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What Is the CSCA Exam?
Oct,07 2026
The CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is a standardised examination for international students who are applying for undergraduate programmes in China. Since the 2026/2027 academic year, Chinese universities have used CSCA results as an important reference in undergraduate admission and scholarship assessment. The exam has covered language ability and academic foundations in subjects such as mathematics, physics and chemistry.
Who has needed to take the CSCA?
The CSCA has been designed for international students who are planning to apply for bachelor's degree programmes in China.
Since the 2026/2027 cycle, a growing number of Chinese universities have asked applicants to submit CSCA results. However, requirements have not been the same everywhere. Some universities and programmes have made the CSCA compulsory, while others have used it as one reference among several.
For this reason, you should always check the latest admission requirements of your target university and programme before you register for the exam.
Which subjects has the CSCA covered?
The CSCA has offered four main subjects:
Professional Chinese, which has been divided into Humanities Chinese and Science Chinese, depending on the academic direction of the target programme
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
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. For example, students who have applied for science, engineering or medical programmes have often been asked to take Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry, while students who have applied for Chinese-taught programmes have usually needed the Professional Chinese examination.
When and where has the exam been held?
The CSCA has been held several times each application cycle. For the 2026/2027 cycle, six examination sessions have been arranged between November 2026 and June 2027, which has given applicants multiple chances to take the test.
Each session has been held over two consecutive days:
Day one: Professional Chinese and Mathematics
Day two: Physics and Chemistry
Examinations have started at 08:00 or 14:00 Beijing Time (UTC+8), depending on the session. Students who have taken the exam outside China have needed to convert the time into their local time zone.
Registration windows have been short. For example, registration for the November 2026 session has closed on 21 October 2026. You should check the official CSCA registration system early and prepare your documents in advance.
How have universities used CSCA results?
Universities have used CSCA results in two main ways:
Undergraduate admission. CSCA scores have become one of the references that admission officers have used when they have assessed international applicants.
Scholarship assessment. Some universities and scholarship programmes have also considered CSCA results when they have awarded scholarships to international students.
The weight of the CSCA has differed between universities. A strong 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 and the HSK?
Students have often confused the two tests. The difference has been simple:
The HSK has measured Chinese language ability only. Universities have used it to decide whether a student can follow Chinese-taught classes.
The CSCA 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
Full name: China Scholastic Competency Assessment
Purpose: undergraduate admission and scholarship assessment for international students
Subjects: Professional Chinese (Humanities or Science), Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry
Languages: Professional Chinese in Chinese; Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry in Chinese or English
Schedule for 2026/2027: six sessions from November 2026 to June 2027
Registration: short windows, roughly one to two months before each session
Information sources and update time
This article has been based on the official CSCA examination arrangements for the 2026/2027 cycle. Session dates, registration periods and university requirements have been updated each cycle. The content has been last updated in October 2026. Please confirm the latest schedule and requirements in the official CSCA registration system and on the admission pages of your target universities.
Apply Now to create your SICAS account and plan your application around the CSCA 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.
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