According to the official CSCA Chemistry Examination Syllabus (2025 Edition), the CSCA Chemistry exam lasts 60 minutes and contains 48 single-choice questions worth 100 points in total; the paper is issued in Chinese or English. This article first sets out the official exam structure, then reports question counts drawn from 185 questions across 4 sets of papers compiled from candidate recollections, and finally explains how to use those counts for review.
How chemistry is tested (official)
- Exam time: 60 minutes
- Question type: 48 single-choice questions
- Full score: 100
- Language: Chinese or English
The syllabus divides the exam content into four modules, containing 17 sub-items in total:
Basic Chemical Concepts and Calculations
- Classification of matter and changes of state
- Chemical notation and equation writing
- Solution concentration and pH calculations
- Calculations involving amount of substance
- Application of the ideal gas equation
Properties and Reactions of Substances
- Properties of common inorganic substances (elements, oxides, acids, bases, salts)
- Basic organic compounds (hydrocarbons and derivatives)
- Identifying redox reactions
- Ionic reactions and testing methods
Chemical Theories and Laws
- Atomic structure and the periodic law
- Chemical bonds and intermolecular forces
- Chemical reaction rates and equilibrium
- Electrolyte solution theory
Chemical Experiments and Applications
- Laboratory safety and use of apparatus
- Preparation and testing of common gases
- Methods for separating and purifying substances
- Analysis of industrial chemical processes (e.g. ammonia synthesis)
We analyzed 4 sets of recalled papers
We analyzed 4 sets of papers compiled from candidate recollections, dated 2025-12-21, 2026-01-25, 2026-03-15 and 2026-04-25, with 185 questions in total. The 2026-03-15 set is missing 1 question, and the 2026-04-25 set is missing 6 questions.
These questions were compiled from candidate recollections. Each question was assigned to a single knowledge point according to what it asked, and then grouped into 9 topic areas. The question counts and percentages below are based on these 185 questions.
Numbers of questions in the 9 topic areas (and the count in each of the 4 papers)
The 9 topic areas are listed below from most to fewest questions, with the number in each of the 4 papers given in brackets.
- Atomic structure, periodic law and chemical bonds: 28 questions (6, 8, 6, 8), about 15%
- Ionic reactions and electrolyte solutions: 28 questions (8, 7, 8, 5), about 15%
- Classification of matter and chemical notation: 22 questions (6, 4, 6, 6), about 12%
- Chemical experiments and industrial chemistry: 21 questions (6, 7, 5, 3), about 11%
- Elements and their compounds: 20 questions (4, 6, 3, 7), about 11%
- Amount of substance and solution calculations: 18 questions (4, 7, 4, 3), about 10%
- Organic chemistry: 18 questions (5, 3, 7, 3), about 10%
- Reaction energy, rates and equilibrium: 16 questions (5, 3, 5, 3), about 9%
- Redox and electrochemistry: 14 questions (4, 3, 3, 4), about 8%
What the statistics show
- The chemistry questions are spread fairly evenly across topics: the largest areas are "atomic structure, periodic law and chemical bonds" and "ionic reactions and electrolyte solutions", with 28 questions each (about 15% each), while the smallest is "redox and electrochemistry", with 14 questions (about 8%). No topic area can therefore be abandoned.
- "Atomic structure, periodic law and chemical bonds" and "ionic reactions and electrolyte solutions" appeared in every paper, with 5 to 8 questions each, so they are the most worth prioritizing.
- These 4 sets of recalled questions contained no questions on nitrogen group elements, halogenated hydrocarbons or alcohols/phenols, and no industrial process questions. However, the syllabus lists "analysis of industrial chemical processes (e.g. ammonia synthesis)", so this still needs preparation.
How to use these counts
- First use the topic areas to check for gaps and fill them, starting with the parts you are less familiar with.
- Calculators are not allowed in the chemistry exam, so practice calculating amounts of substance and concentrations by hand.
Next steps
The chemistry section of CSCA.PRO offers a 15-minute diagnostic and knowledge-point learning. You can take the diagnostic first, then practice by topic area.