CSCA Admission Test Guide

What CSCA is, who has to take it, the format and how it is administered, how scores are released, and what registration costs.

Transcribed from the CSCA briefing dated 3 February 2026. Dates, fees and the syllabus are set by CSCA and can change — confirm on csca.cn before you pay for anything.

CSCA introduction

Briefing p.4

China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) is a standardized test designed for international students who plan to pursue undergraduate degrees in China.

Organized by China Scholarship Council (CSC) and jointly developed with experts from Chinese universities, CSCA assesses students’ language proficiency and academic readiness, helping them better prepare for undergraduate studies in China.

CSCA is also an important reference used by Chinese universities in their admission and scholarship evaluation processes.

Image to supply

Cover artwork from the briefing — the CSCA lockup over a campus or examination-hall photograph.

public/csca/csca-hero.png · briefing p.1

Why CSCA?

Briefing p.5

CSCA provides a comprehensive evaluation of academic and language abilities, enabling students to better understand their strengths and prepare for successful study in China.

Recognition: Widely accepted by Chinese universities
Academic Focus: Enhances students readiness and competitiveness for undergraduate studies
Application Support: Serves as an academic reference for university admission and scholarship review

Am I required to take the CSCA exam?

Briefing p.6

No, it is not compulsory for non-degree, master, and doctoral programs applicants, and it is also not compulsory for bachelor degree programs applicants who don't apply for 306 CSC Chinese universities.

However, starting in 2026, all applicants to undergraduate programs (including scholarship and self-financed programs) at 306 CSC universities must take CSCA Exam. The test score will be a mandatory prerequisite.

What subjects are included in the exam?

Briefing p.7

Basic Subjects

Mathematics is mandatory for all applicants.
Physics and Chemistry are optional. Universities may require one or both based on the program.

Professional Chinese

Offers two types: Liberal Arts Chinese and Science Chinese. Applicants to Chinese-taught undergraduate programs must take the corresponding test based on their major.
Applicants to English-taught programs are exempt from the Professional Chinese test.
Applicants to the Chinese Language major with a valid HSK Level 4 certificate are also exempt.

Test Language

Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry offer bilingual test papers (Chinese/English). Applicants can choose the language based on their program’s teaching language.

Structure at a glance

Note: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry are offered in both Chinese and English. Test-takers may choose the test language according to the requirements of their intended university.

	Subjects	Test Language	Duration	Questions	Score Range
Professional Chinese	Humanities	Chinese	90 min	80	0–100
Professional Chinese	STEM	Chinese	90 min	80	0–100
Fundamental Subjects	Mathematics	Chinese/English	60 min	48	0–100
Fundamental Subjects	Physics	Chinese/English	60 min	48	0–100
Fundamental Subjects	Chemistry	Chinese/English	60 min	48	0–100

Exam formats and results

Briefing p.10

The CSCA exam offers three formats

Computer-based testing at authorized test centers.
Paper-based testing at authorized test centers.
Online proctored testing from home.

Initially, online testing will be the primary format, with offline test centers gradually established in key regions and countries.

Results

After the exam, you can check your scores on the official website (https://csca.cn).

Online and computer-based test scores: Released within 7 working days.
Paper-based test scores: Released within 14 working days.