What Subjects Does the CSCA Have?
CSCA subjects fall into two categories: Specialized Chinese and foundation subjects. Start by understanding which subjects exist, then decide which ones you will take.
- Specialized Chinese: divided into Humanities Chinese and Science Chinese, and offered only in Chinese. The test lasts 90 minutes, contains 80 objective multiple-choice questions, and is scored 0–100. In addition, the preparation section of the official website also provides materials for Business and Economics Chinese and Medical Chinese.
- Foundation subjects: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Each subject lasts 60 minutes, contains 48 objective multiple-choice questions, and is scored 0–100.
Foundation subjects have one convenient feature: you can choose the Chinese or English paper separately for each subject. In other words, you can take Mathematics in Chinese and Physics in English; the two subjects do not affect each other.
The Official Subject Selection Rules
The official website lists subject selection rules by "application type." First, confirm which type you belong to.
Applying to Chinese Government Scholarship Undergraduate Programs
- Mathematics: compulsory.
- Specialized Chinese: compulsory. Whether you take Humanities Chinese, Science Chinese or another category depends on the major requirements of your target institution.
- Physics and Chemistry: taken according to the institution's major requirements.
Applying to Other Undergraduate Programs
- Mathematics: compulsory.
- Specialized Chinese: if you are applying to a Chinese-taught program, you must choose Specialized Chinese.
- Physics and Chemistry: taken according to the institution's major requirements.
In one sentence: everyone must take Mathematics; for the other subjects, it depends on your application type, your language of instruction and your major.
Reference Subject Combinations by Major in the Official Notice
The official notice also lists reference combinations by broad major category, which you can use to judge the general direction:
- Business, economics and management: Business and Economics Chinese, Mathematics.
- Science, engineering and agriculture: Science Chinese, Mathematics, plus either Physics or Chemistry (choose one).
- Western medicine: Medical Chinese, Mathematics, Chemistry.
Note that these are only reference combinations, not the final answer. The admissions brochure of your target institution is authoritative. Some schools may require different subjects even within the same broad major category.
Chinese or English Paper
For Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, you choose the test language separately for each subject. You can take one subject in Chinese and another in English; they do not have to match.
The official website states that the final test language is subject to the requirements of the institution you are applying to; if the institution has no explicit requirement, candidates may choose for themselves.
How should you choose in practice? Choose the language in which you have studied the subject and can read the questions fastest. Being able to understand and read quickly matters more than anything else. If you learned a topic only in Chinese, choose the Chinese paper; if you learned it in English, choose the English paper. If you are unsure, first check whether your target institution has an explicit requirement.
How Many Subjects to Register For and How to Arrange Them
- There is no limit on the number of subjects you register for: you can register for one subject or for several at once.
- Fee: RMB 450 for one subject and RMB 700 for two or more. Registering for two or more subjects in one go therefore costs less than registering for them separately.
- Exam schedule: the exam runs over two days. Specialized Chinese and Mathematics are held on the first day, and Physics and Chemistry on the second.
Because the exam spans two days, students registering for multiple subjects should set aside time for both days in advance.
Three Steps to Finalize Your Subjects
- List every institution and major you want to apply to. Don't list just one: write down all the ones you plan to apply to, along with any you would like to try for.
- Check the CSCA subjects and test language required in the admissions brochure for each one. Go through every school and every major, and note the subjects and language beside each entry.
- Register for the combined set of all requirements, and do not miss any subject required by any school.
The third step is where problems are most likely: if School A requires Physics and School B requires Chemistry, and you register only for Physics, then School B will not work. So you need to register for the union of all requirements.
Mathematics is a required subject for everyone. You can first take a 15-minute diagnostic on CSCA.PRO to see where you currently stand, then practice by knowledge point in the Learning Center. Once your subjects are decided, all that remains is to follow your plan step by step.