CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment, 来华留学本科入学学业水平测试) is organized by China Scholarship Council (中国教育部国家基金管理委员会).
From 2025 onwards, the CSCA will be a crucial step for all international students applying to undergraduate programs in China.
Purpose: To evaluate the academic abilities of international applicants and standardize university admissions.
Subjects: Includes compulsory mathematics, optional professional Chinese (for liberal arts or science tracks), and optional physics and chemistry.
This isn’t just another exam — it’s set to become a central standard for admissions, shaping who gets into universities across the country.
✔ A unified and fair admission standard for all Chinese universities.
✔ A key requirement for scholarship applications.
✔ From 2026 onward, all universities will consider CSCA scores
as part of their undergraduate admissions .
Regional Exam Frequency (from 2026 onwards):
Asia-Pacific: December, April, June
Europe & Americas: January, March
Compulsory: Mathematics (available in English or Chinese)
Optional: Physics & Chemistry (usually required for science, engineering, agriculture, or medical majors)
Specialized Chinese: “Humanities Chinese” or “Science Chinese” for Chinese-taught programs.
(Exemptions: English-taught programs or Chinese Language majors with valid HSK Level 4 certificates.)
Registration: Opens Nov 10, 2025, 14:00 (Beijing time) for the Dec 21 exam at www.csca.cn
Fees: ¥450 for one subject / ¥700 for two or more subjects
Payment methods: Alipay, WeChat Pay, VISA, UnionPay
Scoring: Out of 100; results released in 7–14 working days. Universities can view students’ global percentile rankings.
Difficulty: Roughly equivalent to the final year of Chinese high school (Grade 12).
Exam Syllabus & Coverage: Download the official CSCA syllabus to understand the full exam scope, topic distribution, and question types.
Access exclusive study materials, past paper compilations, and topic-by-topic guides designed to help you master every subject.
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