Question 1

What is the CSCA exam?

Accepted Answer

The CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is a standardized entrance exam for international students applying to bachelor's degree programs at Chinese universities. It is organised by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and required by the Chinese Government Scholarship universities (listed on campuschina.org) for their international bachelor's applicants, with or without the scholarship.

Question 2

How much does the CSCA exam cost?

Accepted Answer

A single subject costs 450 RMB (approximately $62 USD). Two or more subjects cost 700 RMB (approximately $96 USD). Payment is made during online registration.

Question 3

How many times can I take the CSCA exam?

Accepted Answer

The CSCA runs several sittings a year: the official schedule has six between November 2026 and June 2027, in November, December, January, March, April and June. Each sitting spans two days, with Professional Chinese and Mathematics on the first and Physics and Chemistry on the second. There is no limit on the number of attempts, and you can usually submit your best valid score, subject to each university's policy.

Question 4

What subjects does the CSCA exam cover?

Accepted Answer

The CSCA covers Mathematics (required for every bachelor's applicant to the Chinese Government Scholarship universities), Physics, Chemistry, and Professional Chinese. Professional Chinese is also required for every Chinese Government Scholarship applicant and every Chinese-taught programme; Physics and Chemistry depend on your intended major and university requirements.

Question 5

Is the CSCA exam hard?

Accepted Answer

The CSCA tests senior-high-school content: the official syllabi list what each paper covers, and the aim is the academic foundation needed for undergraduate study in China. The challenge is breadth and pace (48 questions in 60 minutes for Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry). Two to three months of focused preparation with practice tests is a sensible plan.

Question 6

How do I prepare for the CSCA exam in one month?

Accepted Answer

For a one-month CSCA prep plan: Week 1 — review core concepts and formulas. Week 2 — practice topic-by-topic with flashcards. Week 3 — take full-length practice exams. Week 4 — review weak areas and do final mock exams. Use CSCA.HELP for free interactive lessons and practice questions.

Question 7

What is a good CSCA score?

Accepted Answer

Every CSCA subject is reported on a 0-100 scale, and each university sets its own cut-offs. As a rough guide across the 50 universities listed on CSCA.HELP, our estimate is about 90 per subject for the most selective schools such as Tsinghua and Peking University, 85-88 for the other C9 universities, 65-85 for the other 985 universities, and 55-62 for the 211 and Double First-Class universities we list. These are estimates, not published cut-offs: check the requirements of your target schools.

Question 8

What is the difference between CSCA and HSK?

Accepted Answer

The CSCA and HSK are different exams. HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) tests only Chinese language proficiency. The CSCA tests academic subjects — Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Professional Chinese — for university admission. Many Chinese-taught programmes ask for both (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, for example, asks for HSK 5 as well as CSCA scores), while English-taught programmes ask for proof of English, such as IELTS or TOEFL, instead of HSK. Check each university's rules.

Question 9

Can I take the CSCA exam from my home country?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The CSCA is delivered mainly as a proctored online test from home, so you can sit it from your own country; you need a Windows computer (macOS is not supported) and a phone or tablet as a second camera. Test centres are gradually opening in key countries, and where one is available the home-based test is not offered, so check the options for your country when you register at csca.cn.

Question 10

Do I need CSCA for English-taught programs in China?

Accepted Answer

At the Chinese Government Scholarship universities, yes: Mathematics is required for every bachelor's applicant whatever the language of instruction. Self-funded applicants to English-taught programmes usually do not need Professional Chinese, but scholarship applicants do. Universities outside the scholarship list set their own rules, so check your target university's specific admission requirements.

Question 11

Is a calculator allowed on the CSCA exam?

Accepted Answer

No, calculators are not permitted during the CSCA exam. All calculations must be done by hand. Practice mental math and estimation techniques as part of your preparation, and learn the formulas you need: the CSCA has not announced a formula sheet, and its official sample papers give only data such as g or relative atomic masses inside the questions.

Question 12

How long is the CSCA exam?

Accepted Answer

Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry are 60 minutes each (48 questions). Professional Chinese is 90 minutes (80 questions). Each sitting runs over two consecutive days: Professional Chinese then Mathematics on the first day, Physics then Chemistry on the second, with the first paper at 08:00 or 14:00 Beijing time.

Question 13

When do CSCA exam results come out?

Accepted Answer

From the November 2026 sitting, results are released within 10 working days of the exam. You download the electronic score report from your CSCA account and submit it yourself with each application; universities verify it in the official system. Scores are valid for two years.

Question 14

Do I need CSCA for a master's degree in China?

Accepted Answer

No, the CSCA exam is specifically for bachelor's degree (undergraduate) admission. Master's and doctoral programs have their own admission requirements, which typically include your undergraduate GPA, research experience, and sometimes a separate graduate entrance exam.

Question 15

Which Chinese universities accept CSCA scores?

Accepted Answer

The CSCA is required by the Chinese Government Scholarship universities, whose official list is on campuschina.org; it includes Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan and many other leading universities. Visit CSCA.HELP/universities for our estimated score ranges at about 50 leading universities.

Question 16

What is CSCA Professional Chinese?

Accepted Answer

CSCA Professional Chinese tests the Chinese needed to follow first-year university classes. It is a 90-minute, 100-point paper of single-answer multiple-choice questions of six types: characters, word choice, near-synonyms, building a passage, completing sentences and reading academic texts. It comes in two streams, STEM Chinese (理科中文) and Humanities Chinese (文科中文), and is required for Chinese-taught programmes and for every Chinese Government Scholarship applicant.

Northwestern Polytechnical University

About Northwestern Polytechnical University

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