CSCA exam: how to register and prepare
How do you register for the CSCA, the test taken by international students who want to study a bachelor's degree in China? Which subjects do you need, and what should you watch out for on test day? Everything on this page comes from csca.cn, the official website of the China Scholarship Council (CSC), which runs the test.
- Fee
- ¥450 / 700
- Results
- 10 working days
- Valid for
- 2 years
- Next session
- 14 November 2026Registration closed
Last checked: 10 November 2026 · Official website: csca.cn ↗
In short
- The CSCA is run by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and is used from 2026/27 for bachelor's admission in China and for the Chinese Government Scholarship.
- Registration is only on csca.cn, and each session's registration window stays open for just a few days.
- Mathematics is compulsory for everyone; Professional Chinese is compulsory for Chinese-taught programmes and for scholarship applicants; your programme decides physics and chemistry.
- The fee is CNY 450 for one subject and CNY 700 for two or more.
- You can take the test at home (Windows computer + phone) or at a test centre; content and scoring are identical.
- Results come out within 10 working days and are valid for two years; there is no limit on attempts.
2026–2027 sessions
Each session lasts two days. Registration opens a few weeks before each session and is short (7 days for November 2026). Statuses come from csca.cn.
Subjects and timing
Each subject is scored separately. There is no limit on how many subjects you take in one session.
| Subject | Test language | Duration | Questions | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Chinese (humanities) | Chinese | 90 min | 80 multiple-choice | 0–100 |
| Professional Chinese (science) | Chinese | 90 min | 80 multiple-choice | 0–100 |
| Mathematics | English or Chinese | 60 min | 48 multiple-choice | 0–100 |
| Physics | English or Chinese | 60 min | 48 multiple-choice | 0–100 |
| Chemistry | English or Chinese | 60 min | 48 multiple-choice | 0–100 |
Which subjects do you need?
If you apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship
- Mathematics: compulsory
- Professional Chinese: compulsory (even for English-taught programmes); the programme decides humanities or science
- Physics / chemistry: if your programme requires them
If you apply without the scholarship
- Mathematics: compulsory
- Professional Chinese: only for Chinese-taught programmes
- Physics / chemistry: if your programme requires them
The exact subjects are set by your university's admission guide. You can choose the language of mathematics, physics and chemistry separately for each subject; if the university has no requirement, the choice is yours. Find your subjects with our eligibility check →
Test-day schedule
- Day 1: Professional Chinese, then Mathematics. Day 2: Physics, then Chemistry.
- The first subject starts at 08:00 or 14:00 Beijing time (UTC+8); the exact time is on your admission ticket.
- For the home test, the system opens 60 minutes before the start and the last login is 30 minutes before. Late candidates cannot enter.
Registration step by step
Registration windows are short, so finish steps 1–3 before registration opens.
- Choose your subjects and sessionCheck your universities' deadlines and choose a session, remembering that results take 10 working days.
- Prepare your documentsA valid original passport, a compliant ID photo, an email address you will keep using, and a card enabled for international payments.
- Create an account on csca.cnRegister with your own email. One email can be linked to one candidate only; do not share your account.
- Fill in the registration formName, gender, date of birth, passport number and nationality must match your passport exactly. The form is locked once submitted.
- Choose session, test format and subjects, then payChoose home or test-centre format and your subjects; pay by card, WeChat Pay or Alipay. Your registration is complete when the confirmation email arrives.
- Complete the tests (home online test)A personal system test and a group mock test are compulsory. If you skip them and have problems on test day, the fee is not refunded.
- Download your admission ticketThe admission ticket (准考证) becomes available before the test and you are notified by email. Print it and check it against your passport.
- Take the test and get your scoreScores are released on csca.cn within 10 working days; download the PDF score report and add it to your university application.
What you need to register
- Passport (original)
- Only an ordinary passport booklet is accepted; ID cards, driving licences, residence permits and copies are not. It must stay valid from registration until scores are released. Renew it before registering if it is about to expire.
- ID photo
- Taken in the last 6 months, colour, 33 × 48 mm, white background; JPG, 40–200 KB. Your whole head must be visible, with ears and eyebrows uncovered. Filters, beautification, selfies and AI-generated photos are rejected; this photo is used for face recognition in the home test.
- Confirmation, admission ticket and score notices are sent to this address.
- Payment
- A Visa or Mastercard (credit, debit or prepaid) issued outside mainland China with international payments enabled, WeChat Pay or Alipay.
Preparing for the home online test
The home test uses two devices: the computer you answer on and a phone or tablet that films you from behind. A live proctor watches you throughout.
Computer and internet
- Windows 10/11 (64-bit). macOS is not supported, and the test client may not run on some devices such as Microsoft Surface.
- One screen only; external monitors, remote desktop and virtual machines (Hyper-V, WSL etc.) are not allowed.
- Camera of at least 720p directly above the screen. Desktop computers need speakers and a microphone; wireless earphones are banned.
- Internet of at least 20 Mbps up and down, preferably wired; keep a 4G phone hotspot ready as a backup.
- VPNs, proxies and network accelerators cannot be used.
- The second device (phone/tablet) goes behind you at 45°, 1–1.5 m away, slightly above shoulder height, on a tripod, plugged in, in flight mode with Wi-Fi on.
Room and desk
- A closed, quiet, well-lit room that nobody enters during the test. No cafés, dormitories shared with others or school labs.
- The desk stands in a corner against two walls and you sit facing the wall; you cannot take the test on a bed or sofa.
- For notes, only a small whiteboard or blank paper inside a clear plastic sleeve with an erasable marker. Ordinary paper, pencils, pens, phones and books are banned.
- At the end you must erase your notes in front of the proctor.
Taking the test at a test centre
Some countries have computer-based test centres; content, duration and scoring are the same as the home test. The list of centres appears on csca.cn after you log in, under "考点查询" (test centre search).
Rules to know
- If you cannot show your original passport on test day, you will not be admitted and the fee is not refunded.
- Registration details cannot be changed after submission; corrections are possible only by application before the admission ticket is generated.
- Sessions cannot be transferred; you can only cancel before the admission ticket is generated.
- Candidates under 18 register with a guardian's consent and help. Holders of a Chinese passport cannot take the test.
- Cheating or rule breaches lead to cancelled scores, a two-year or lifetime ban and notification of universities.
Which session should you take?
- To start in September 2027 with the Chinese Government Scholarship: December 2026 or January 2027, as scholarship applications usually close between December and February.
- Without a scholarship: a session at least three weeks before your university's deadline. For example, Nanjing University needs CSCA scores by 15 May 2027, so April is the last chance.
- Some universities let you add your score later (Dalian University of Technology, for applications submitted before 30 November 2026).
Frequently asked questions
How much does the CSCA cost?
CNY 450 for one subject and CNY 700 for two or more, paid at registration by card, WeChat Pay or Alipay.
Can I take the CSCA from my home country?
Yes. You can take it at home with a Windows computer and a phone. The list of test centres is shown on csca.cn after you log in.
I am applying to an English-taught programme. Do I need Professional Chinese?
Not if you apply without a scholarship. If you apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship, Professional Chinese is compulsory even for English-taught programmes.
How long is a CSCA score valid?
Two years from the test date. You can take the test as many times as you like; universities usually accept your best valid score.
Is there a pass mark?
No. Each subject is scored out of 100, and each university sets its own requirements for its programmes.
Can I use a Mac?
No. The home-test client runs only on Windows. If you only have a Mac, use a Windows laptop or choose a test centre.
Can I cancel my registration?
You can cancel before the admission ticket is generated; sessions cannot be transferred. After the ticket is generated, cancellations are not accepted.
How do I send my score to universities?
Once results are out, download the PDF score report from csca.cn and add it to your application. CSCA also offers a score verification service to universities.
Plan your CSCA and application with us
We help you decide which subjects and which session you need for your university and programme, and prepare your application on the same timeline.
Sources (csca.cn): CSCA: About the exam (csca.cn) · CSCA: Registration process (csca.cn) · CSCA: Candidate instructions (csca.cn) · CSCA: ID requirements (csca.cn) · CSCA: Photo requirements (csca.cn) · CSCA: Payment methods (csca.cn) · CSCA: Test Schedule Nov 2026 – Jun 2027 (csca.cn, 14.10.2026)
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