What Is the CSCA Exam?
The CSCA exam (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is a standardised examination for international students who plan to study in China at undergraduate level. According to a notice published by Chinese embassies, the China Scholarship Council has organised the CSCA on behalf of the Ministry of Education, and since the 2026/2027 academic year the CSCA exam has been required for students who apply for Chinese Government Scholarship universities at undergraduate level. This article has explained the CSCA exam subjects, format, fees and how universities have used CSCA results.
Who has needed to take the CSCA exam?
The CSCA exam has been designed for international students who are planning to apply for bachelor's degree programmes in China. According to the official CSCA information, only non-Chinese citizens who apply for undergraduate programmes in mainland China have been able to register.
Since the 2026/2027 cycle, the CSCA exam has been compulsory for applicants to Chinese Government Scholarship undergraduate programmes. Many other universities have also started to ask for CSCA results. For example, Tongji University and Xi'an Jiaotong University have asked applicants to upload a CSCA score report together with their application documents, and Xuzhou Medical University has allowed students with strong CSCA results to skip part of the university's own admission test.
Requirements have not been the same everywhere. You should therefore check the admission page of your target university before you register for the CSCA exam.
Which subjects has the CSCA exam covered?
The CSCA exam has offered four main subjects:
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Professional Chinese, divided into Humanities Chinese and Science Chinese: 90 minutes, 80 multiple-choice questions
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Mathematics: 60 minutes, 48 multiple-choice questions
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Physics: 60 minutes, 48 multiple-choice questions
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Chemistry: 60 minutes, 48 multiple-choice questions
Every CSCA subject has been scored on a scale from 0 to 100. Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry have been available in both Chinese and English. The subjects that you have needed to take have depended on your target programme: universities have published a subject list for each major, so you should confirm your combination on the university's website before you register.
When has the CSCA exam been held, and how do you register?
The CSCA exam has been held several times each application cycle. According to the Shanghai municipal government's official guide, the CSCA has been held about five times a year from 2026 onwards, and the 2026/2027 cycle has included sessions between November 2026 and June 2027. You can find the full session dates in our CSCA Exam Guide 2027.
Registration for the CSCA exam has been completed online on the official website, csca.cn. According to the official guide, the fees have been:
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CNY 450 for one subject
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CNY 700 for two or more subjects
Candidates have registered with a valid ID (usually a passport), a digital photo and a credit card or a Chinese payment method. Registration windows have been short and have closed roughly two to three weeks before each session, so you should prepare your documents in advance.
How have universities used CSCA results?
Universities have used CSCA exam results in two main ways:
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Undergraduate admission. CSCA scores have become one of the references that admission officers have used when they have assessed international applicants, and some universities have made a CSCA score report a required application document.
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Scholarship assessment. The China Scholarship Council and many university scholarship programmes have considered CSCA results when they have awarded scholarships to international students.
A strong CSCA result has strengthened an application, but it has not replaced other requirements such as high school grades or language certificates.
What is the difference between the CSCA exam and the HSK?
Students have often confused the two tests. The difference has been simple:
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The HSK has measured Chinese language ability only. Universities have used it to decide whether a student can follow Chinese-taught classes. You register for the HSK on chinesetest.cn.
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The CSCA exam has measured both language ability and academic foundations in mathematics, physics and chemistry. Universities have used it to assess whether a student is ready for undergraduate-level study.
Depending on your target programme, you may have needed one of the two tests, or both.
Key facts about the CSCA exam
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Full name: China Scholastic Competency Assessment
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Organiser: China Scholarship Council, on behalf of the Ministry of Education
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Purpose: undergraduate admission and scholarship assessment for international students
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Subjects: Professional Chinese (Humanities or Science), Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry
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Format: mainly online home-based testing with remote proctoring; some physical test centres
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Fees: CNY 450 (one subject) or CNY 700 (two or more subjects)
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Results: about 7 working days (online) or 14 working days (paper-based)
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Registration: official website csca.cn
Official sources
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CSCA official website (registration, schedule, syllabus)
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Comprehensive CSCA guide – Shanghai municipal government
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CSCA notice – Chinese embassy
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CampusChina – the official "Study in China" portal (China Scholarship Council)
The content of this article has been last updated in October 2026. Session dates, registration periods and university requirements have been updated each cycle, so please confirm the latest details on the official sources above.
Apply Now to create your SICAS account and plan your study in China around the CSCA exam schedule.
About SICAS
SICAS (Study In China Admission System) is a platform for international students who are interested in studying in China. It provides information on Chinese universities, degree programmes, scholarships and admission requirements, helping students explore study opportunities across China.
