China Scholastic Competency Assessment-CSCA: Essential Guide for Students
What is CSCA?
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.
- China Scholastic Competency Assessment-CSCA: Essential Guide for Students for September 2026 intake
- In this China Scholastic Competency Assessment-CSCA: Essential Guide for Students, we will discuss the subjects to focus on.
Why CSCA?
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
Test Subjects:
| Subjects | Test Language | Duration | Number of multiple-choice questions | Score Range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Chinese | Humanities | Chinese | 90 min | 80 | 0-100 |
| STEM | Chinese | 90 min | 80 | 0-100 | |
| Fundamental Subjects | Mathematics (*) | Chinese/English | 60 min | 48 | 0-100 |
| Physics | Chinese/English | 60 min | 48 | 0-100 | |
| Chemistry | Chinese/English | 60 min | 48 | 0-100 | |
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.
Utilize insights from the China Scholastic Competency Assessment-CSCA: Essential Guide for Students to enhance your preparation.
How to Choose Your CSCA Subjects
Please determine the required subjects to register for based on your application type.
1. For candidates planning to apply for undergraduate programs under the Chinese Government Scholarship
Required subjects:
(1) Mathematics
(2) Professional Chinese (Candidates should choose the specific category of Professional Chinese based on the requirements of their intended university and major)
Optional subjects:
Physics, Chemistry (Candidates should confirm whether these subjects are required based on the requirements of their intended university and major)
University List: https://campuschina.org/zh/universities/index.html
2. For candidates planning to apply for undergraduate programs NOT under the Chinese Government Scholarship at the aforementioned universities
Required subjects:
(1) Mathematics
(2) Professional Chinese (Mandatory for applicants to Chinese-taught programs; candidates should choose the specific category of Professional Chinese based on the requirements of their intended university and major)
Optional subjects:
Physics, Chemistry (Candidates should confirm whether these subjects are required based on the requirements of their intended university and major)
CSCA Schedule
CSCA will be launched on December 21st, 2025.
The specific schedule is as follows (Beijing Time, UTC+8):
Professional Chinese: 13:00 – 14:30
Mathematics: 15:30 – 16:30
Physics: 17:30 – 18:30
Following the guidelines in the China Scholastic Competency Assessment-CSCA: Essential Guide for Students will help optimize your study plan.
Chemistry: 19:30 – 20:30
Commencing in 2026, CSCA will transition into a regular operational phase, conducting five examination sessions annually in January, March, April, June, and December.
In determining specific examination schedules, global time zone variations are taken into full consideration, thereby ensuring equitable access for candidates worldwide to select the most suitable testing time.
Examination sessions in December, April, and June will be primarily scheduled during daytime business hours across the Asia-Pacific region.
Students should refer to the China Scholastic Competency Assessment-CSCA: Essential Guide for Students for information on test formats.
Sessions in January and March will be preferentially arranged to align with daytime business hours in European, African, and American regions.
Test Formats
The scoring system outlined in the China Scholastic Competency Assessment-CSCA: Essential Guide for Students is key to understanding results.
Initially, CSCA will be conducted primarily in a remote, home-based online format, with onsite test centers (computer-based or paper-based) gradually established in major source countries and regions.
In December 2025, the first onsite test centers will be launched in Vietnam and Thailand, marking the beginning of a hybrid testing model. Additional test centers in other countries and regions are currently under development.
Examine the fees associated with the China Scholastic Competency Assessment-CSCA: Essential Guide for Students to budget effectively.
In conclusion, the China Scholastic Competency Assessment-CSCA: Essential Guide for Students is indispensable for aspiring candidates.
Score and Results
Each CSCA subject is graded on a 100-point scale. Test results will serve as a reference for universities, which will set their own admission criteria based on individual program requirements.
Score release dates vary by test format: results for online and onsite computer-based tests will be announced within 7 working days after the test, while paper-based test results will be released within 14 working days.
Universities can also view each applicant’s percentile ranking among all global test-takers to better understand their academic standing within the international applicant pool.
Register for CSCA
To Register for CSCA Test Visit this link: https://csca.cn/login
Test Fees
| Number of subject(s) | Fees (CNY) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 450 |
| 2 or more | 700 |
