CSCA exam guide
CSCA is the academic proficiency test for international students applying to undergraduate programmes at Chinese universities. Many universities now ask applicants to take it as part of their admission or scholarship process.
Who runs it
The test is organised by the China Scholarship Council (CSC). The official website is www.csca.cn.
Five subjects
You take the subjects your target university requires. All questions are single-choice.
| Subject | Questions | Time | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 48 | 60 min | Chinese or English |
| Physics | 48 | 60 min | Chinese or English |
| Chemistry | 48 | 60 min | Chinese or English |
| Professional Chinese (Humanities) | 80 | 90 min | Chinese only |
| Professional Chinese (Science) | 80 | 90 min | Chinese only |
Each subject is scored out of 100.
Exam format
Most candidates take the exam online at home on a computer. Centre-based computer tests use the same content, timing and question types.
Exam dates
There are several sessions every year (recently in January, March, April, June, November and December). Results are usually released within 10 working days.
Registration fee
For reference: RMB 450 or RMB 700, depending on the registration option. Fees can change — always check the official website before you register.
Details on this page are a summary for convenience. If anything differs, the official website www.csca.cn is correct.
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