Everything you need to know about the CSCA.

The China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) is a standardised test for international students who plan to study a bachelor’s degree in China. It is organised by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and developed with experts from Chinese universities.

It measures two things: your academic foundations (maths and science) and your Chinese language ability. Chinese universities use CSCA scores when they review undergraduate applications and scholarship applications.

Who can take it?

• Any non-Chinese citizen applying for a bachelor’s programme at a university in mainland China.
• There is no age limit. Students under 18 need a parent or guardian to agree and help with registration.
• Your passport is the only accepted ID. It must be the original and still valid on exam day.

The CSCA and the CSC scholarship are different things

The CSCA is the exam. The CSC scholarship (Chinese Government Scholarship) is optional funding you can apply for. The usual order is: take the CSCA, apply to universities, then apply for the scholarship with your scores.

It depends on how you apply. Your target university and programme have the final say, so check their admission guide before you register.

Applying for a Chinese Government (CSC) Scholarship programme

• Required: Mathematics and Professional Chinese (Humanities or Sciences, depending on the programme).
• Possibly required: Physics and/or Chemistry, if your programme asks for them.

Applying without the CSC scholarship

• Required: Mathematics.
• Professional Chinese: required if your programme is taught in Chinese.
• Possibly required: Physics and/or Chemistry, if your programme asks for them.

Tip: there is no limit on how many subjects you take in one session, and you can choose Chinese or English separately for each of maths, physics and chemistry.

The CSCA is offered in three ways: on a computer at a test centre, on paper at a test centre, or online at home with a live remote invigilator. The home exam is only available in countries and regions without a test centre, so check which option applies to you when you register.

If you take the exam at home, you need:

• A Windows computer (Windows 10/11, 64-bit). Mac is not supported, and remote desktops, virtual machines and some devices such as Microsoft Surface may not work.
• At least 4 GB of RAM, a screen of 1366×768 or larger, one monitor only, and 2 GB of free disk space (avoid the C: drive).
• A webcam of 720p or better, plus a microphone and speakers. Wireless earphones are not allowed.
• A phone or tablet on a stand, filming you from behind at a 45° angle.
• A stable internet connection of at least 20 Mbps (wired is best), with no VPN or proxy. Keep a mobile hotspot ready as a backup.

Before and during the exam

• You must complete a personal system test and at least one official mock exam beforehand. If you skip them and cannot sit the exam, the fee is not refunded.
• The system opens 60 minutes early. Finish the device check and face verification at least 15 minutes before the start — late students cannot enter.
• Paper is not allowed. Use a small whiteboard, or a sheet inside a clear plastic sleeve, with an erasable marker.
• You cannot submit early; the system collects your answers when time is up.

Each subject is scored from 0 to 100. There is no official pass mark — each university sets its own requirement for each programme, and competitive programmes and scholarships expect higher scores.

• Results are published within 10 working days after the exam.
• You download an official electronic score report from csca.cn and send it directly to universities.
• Universities can verify your report and see your percentile rank among all test takers.
• You can take the CSCA as many times as you like. Scores are valid for two years, and you can usually submit your best valid score.