of your passport's information page and a recent passport-style photograph
3. Select your exam session and choose which subjects you want to take
4. Pay the exam fee online (accepted methods include international credit cards and some digital payment options)
5. Receive confirmation via email with your exam details and instructions for test day

Each session has its own registration deadline, shown in your csca.cn account and in the official announcements, so don't wait until the last minute.

Why the CSCA Matters

The introduction of the CSCA in late 2025 represented a major shift in how China handles international student admissions. Before the CSCA, different universities had their own testing requirements, which was confusing and inconsistent. The CSCA creates a level playing field — every international applicant is measured by the same standard, regardless of which country they come from or what curriculum they studied.

For students, this is largely a positive change. It means:

• Clarity: You know exactly what to study and what to expect
• Flexibility: Multiple test dates and the ability to retake the exam
• Portability: One set of scores can be sent to multiple universities
• Fairness: A standardized measure that doesn't favor any particular educational system

How to Start Preparing

The best time to start preparing for the CSCA is at least 2-3 months before your target exam date. Here's what we recommend:

• Understand the syllabus: Review the official CSCA exam syllabus for each subject you plan to take
• Assess your baseline: Take a diagnostic practice test to identify your strengths and weaknesses
• Create a study plan: Allocate time based on your weak areas while maintaining your strengths
• Use quality resources: Interactive courses, practice questions, and mock exams designed specifically for the CSCA
• Practice under timed conditions: Get comfortable with the 75-second-per-question pace

At CSCA.HELPCSCA by Foorsa, we offer free interactive lessons, flashcards, and practice exams across all four CSCA subjects. Our materials are designed specifically for the CSCA exam format and cover every topic in the official syllabus. Whether you're just starting your preparation or looking for final review materials, our platform can help you build the skills and confidence you need to succeed.