Before You Register, Prepare These Four Things
Registration looks like a long process, but it comes down to gathering your materials first and then following the steps in order. Before you start, it is worth preparing the following four items. These are also the preparations recommended on the official website:
- A personal email address you can access long-term
- A valid identity document
- An electronic ID photo
- Bank card details
For the specific requirements for the photo and the identity document, check the instructions on csca.cn rather than uploading something based on guesswork.
One point about the identity document must be clear: a passport is the only accepted identity document. If your passport is about to expire, renew it before you register. If your passport has expired by exam day, or if you bring only a photocopy, you will not be allowed to sit the exam.
There is also a detail about email. The official website advises registering with a personal email address rather than a school or company one. Exam notices, confirmation emails and admission ticket reminders are all sent to this address, and school email accounts often become inaccessible after graduation.
The Six Registration Steps
Work through the process in order and you will not miss anything:
- Go to www.csca.cn and register an account with a personal email address. One account can be linked to only one candidate; do not lend it to anyone or share it.
- Enter your personal information. Your name and ID number must match your passport exactly; do not change a single letter or space yourself.
- Select your subjects. Choose according to your target institution's requirements; there is no limit on how many subjects you register for at one time.
- Choose the exam language for each subject. Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry can each be taken in Chinese or English; Professional Chinese is available in Chinese only.
- Pay online. Registering for 1 subject costs RMB 450; registering for 2 or more subjects costs RMB 700. Payment methods (for example VISA, MasterCard, WeChat, Alipay) depend on what is published on the registration page.
- Registration is complete only once you receive a confirmation email. If no confirmation email arrives, you are not registered.
After Registration
Once you have submitted your registration, there are several things to keep in mind:
- Your information is locked after submission and cannot be changed by you. If a correction is needed, you must apply before the admission ticket is generated; once it has been generated, nothing can be changed.
- Withdrawal must be requested before the admission ticket is issued. The official website states that for 2025 only withdrawal is supported; transfer is not allowed.
- If you need special exam arrangements, submit an application with supporting materials at least 30 days before the exam. If the test center cannot accommodate your needs, you can cancel your registration and receive a full refund.
- The registration deadline differs from session to session. Check the registration system and official website announcements; do not estimate it from the previous session.
Downloading the Admission Ticket
The admission ticket is available to download in the registration system before the exam, and you will also receive an email notification.
The admission ticket contains your name, nationality, admission ticket number, ID number, exam time, subjects, test center address, exam room and seat number.
Check it as soon as you download it. If the details do not match your passport, you will not be allowed into the exam room.
Pay attention to the format as well: the centralized computer-based exam requires a paper admission ticket, and the electronic version on your phone cannot be used for entry; the admission ticket for the Home-based Test contains the account and password for logging into the exam system, so keep it safe too.
The Four Most Common Pitfalls
- Registering with a school email address and missing notices after graduation
- A name spelling or ID number that does not match your passport
- Discovering an information error only after the admission ticket has been generated
- Saving only the electronic version of the admission ticket
Once you have registered, you can start preparing for the exam: first take CSCA.PRO's 15-minute diagnostic, then practice by knowledge point in the Learning Center.