CSCA Exam Guide 2026
Next sitting 14–15 Nov
Master the CSCA exam with a professional study system.
The CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is the admissions exam for international undergraduates — Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Professional Chinese. Diagnose your level, train at exam difficulty, rehearse full mocks.
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Last reviewed 19 Sep 2026 · GetCSCA editors · verify at csca.cn and your university. Independent study guide — not affiliated with the official CSCA platform.
Prepare for CSCA by Country
Country guidance with local subject rules, session times and application notes.
CSCA Pakistan
→English (Pakistan)
Pakistani applicants most often need Mathematics, plus Physics and/or Chemistry for MBBS and Engineering majors.
CSCA Indonesia
→Bahasa Indonesia
Mahasiswa Indonesia paling sering butuh Matematika, ditambah Fisika dan/atau Kimia untuk Jurusan teknik dan sains.
CSCA Bangladesh
→English (Bangladesh)
Engineering applicants typically need Mathematics and Physics; MBBS applicants usually need Mathematics and Chemistry; Business usually needs Mathematics alone.
CSCA Nepal
→English (Nepal)
Nepali MBBS applicants generally need Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics.
What are the CSCA 2026 key facts?
Source: csca.cn · verify before registeringNext Exam
14–15 Nov 2026
Registration 15–21 Oct
Registration
csca.cn
Opens weeks before
Fee · 1 subject
Â¥450 CNY
Alipay / WeChat / bank
Fee · 2+ subjects
Â¥700 CNY
Same payment methods
Format
Home / Computer / Paper
Varies by session
Scoring
0–100 / subject
48Q/60min ≈ 75s per Q
When is the next CSCA exam?
Last verified 27 September 2026 · confirm on csca.cn14–15 Nov 2026
Upcoming
15–21 Oct 2026 · Next published sitting. Confirm the registration window on csca.cn before paying.
19–20 Dec 2026
Upcoming
Not open yet · Published on csca.cn; registration details can change by session.
23–24 Jan 2027
Upcoming
Not open yet · Published on csca.cn; confirm the final window before booking travel.
What subjects are on the CSCA exam?
Mathematics
→EN / CN · 60 min · 48 MCQ · 0–100
Algebra · Calculus · Geometry · Probability
Physics
→EN / CN · 60 min · 48 MCQ · 0–100
Mechanics · E&M · Optics · Modern
Chemistry
→EN / CN · 60 min · 48 MCQ · 0–100
Organic · Inorganic · Physical
Chinese · Science
→CN only · 90 min · 80 MCQ · 0–100
Reading · Vocab · Grammar · Writing
Chinese · Arts
→CN only · 90 min · 80 MCQ · 0–100
Reading · Vocab · Grammar · Writing
Not sure what you need?
4 questions → your required route.
Open subject wizard →
Schedule · 2026+
- SessionsJan · Mar · Apr · Jun · Dec
- Results online~7 business days
- Results paper~14 days
Exam day · Beijing
- Day 1 · Professional Chinese80Q · 90 min
- Day 1 · Mathematics48Q · 60 min
- Day 2 · Physics48Q · 60 min
- Day 2 · Chemistry48Q · 60 min
Recent home-based sessions ran this order; exact times vary by session and format — your admission ticket is final.
Registration · csca.cn
How registration works
1 · Account + subjects
Register on csca.cn, pick subjects before paying — 2+ subjects in one sitting costs ¥700 total vs ¥450 for one.
2 · Pay
Alipay, WeChat Pay, or bank transfer. Keep the receipt.
3 · Ticket + software
From Registration – My CSCA download the admission ticket and the latest test software (delete old versions first).
4 · System test
Run the personal equipment/network check in the announced window (e.g. a few days before exam day, typically afternoons).
5 · Exam day login
Log in 1 hour early; finish equipment check, facial recognition and manual verification ≥15 min before each paper.
Bring: ID photo, valid ID, and a working payment method — see the full requirements list on csca.cn.
Who sits what
Required vs exempt
Mathematics
Mandatory for everyone — every applicant sits it.
Professional Chinese
Required for Chinese-taught programs (Humanities or STEM stream by major). Exempt if your program is fully English-taught.
Physics / Chemistry
At least one required for science, engineering, agriculture, medicine. Medicine often requires Chemistry specifically.
Chinese Language majors
May be exempt from Professional Chinese with a valid HSK Level 4 — confirm with your university.
The study method
Five steps. No random question piles.
Syllabus · ~Grade 12 level
What each paper covers
Topic lists summarized from official syllabus documents — download the PDFs on csca.cn and prepare from those, not from any summary.
Mathematics · 48Q / 60min
Sets & inequalities · Functions (domain, range, monotonicity, parity, power / exponential / log / trig) · Sequences · Calculus (limits, derivatives, applications) · Geometry & algebra (lines, circles, conics) · Vectors · Complex numbers · Probability & statistics. ~Grade 12 level.
Study this →Physics · 48Q / 60min
Mechanics · Electricity & magnetism · Thermodynamics · Optics · Modern physics. Formula knowledge + diagram reading tested.
Study this →Chemistry · 48Q / 60min
Basic concepts · Equations · Solutions & pH · Inorganic & organic · Redox · Equilibrium · Electrochemistry · Experiments.
Study this →Professional Chinese · 80Q / 90min
Humanities and STEM streams. Reading comprehension · Vocabulary · Grammar · Writing. Chinese only — no English option.
Study this →Where you sit it
Test formats
Home-based online
Proctored at home. Strict equipment + environment check, facial recognition.
Computer-based centers
Official centers; new centers added per session (e.g. Vietnam, Thailand reported for 2026).
Paper-based
Selected regions/sessions. Results take ~14 days instead of ~7 business days.
Scoring + results
How you are scored
- Per subject0–100
- Question typeAll multiple-choice
- Results online~7 business days
- Results paper~14 days
Include scores in your application materials where required. Universities set their own cutoffs — a score is not a pass/fail by itself.
Recommended by official prep guides
Prepare in three phases
Phase 1 · Foundation
Cover every syllabus point systematically. Understand core concepts — this site's Stage 1–2 lessons.
Phase 2 · Intensification
Timed drills on weak areas. Accuracy first, then speed (~75s/Q). Log every error by cause.
Phase 3 · Sprint
Full mocks on the official day schedule. Review against syllabus + mistake log after each.
CSCA Blog
Latest CSCA guides
CSCA Study Materials: The Complete Free List
Every free paper, bank and mock, in usage order.
Is the CSCA Exam Hard? Honest Difficulty Guide
CSCA vs Gaokao vs SAT — and the style shock.
CSCA Scores Explained: Cutoffs & Percentiles
No pass mark — what your 0–100 actually means.
The 30-Day CSCA Study Plan
Week-by-week system: diagnose, drill, mock, clear.
Syllabus
FAQ
›Is the CSCA mandatory?
For most international undergraduate applicants to Chinese universities — especially Chinese Government Scholarship programs — yes, the CSCA score report is a required application document. Exact requirements vary by university, major and scholarship channel, so confirm in your target university's admission guide.
›Is the CSCA exam in English?
Math, Physics and Chemistry may be offered in English or Chinese depending on session. Professional Chinese must be taken in Chinese. Confirm available languages on csca.cn when registering.
›Is CSCA certification worth it?
If you are applying for undergraduate study in China, yes — the CSCA score report is required by universities and scores stay valid for 2 years, so one strong sitting can cover multiple applications and intakes.
›Is the CSCA exam hard?
The content is Grade-12 foundation level, but the format is demanding: 48 questions in 60 minutes with no calculator. Most students fail on pacing and misreads, not on difficulty — timed rehearsal fixes both.
›Can you retake the CSCA?
Yes — the CSCA publishes several sittings a year (the next three on csca.cn are 14–15 Nov 2026, 19–20 Dec 2026 and 23–24 Jan 2027), so you can re-sit a later session if you are unhappy with your score. Confirm with your target university which sitting counts for your application deadline.
›What is the full form of CSCA?
CSCA stands for China Scholastic Competency Assessment — the standardized admissions exam for international undergraduates applying to Chinese universities.
›Is the CSCA harder than the SAT?
Different, not strictly harder. The SAT guides you through multi-part problems; CSCA gives 48 standalone multiple-choice in 60 minutes with no calculator. Students used to SAT pacing find CSCA's speed the hardest adjustment.
›When are CSCA scores released?
Results are released about 7 business days after the exam for online sittings and about 14 days for paper-based sittings (excluding public holidays). Include your scores in your university application materials as required.
›Can you cheat in the CSCA?
No — home-based sittings use dual-camera monitoring, facial recognition, environment checks and locked-down test software. Violations cancel results, so the only winning strategy is preparation.
›Is the CSCA exam online?
Mostly yes: home-based online proctored testing plus computer-based centers, with paper-based sittings in selected regions. Format availability varies by session — your admission ticket confirms yours.
Sources & verification · last checked 27 Sep 2026