If you are planning to study for an undergraduate degree in China, the CSCA is a step you cannot avoid. This article explains in one place what the CSCA is, who needs to take it, which subjects are tested, how to register and how scores are used. The rules described here have been checked against the CSCA official website, csca.cn, and official notices (verification date: October 2026). Before you register, please refer to the latest announcements on the official website.
What is CSCA
The full Chinese name of the CSCA is "来华留学本科入学学业水平测试". Its English name is China Scholastic Competency Assessment, abbreviated as CSCA. It is organised by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and developed with the participation of experts from Chinese universities.
In simple terms, the CSCA assesses two things: language ability and academic foundation. It does more than produce a score — it is designed to help students judge whether they already have the ability to study for an undergraduate degree at a Chinese university, and to prepare academically in advance. CSCA scores are one of the important bases for undergraduate admissions and scholarship review at Chinese universities.
The official website is also the only registration entry point: www.csca.cn. Registration, subject selection and other operations are all completed on this website.
Who needs to take it
Timeline given in official notices
- Starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, applicants seeking a bachelor's degree in China must take the CSCA before submitting their application; the first batch of requirements applies to students applying for undergraduate programmes at institutions under the Chinese Government Scholarship.
- The official notice also states that from 2028, all students applying for undergraduate programmes at Chinese universities are planned to be required to take the CSCA, and a minimum standard for undergraduate admission will be established.
In other words, if you plan to apply for a Chinese undergraduate programme for the 2026/2027 academic year or later — especially the Chinese Government Scholarship undergraduate programme — you need to include the CSCA in your application plan and complete the test before submitting your application.
Who can register
- Open to non-Chinese students who plan to apply for undergraduate courses at universities in mainland China.
- Holders of a Chinese passport or of residence permits for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents cannot register.
- There is no age limit; minor candidates must obtain guardian consent and have their guardian assist with registration.
Documents needed for registration and test day
A passport is the only identity document accepted for registration, and you must present the original valid passport on the test day. Please confirm your passport's validity in advance.
Which subjects are tested
CSCA subjects fall into two categories: Professional Chinese and Fundamental Subjects.
Professional Chinese
Professional Chinese is split into Humanities Chinese and STEM Chinese (the official preparation section also offers materials for Business Chinese and Medical Chinese) and is available only as a Chinese-language paper. The test lasts 90 minutes and consists of 80 multiple-choice questions, scored on a 0–100 scale.
Fundamental Subjects
The Fundamental Subjects are mathematics, physics and chemistry. Each lasts 60 minutes, consists of 48 multiple-choice questions and is scored on a 0–100 scale. Each subject can be taken in either a Chinese or an English paper.
How to choose subjects
Requirements depend on the type of application:
- Chinese Government Scholarship undergraduate programme: mathematics is compulsory, and Professional Chinese is compulsory — whether you take Humanities Chinese or STEM Chinese depends on your target institution's programme requirements. Physics and chemistry are optional, depending on the institution's programme requirements.
- Other undergraduate programmes: mathematics is compulsory; for Chinese-taught programmes, Professional Chinese must also be taken. Physics and chemistry are optional, depending on the institution's programme requirements.
You may register for as many subjects as you like at one time, but the final decision is still governed by the target institution's admissions guide.
Official reference combinations by field of study
Official notices also give some reference combinations by field of study:
- Science, engineering and agriculture: generally STEM Chinese, mathematics, plus physics or chemistry.
- Economics, trade and management: Business Chinese, mathematics.
- Western medicine: Medical Chinese, mathematics, chemistry.
These combinations are for reference only; the subjects you actually take are still subject to the target institution's requirements.
Two steps before registration
- First, consult the target institution's admissions guide to confirm which subjects you need and whether to take the Chinese or the English paper for each one.
- Then register at www.csca.cn and plan the timing of your test and application.
Test format, dates and fees
CSCA is offered in two formats.
- Home-based Test: you answer online on your own computer, in a compliant separate room, with remote proctoring throughout.
- Computer-based Test: you go to a designated test centre and answer on a computer provided there.
Test content, duration and scoring standards are identical in both formats — a format never makes the test harder or easier. Note: candidates who have an offline test centre in their city cannot apply for the Home-based Test and must choose the Computer-based Test.
As for test dates, the official website states that tests are usually organised in January, March, April, June, November and December. Each session runs over two days: Professional Chinese and mathematics on the first day, physics and chemistry on the second. All times are Beijing time; the exact dates and registration deadlines are subject to the official announcements for each session. Before registering, also check the official website to see which cities host offline test centres.
Fees are calculated according to the number of subjects registered:
- 1 subject: RMB 450
- 2 or more subjects: RMB 700
Fees are paid online; the payment methods supported are subject to what is published on the registration page.
How to Register
Registration is completed entirely on the official website, csca.cn. The steps are as follows.
- Create an account on csca.cn using an email address that belongs to you and that you can keep using long term. Each account can be linked to only one candidate, so do not share it with classmates or family.
- Enter your personal information. Your name and ID number must match your passport exactly; not a single letter or space may be wrong.
- Choose the subjects you will take, and select the test language separately for each subject.
- Pay the test fee online. Your registration is successful only once you receive a confirmation email.
- Before the test, download and print a paper admission ticket from the registration system, and check the personal information and test subjects on it carefully.
Several points also deserve special attention when you register.
- Registration information is locked once submitted. If you really have made an error, you must apply for a correction before the admission ticket is generated; after the deadline, no changes can be made.
- Requests to withdraw must be submitted before the admission ticket is issued. The official website states that for 2025 only withdrawals are supported and transfers are not. Think carefully, then, when choosing subjects and test dates; for later years, refer to the official website for the policy in force.
- If you need special test arrangements because of health or other reasons, you must submit an application and supporting documents at least 30 days before the test to allow time for review.
How Scores Are Calculated and Used
All CSCA subjects are scored on a 100-point scale.
The authorities have not published the point value of individual questions, nor have they said whether incorrect answers are penalized; the scoring criteria are confidential. When preparing, therefore, there is no need to guess "how many points each question is worth" — building a solid foundation in each subject is more practical.
Scores are usually released within 7 working days of the test. Candidates can download an electronic score report from the official website and submit it directly to the institutions they are applying to, with no need to obtain additional paper documents.
There are several points to note about how scores are used.
- Scores are valid for two years.
- There is no limit on the number of attempts. When applying, you can usually submit your best score within the validity period; the specific policy of each institution applies.
- Universities can verify the authenticity of scores through the official system, and they can also see the candidate's percentile ranking among test takers worldwide, so the score report is more than just a string of numbers.
- Score requirements are set by each university by major; there is no official unified cutoff. Check the current year's admissions guidelines of each target university for the specific majors you are aiming for.
What to Note on Test Day
The CSCA is offered in two formats: the Computer-based Test and the Home-based Test. Prepare in advance according to the format you will be taking.
Computer-based Test
- Arrive at the test center at least 40 minutes before the test begins.
- Bring your printed admission ticket, your original passport and a black signature pen.
- Scratch paper is provided by the test center for all candidates and is collected after the test.
- No entry is allowed once the test has begun.
Home-based Test
- Only Windows computers are supported; MacOS is not. You also need a mobile phone or tablet to serve as a secondary camera, positioned at roughly a 45-degree angle to your side and rear.
- Both upload and download speeds must be at least 20 Mbps, and VPNs or proxies are not allowed.
- You may use only a small whiteboard, or blank paper placed inside a transparent document bag, and you should prepare erasable whiteboard markers.
- Before the test, you must complete a device test on your own equipment and at least one centralized mock test.
Notes for Both Formats
- Carrying or using calculators, mobile phones and other devices is strictly prohibited in both formats. In the Home-based Test, the phone or tablet used as the secondary camera may only be used for that purpose.
- When the test time ends, the system submits your test automatically; you cannot submit early.
How to Prepare
Start by visiting the preparation section at csca.cn, where you can download the 2025 editions of the syllabus for each subject and the official sample questions.
The math syllabus covers four modules:
- Sets and inequalities
- Functions
- Geometry and algebra
- Probability and statistics
Our analysis of 7 sets of past math papers (333 questions in total) shows that the Functions module accounts for 198 questions, about 59%; 16 knowledge points appeared in all 7 sets, totaling 223 questions, about 67%.
The math test lasts 60 minutes and contains 48 questions, which leaves an average of only 75 seconds per question. From the start, practice under timed conditions and without a calculator.
You can begin with a 15-minute diagnostic to identify your weaker modules, then go to the Learning Center to study and practice by knowledge point.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many times can I take the test? There is no limit on attempts, and scores are valid for two years.
- Can I take math in English? Yes. For math, physics and chemistry, you can choose a Chinese or English paper separately for each subject; Professional Chinese is available in Chinese only.
- How many subjects can I register for at one time? There is no limit; choose according to your target university's requirements and your own preparation.
- Do I need to mail my scores to the school? No. Download the electronic score report and submit it directly.
- What score do I need for admission? There is no official unified cutoff; each university sets its own by major. Check your target university's admissions guidelines.