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CSCA Exam Guide 2027: Latest Exam Schedule, Subjects and Registration
Sep,30 2026
Students who are planning to study in China at undergraduate level in 2027 should pay attention to the China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA).
The CSCA has become an important part of undergraduate admission planning for international students. Since the 2026/2027 academic year, CSCA results have been used as an important reference by Chinese universities for undergraduate admission and scholarship assessment. The exact requirements have depended on the university, programme and type of application.
The latest CSCA exam schedule for 2026–2027 has also been released. Six examination sessions have been arranged from November 2026 to June 2027, giving students more opportunities to plan their examination and university applications.
This guide has explained the CSCA exam subjects, the latest examination dates, registration information, examination formats and some points that international students should consider before taking the test.
What Is the CSCA Exam?
The China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) is a standardised examination for international students who are planning to apply for undergraduate programmes in China.
The examination has been designed to assess students' academic foundation and language ability. Chinese universities can use CSCA results as one of the references when they are assessing international undergraduate applicants and scholarship applications.
The role of the CSCA has become more important since the 2026/2027 academic year. However, students should not assume that every university and every undergraduate programme has exactly the same CSCA requirements.
Students who are planning to apply to a Chinese university should first check the latest admission requirements of their target university and programme. They should then confirm which CSCA subjects they need to take.
What CSCA Subjects Are Available?
The CSCA has provided four main types of examination subjects:
Professional Chinese
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Professional Chinese has been divided into Humanities Chinese and Science Chinese, according to the relevant academic direction.
Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry have been available in both Chinese and English. The examination subjects that students need to take have depended on their target university and undergraduate programme.
For example, students who are planning to apply for science, engineering or medical programmes may need to take Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry according to the requirements of their target university.
Students who are applying for Chinese-taught programmes may also need to take the relevant Professional Chinese examination.
The exact requirements can be different between universities and programmes. For this reason, students should check the latest admission information before they register for the CSCA exam.
2026–2027 CSCA Exam Schedule
The latest CSCA examination arrangement has included six examination sessions from November 2026 to June 2027.
Each examination session has been arranged over two consecutive days.
On the first day, students will take:
Professional Chinese
Mathematics
On the second day, students will take:
Physics
Chemistry
The first examination does not start at the same time in every session. Some sessions will start at 08:00 Beijing Time, while others will start at 14:00 Beijing Time.
CSCA Exam Dates 2026–2027
| Examination Session | Examination Dates | First Examination |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 14–15 November 2026 | 14:00 Beijing Time |
| December 2026 | 19–20 December 2026 | 08:00 Beijing Time |
| January 2027 | 23–24 January 2027 | 14:00 Beijing Time |
| March 2027 | 13–14 March 2027 | 14:00 Beijing Time |
| April 2027 | 24–25 April 2027 | 14:00 Beijing Time |
| June 2027 | 26–27 June 2027 | 08:00 Beijing Time |
All examination times are based on Beijing Time (UTC+8).
Students who are taking the CSCA outside China should convert the examination time into their local time before the examination. They should also check their admission documents and examination notice again, as the exact arrangements may be updated.
When Is the November 2026 CSCA Registration?
The registration period for the November 2026 CSCA exam is:
15–21 October 2026
The registration period is relatively short. Students who are planning to take the November examination should therefore prepare their registration information in advance.
Students should also check the official CSCA registration system during the registration period and follow the latest information shown there.
If you have been planning to study in China in 2027 and you want to take the November session, it is better to confirm your target university and required CSCA subjects before the registration period begins.
Online and Offline CSCA Exams
The CSCA has provided both online examinations taken from home and offline computer-based examinations at designated centres.
Online CSCA Exam
Students who are taking the online examination can take the test from home if they meet the relevant requirements.
The online examination has followed the same examination content and duration requirements as the corresponding computer-based examination. Students who are taking the test from home need to prepare the required computer, internet connection and examination environment in advance.
Offline Computer-Based CSCA Exam
Students who are taking the offline examination will sit the test at a designated examination centre.
The examination will be conducted on computers at the centre, with the relevant examination supervision and technical arrangements provided by the centre.
Students can choose the available examination format according to their location and circumstances. Before registration, they should check the requirements for the examination format that they have chosen.
When Will CSCA Results Be Released?
From the November 2026 examination session, CSCA results will be released within 10 working days after the examination.
The shorter result period has given students more flexibility when they are planning their undergraduate applications and scholarship applications.
However, students should still leave enough time between their CSCA examination and the application deadline of their target university.
Students who are applying for scholarships should also check whether a valid CSCA score report is required and when the score needs to be submitted.
Which CSCA Exam Session Should You Choose?
Students who are planning to study in China in 2027 have several CSCA examination sessions to choose from.
It has given students more flexibility for planning their preparation and university applications.
Students who have already prepared for the required subjects can consider an earlier examination session. Taking the examination earlier can give them more time to prepare their university application after they receive their results.
Students who need more time for preparation can consider a later session. However, they should first check the application deadline of their target university.
For students who are applying for scholarships, the scholarship deadline should also be considered when they choose their CSCA examination date.
Before you choose an examination session, you should have confirmed:
Which Chinese university you are planning to apply to
Which undergraduate programme you are interested in
Which CSCA subjects you need to take
Which examination language you need
When your university or scholarship application closes
This will help you choose an examination session that fits your application plan.
What Should Students Prepare for the CSCA Exam?
1. Check the Requirements of Your Target University
Students who are planning to take the CSCA should first check the requirements of their target university.
Different universities and undergraduate programmes can have different requirements. Students should therefore not select their examination subjects only according to the general CSCA subject list.
2. Confirm the Examination Language
Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry have been available in both Chinese and English.
Students should check which examination language their target university and programme accept before they register.
3. Check the Examination Time Carefully
All CSCA examination times are based on Beijing Time.
If you are taking the examination outside China, you should convert the time into your local time in advance.
This is particularly important for students who are taking the online examination from another country.
4. Register Before the Deadline
The November 2026 CSCA registration period is 15–21 October 2026.
Students who are planning to take this session should prepare their registration information before the registration period starts.
5. Start Your Preparation Early
CSCA preparation has involved more than understanding the examination dates.
Students who are preparing for the CSCA need to understand the required subjects, review the relevant academic knowledge and become familiar with the examination format.
A suitable preparation plan can help students organise their study time before the examination.
What Does the CSCA Mean for Students Applying to Study in China in 2027?
For students who are planning to study in China in 2027, the CSCA should be considered as part of the early application planning process.
The number of examination sessions has increased for the November 2026 to June 2027 period. The new arrangement has given international students more opportunities to choose an examination date that fits their preparation and application schedule.
At the same time, students still need to pay attention to the requirements of their individual universities and programmes.
The CSCA is only one part of an undergraduate application. Students may also need to prepare academic certificates, language qualifications, personal documents and other application materials.
For this reason, students who have planned to study in China should start by identifying their target universities and programmes. After that, they can check the CSCA requirements and make their examination plan.
Prepare for Your CSCA Exam with SICAS
Students who are preparing for the CSCA need to understand the examination requirements and practise the subjects that they will take.
SICAS has provided a dedicated CSCA Intelligent Training Platform for international students who are planning to apply for undergraduate programmes in China.
The platform has included bilingual questions, exam-style practice, an AI error book, more than 120 video courses and supporting materials, as well as one-to-one learning support.
Students who are planning to take the CSCA for their 2027 China university application can start their preparation early and organise their study plan according to the subjects required by their target university.
Learn More About SICAS CSCA Training
Final Reminder
The CSCA examination schedule has provided more opportunities for international students who are planning to study in China in 2027.
Before you register, you should check your target university, undergraduate programme, required CSCA subjects, examination language and application deadline.
The latest examination dates and registration arrangements should always be checked through the official CSCA information and the latest admission notice of your target university.
If you have already decided to apply for undergraduate study in China in 2027, starting your CSCA preparation early can give you more time to organise the rest of your application.