Who has to take the CSCA?

Bachelor's applicants for the Chinese Government Scholarship must take it and upload a valid score report before their application deadline. Many universities also ask self-funded bachelor's applicants for it. Master's and PhD applicants do not take it.

Which CSCA subjects do I need?

For the Chinese Government Scholarship: mathematics and one professional Chinese paper, humanities or science depending on the program, plus physics or chemistry if the program asks. For a self-funded place: mathematics, a professional Chinese paper if the program is taught in Chinese, and physics or chemistry if asked.

Can I take the CSCA in English?

Mathematics, physics and chemistry can be taken in Chinese or English, chosen separately for each subject. The professional Chinese papers are in Chinese only.

How much does the CSCA cost?

450 CNY for one subject and 700 CNY for two or more, paid online when you register.

How long are CSCA scores valid?

Two years from the test date. You can take the test as many times as you like, and universities usually accept your best valid score, though each sets its own rules.

The CSCA Test: Subjects, Fees, Dates and How It Works

The CSCA is the academic test for international bachelor's applicants to Chinese universities. Who needs it, which subjects, fees, the home test and scores.

The CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment, 来华留学本科入学学业水平测试) is a standardized test for international students applying for bachelor's degrees in China. The China Scholarship Council (CSC) runs it, and it tests your Chinese and your academic basics. Since the 2026/27 round, bachelor's applicants for the Chinese Government Scholarship must take it.

Who needs it

Chinese Government Scholarship, bachelor's: required. You must sit the test and upload a valid score report before your embassy's or university's deadline. For September 2027 entry, this round's notices ask you to sit the November or December 2026 or the January 2027 test.
Self-funded bachelor's: many universities ask for it too. The CSCA website lists more than 300 universities that accept it, so check each one you apply to.
Master's and PhD: not needed.

Only non-Chinese citizens can register; holders of a Chinese passport or a Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan residence permit cannot. There is no age limit, but applicants under 18 need a guardian's consent.

Subjects

Subject	Language	Time	Questions
Professional Chinese, humanities (文科中文)	Chinese	90 minutes	80
Professional Chinese, science (理科中文)	Chinese	90 minutes	80
Mathematics	Chinese or English	60 minutes	48
Physics	Chinese or English	60 minutes	48
Chemistry	Chinese or English	60 minutes	48

All questions are multiple choice, and each subject is scored from 0 to 100.

Which subjects to take:

For the Chinese Government Scholarship: mathematics and one professional Chinese paper, humanities or science depending on the program. Add physics or chemistry if the program asks.
For a self-funded place: mathematics; a professional Chinese paper if the program is taught in Chinese; physics or chemistry if the program asks.

You choose the language for mathematics, physics and chemistry separately. If the university does not say which, you can pick either.

Dates

The CSCA runs six times a year, in January, March, April, June, November and December, over two days each time. Registration opens on csca.cn a few weeks before each test: for November 2026 it was open for one week, about four weeks before the test. This round's test dates and registration windows are on our application deadlines page.

The November 2026 timetable, in Beijing time (UTC+8):

Day	Subject	Time
Day 1	Professional Chinese	14:00 – 15:30
Day 1	Mathematics	17:00 – 18:00
Day 2	Physics	14:00 – 15:00
Day 2	Chemistry	16:30 – 17:30

14:00 in Beijing is 13:00 in Bangkok and Hanoi, 11:00 in Almaty and 09:00 in Moscow.

Fees and registration

Fee: 450 CNY for one subject, 700 CNY for two or more. You pay online when you register, for example by Visa, Mastercard, WeChat Pay or Alipay.
Account: register at csca.cn with your own email address. One account is for one candidate only.
Passport: the only ID accepted. It must be valid on the test day, and you show the original.
Photo: a digital ID photo, uploaded when you register.
Changes: your details are locked once you submit them. You can ask for a correction or withdraw only before the admission ticket is issued, and you cannot move to another date.

Taking the test at home

Most candidates take the CSCA online at home, watched by remote proctors. Test centers are being added in the main sending countries; the content and timing are the same.

Computer: Windows 10 or 11 (or Windows 7 SP1, 64-bit); Mac computers are not supported. One screen only, a webcam of at least 720p, and no remote desktop or virtual machines.
Second camera: a phone or tablet on a stand, filming you from behind at a 45° angle.
Internet: at least 20 Mbps up and down, preferably a cable connection, with a 4G hotspot as a backup. VPNs and proxies are not allowed.
Room: quiet, closed and well lit, at a clear desk, not on a bed or sofa. No paper: use a small whiteboard, or a sheet inside a clear plastic sleeve, with an erasable marker.
Before the test: you must pass a personal system check and a group mock test. If you skip them and then cannot take the test, the fee is not refunded.
On the day: log in from 60 minutes before the start; late entry is not allowed. Have your original passport and the printed admission ticket.

Scores

Results come out within 10 working days.
You download an electronic score report from csca.cn. It is the official report: send it to universities as it is. Universities can check it in the official system and see your percentile among all candidates.
Scores are valid for two years from the test date. You can retake the test as often as you like, and universities usually accept your best valid score.
Each university sets its own minimum scores, so check the programs you apply to.