How to Prepare for the CSCA for China University Applications 2026
China is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s most popular destinations for university education, with universities such as Peking and Tsinghua consistently ranking in the top 20 in global rankings. As China becomes an increasingly popular destination for international students, its admissions process is also evolving to become more structured and standardised.
One of the most important recent developments is the introduction of the CSCA (Chinese Scholastic Competency Assessment) last year. For most universities in China, the CSCA is now a mandatory admissions test.
In this guide, we explain how the CSCA works, which universities require it, how students should prepare strategically, and what international applicants need to know for the 2026 admissions cycle.
CSCA Format and Subjects
The CSCA was introduced in the 2025/2026 cycle as a standardised admissions test to provide a more consistent way of evaluating applicants and assessing academic readiness beyond school grades. The CSCA allows universities to compare students from different education systems more fairly.
The CSCA consists of two major components:
1. Professional Chinese Test (专业中文)
Applicants for Chinese-taught programmes should take the Professional Chinese test corresponding to their intended major category: Humanities Chinese (文科中文) or STEM Chinese (理科中文). This includes basic technical terms and is roughly equivalent to HSK 3-5 difficulty. If you have a valid HSK Level 4 score, you may be exempt from this test. Applicants to English-taught programmes do not need to take this test.
The Professional Chinese Test is 90 minutes and 80 questions.
2. Fundamental Subject Test
Mathematics is compulsory for all programmes. Calculators are not allowed.
Physics and Chemistry are optional, with requirements varying by university and programme. Applicants for STEM degrees are usually required to take at least one of these subjects.
The Fundamental Subject Tests (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) are available in both English and Chinese. Applicants to Chinese-taught programmes take the subject tests in Chinese, and applicants to English-taught programmes take the subject tests in English.
The Fundamental Subject Tests are 60 minutes and 48 questions per subject.
| Subject Category | Subject | Test Language | Duration | Number of Multiple Choice Questions | Score Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Chinese | Humanities | Chinese | 90 minutes | 80 | 0–100 |
| STEM | Chinese | 90 minutes | 80 | 0–100 | |
| Fundamental Subjects | Mathematics | Chinese / English | 60 minutes | 48 | 0–100 |
| Physics | Chinese / English | 60 minutes | 48 | 0–100 | |
| Chemistry | Chinese / English | 60 minutes | 48 | 0–100 |
Note: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry are offered in both Chinese and English. Test‑takers may choose the test language according to the requirements of their intended university.
Source: CSCA Official Website
All CSCA subjects are graded on a 100 point scale. The scores are used as a reference, and each university sets its own admission standard based on its programme requirements.
Which CSCA Subjects Should You Take
The CSCA subjects you will need to take depends on your intended major and university. Check individual university websites carefully for exact requirements. Below is a guide on which CSCA subjects you likely need to take based on your intended major.
| Intended Major | Typical Required CSCA Subjects |
|---|---|
| Computer Science / AI / Data Science | Math is mandatory. Physics is highly recommended and often required. Chemistry is usually not required. |
| Medicine (MBBS) / Clinical Medicine | Math and Chemistry are mandatory. Physics is often required or strongly recommended by top medical schools (e.g., ZJU, Fudan). |
| Mechanical / Civil / Electrical Engineering | Math and Physics are mandatory. Chemistry is generally not required unless applying for Materials Science or Chemical Engineering. |
| Business / Economics / Finance | Math is mandatory. Physics and Chemistry are not required. |
| Architecture / Design | Math is mandatory. Physics is sometimes required depending on whether the university classifies Architecture under Engineering or Arts. Always verify with the specific school. |
| Chinese Language / Literature / Arts | Math is mandatory. For Chinese‑taught programs, Humanities Chinese is also required. |
Which Universities Require CSCA
Nearly all universities will require the CSCA from 2026 onwards. The full list of universities requiring the CSCA can be found here.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of universities that do not require the CSCA:
Xian Jiangtong Liverpool University (option of 4+0 spending all 4 years in Suzhou, or 2+2 split between XJTLU in Suzhou and the University of Liverpool in the UK)
The Sino-British College, USST (CSCA required for Business Management, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical & Electronic Engineering, but not for other courses)
CSCA Exam Dates 2026
In 2026, the CSCA will organise five exams, expected to be in January, March, April, June and December. The test is primarily taken online, although offline testing centers are slowly being established in key countries and regions such as Vietnam and Thailand.
The exam schedule is as follows (Beijing time):
Professional Chinese: 12:00 – 13:30
Physics: 15:00 – 16:00
Mathematics: 18:00 – 19:00
Chemistry: 20:30 – 21:30
Results for online and in-person computer exams will be released within 7 business days after taking the exam, while results for paper-based exams will be released within 14 days.
If you are taking one subject, the registration fee is 450 RMB. If you take two or more subjects, the fee is 700 RMB.
You can register for the CSCA exam here.
CSCA Syllabus & Specifications
Refer to our CSCA syllabus and past paper questions for the latest 2026 resources. English versions of the syllabi are translated from the CSCA official website.
Official past paper questions are not publicly released. The past paper resources on our website were compiled and reconstructed based on questions recalled by students who sat the examination.
How To Study for the CSCA: Preparation Strategies
With only 1 hour to complete 48 questions, you have 1 min 15 sec per question, so speed and accuracy are essential. You are not allowed to use a calculator, and the numbers in the questions are designed to be easy to manipulate manually if you know the right formula.
Mathematics
Functions (including Sequences and Trigonometry) and Geometry & Algebra account for almost 90% of the test. Calculus, derivatives and solid geometry rarely appear in the actual exams. Many questions are direct applications of standard formulas, such as the distance formula, double-angle formula and standard equations of circles and parabolas. Ensure you are familiar with these and have enough practice.
Below are the topics you should be very familiar with:
Functions (48% of paper): Testing domain, range, monotonicity, parity of functions. Power, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric functions. General term formulas and summation techniques for arithmetic and geometric sequences.
Geometry & Algebra (40% of paper): Equation and properties of lines, circles, ellipses, hyperbolas and parabolas. Vector operations and basic operations of complex numbers.
Sets & Inequalities (10% of paper): Definition, operations (intersection, union) and representation of sets. Basic properties and solution methods for quadratic and rational inequalities.
Probability & Statistics (2% of paper): Classic probability models and basic calculations. Mean, variance and basic concepts of normal distribution.
Physics
Mechanics and Electromagnetism account for over 85% of the total questions. Despite being listed in the syllabus, the photoelectric effect, atomic structure, nuclear physics and modern physics have historically not been tested.
Below are the topics you should be very familiar with:
Mechanics (65% of paper): Kinematic equations, Newton’s laws, the work-energy theorem, projectile motion, friction on inclined planes and momentum conservation in collisions.
Electromagnetism (25% of paper): Couloumb’s Law, calculating Ampere’s force on a wire, basic DC circuit analysis, motional EMF and magnetic flux.
Thermodynamics & Optics (10% of paper): Ideal Gas Law, Snell’s Law.
Chemistry
Properties and Reactions of Substances and Basic Chemical Concepts and Calculations constitute 60% of the total questions. Theories & Laws and Lab Experiments take up the remaining 40%. Although Analysis of Industrial Chemical Processes and Application of the Ideal Gas Law are listed in the syllabus, they have not appeared in any of the recent past papers.
Below are the topics you should be very familiar with:
Organic & Inorganic Properties (30% of paper): Inorganic Chemistry - flame tests, properties of sulfuric acid, common uses of specific gases. Organic Chemistry - recognising homologous series, function groups (alcohols, carboxylic acids) and reaction types (substitution, addition, esterification).
Calculations & Equations (30% of paper): Mass-to-mole conversions, determining reacting volumes, balancing standard redox and ionic equations.
Theories & Laws (25% of paper): Identifying elements based on electronic configurations, periodic trends (atomic radius etc), Le Chatelier’s Principle, predicting how changes in temperature and pressure shift chemical equilibrium.
Lab Experiments & Tests (15% of paper): Laboratory preparation and collection methods for common gases like hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide. Testing methods for common ions (chloride, sulfate, carbonate) using reagents like silver nitrate, barium chloride.
Home Based Exam Setup (Important!)
Most students will be taking the CSCA remotely from home, which requires strict compliance and remote proctoring regulations. Technical failures or setup violations can lead to immediate disqualification.
Key rules
No Calculators: All calculations must be performed mentally or on paper.
Dual-Camera Setup: Requires two separate devices running simultaneously: a laptop for answering questions with front camera, and a secondary device (smartphone or tablet) rear camera positioned at a 45-degree angle to monitor your hands and screen.
Whiteboard Policy: Only a 30x40cm physical whiteboard or an A4 paper inside a clear plastic sleeve is permitted for drafting, and should be within camera view at all times. You are not allowed regular blank paper, notebooks, tissues, pencils or ballpoint pens.
Windows 10/11 mandatory for laptops. MacOS is not supported.
No headphones or earphones. Ears must be visible at all times.
No bathroom breaks
This guide includes a comprehensive list of rules for taking the CSCA home based exam.
Conclusion
The introduction of the CSCA from the 2025/2026 cycle onwards has changed the China university admissions landscape. Historically, international admissions to China relied heavily on school grades, language proficiency and internal university review. The CSCA now allows standardised benchmarking and more direct competition between international applicants. This reflects the shift and response of Chinese universities towards admitting more international students and creating more standardised processes for selection.
This reflects a broader shift within Chinese higher education. Universities in China are now expanding their international intake and increasing the number of English-taught programmes available, making their education more accessible to the rest of the world. In this evolving landscape, students who understand subject requirements, testing strategy, application timelines and university expectations early on will have a significant advantage.
At Meridian Education, we help students navigate China universities admissions strategically, including:
University and course selection
Application positioning
CSCA subject selection and preparation
Personal statement mentoring
Multi-system strategy across China, Singapore, Hong Kong and other global pathways
Frequently Asked Questions
-
No, but it is compulsory for the majority of Chinese universities. You can find here a comprehensive list of which Chinese universities require the CSCA.
-
Only if you are applying to Chinese-taught programmes. Students applying to English-taught degrees generally do not need to take it.
-
Yes, the Maths, Physics and Chemistry sections are available in both English and Chinese.
-
The content itself is generally not harder, but the exam is highly time pressured, with 60 minutes for 48 questions each for the Fundamental Subjects section (Maths, Physics, Chemistry), so speed and accuracy is key. You are also not allowed calculators.
-
The Professional Chinese Tests for applicants taking Chinese-taught programmes is 90 minutes for 80 questions. The Fundamental Subject Tests (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) is 60 minutes and 48 questions per test. Therefore, speed and accuracy are key.
-
80+ is a good score for the CSCA, but this can vary for universities and courses.
-
Yes, the CSCA runs multiple times a year, and students can retake papers to improve scores.
-
Yes, many top Chinese universities now offer English-taught programmes, particularly in Engineering, Science, Technology, Economics, Business, Engineering and Medicine.