Every session, capable students lose their sitting to logistics — wrong software version, missed system test, late login. Registration and exam-day procedure is a checklist problem, so here is the checklist, built from the official flow on csca.cn. Admin failure is a top-10 score killer — treat this list as exam content.
Registration: 5 steps
- Create your account on csca.cn and pick subjects before paying — 2+ subjects in one sitting costs ¥700 total vs ¥450 for one.
- Pay via Alipay, WeChat Pay or bank transfer — keep the receipt.
- Download your admission ticket plus the latest test software from Registration – My CSCA (delete old versions first).
- Run the personal equipment and network check in the announced window, typically afternoons a few days before exam day.
- On exam day log in 1 hour early; finish equipment check, facial recognition and manual verification at least 15 minutes before each paper.
Tech setup that passes inspection
- Stable network around 20 Mbps — run the official speed test, not a generic one.
- Two-camera monitoring for home-based sessions: know your angles before the system test.
- Quiet, clear room matching the environment rules — rehearse in the same setup you will test in.
- Approved erasable scratch tools only — confirm what is allowed for your session.
Exam-day timing (Beijing time)
Recent home-based sessions ran Professional Chinese 12:00–13:30, Physics 15:00–16:00, Mathematics 18:00–19:00, Chemistry 20:30–21:30 — but your admission ticket is final. Convert to your timezone the night before.
While you wait for exam day
How much does CSCA registration cost?
¥450 CNY for one subject, ¥700 CNY for two or more subjects in one sitting — confirm which subjects you need before paying.
What do I need to register?
An ID photo, a valid ID and a working payment method (Alipay, WeChat Pay or bank transfer) on csca.cn.
When should I log in on exam day?
One hour early, with all identity and equipment checks finished at least 15 minutes before each paper starts.
