CSCA Exam 2026: 20 Most Common Questions Answered
TL;DR: The CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is now mandatory for
300+ Chinese universities starting 2026. I've compiled everything you need to know
from official sources (csca.cn) and my experience with our prep community. If you're
serious about passing, check out our services at crosslineedu.com/collections/allservices.
1. What exactly is the CSCA?
The China Scholastic Competency Assessment is a standardized entrance exam
created by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and Ministry of Education. Starting
from the 2026/2027 academic year, it's mandatory for all international undergraduate
applicants to Chinese Government Scholarship universities .
Think of it as China's answer to the SAT if you want to (despite the huge differences).
CSCA's official website is: https://csca.cn/
2. Who needs to take it?
Short answer: Pretty much everyone applying for bachelor's degrees in China.
Long answer:
•
All CSC scholarship applicants (Type A & B)
•
Self-funded students applying to 300+ designated universities
•
Both English-taught AND Chinese-taught program applicants
•
Postgraduate applicants (Master's/PhD)
•
Students applying to Sino-foreign universities (XJTLU, Nottingham Ningbo,
etc.)
•
Some other non-CSC universities (Shenzhen University for example)
By 2028, it will be mandatory for ALL undergraduate applicants to Chinese
universities.
3. What subjects do I need to take?
This is just an estimation, PLEASE refer to official admission notices!
Your Major
Required Subjects
All majors
Mathematics (COMPULSORY)
Engineering, CS, Physics
Math + Physics
Your Major
Required Subjects
Medicine (MBBS), Biology
Math + Chemistry (some require Physics too)
Business, Economics, Humanities
Math only (if English-taught)
Chinese-taught programs
Math + Professional Chinese (Humanities or STEM)
Pro tip: When in doubt, take more subjects. You can always submit extra scores, but
you can't retroactively take missed subjects.
4. When and where can I take the CSCA?
2026 Exam Schedule:
•
January 25, 2026
•
March 15, 2026
•
April 2026
•
June 2026
•
December 2026
Format: Primarily home-based online testing with AI + human proctoring. Test centers
may be available in the future.
Registration: Only at csca.cn. Create an account, upload passport photo, select
subjects, and pay.
5. How much does it cost?
•
1 subject: 450 RMB (~$62 USD)
•
2+ subjects: 700 RMB (~$96 USD) total
Payment warning: International cards often fail. WeChat Pay/Alipay work better.
6. What are the technical requirements?
CRITICAL: You need:
•
Windows 10/11 PC (Mac is NOT supported, don't try VMs)
•
Built-in camera + microphone
•
Stable internet + backup mobile hotspot
•
Small whiteboard + erasable marker (no paper allowed!)
•
Second device (phone) for proctoring
The whiteboard rule is real. You must show it clean before starting and erased at the
end. No exceptions.
Exam Format & Difficulty
7. What does the exam actually look like?
Subject
Duration
Questions
Format
Mathematics
60 min
48 MCQs
Chinese or English
Physics
60 min
48 MCQs
Chinese or English
Chemistry
60 min
48 MCQs
Chinese or English
Professional Chinese (STEM or Liberal Arts)
90 min
80 MCQs
Chinese only
NO CALCULATORS ALLOWED. This is the #1 shock for IB/AP/A-Level students.
8. Is it as hard as the Gaokao?
No, but don't get complacent.
The Gaokao is designed to eliminate millions of Chinese students. The CSCA is
designed to check if you have foundational knowledge. Difficulty is roughly 6/10 vs
Gaokao's 10/10.
However: The January 2026 exam was significantly harder than December 2025.
Students reported:
•
Heavy trigonometry focus (~70% of math paper)
•
Difficult conic sections (hyperbolas/parabolas)
•
Brutal time pressure—many guessed the last 10-15 questions
9. What's the passing score?
There is no official passing score. But here's what universities are actually requiring:
University
Math
Physics/Chem Source
Tianjin University (CSC) 70
65
Email from admission
Southwest University
80+ (scholarship) / 60+ (admission)
-
Info session
Zhengzhou University
50
50
Hard threshold
CUMT
Ranking-based
Ranking-based Official notice
Rule of thumb: 60+ is "safe," 80+ is competitive, 90+ makes you a strong scholarship
candidate.
Preparation Strategy
10. What should I study?
Download the official syllabi from csca.cn. Key topics (if you cannot find, join our
discord community, link in the subreddit bio):
Mathematics:
•
Sets and inequalities
•
Functions (domain, range, monotonicity)
•
Trigonometry (heavy focus!)
•
Conic sections (ellipses, hyperbolas, parabolas)
•
Vectors and matrices
•
Probability and statistics
•
Basic calculus (derivatives, limited integration)
Physics:
•
Mechanics (kinematics, dynamics, energy)
•
Electromagnetism (circuits, fields)
•
No modern physics (quantum/relativity)
11. How long should I prepare?
Minimum: 4-6 weeks of dedicated study
Recommended: 8-12 weeks if your math is rusty
12. Are official mock exams available?
No. The CSCA does not release official past papers (just like the Gaokao). This is why
third-party resources are crucial.
We have compiled recall papers from actual test-takers FOR FREE (the closest thing to
real questions), link in the discord group.
13. Can I use a calculator?
NO. You need to:
•
Memorize √2 ≈ 1.414, √3 ≈ 1.732, π ≈ 3.14
•
Know sin/cos/tan for 30°, 45°, 60° instantly
•
Do logarithms and exponents by hand
•
It is not that hard, just get used to it
14. What if my screen freezes or I get disconnected?
January 2026 reality: The "White Screen of Death" hit dozens of students. Proctors
were unresponsive. Some lost 10+ minutes restarting.
Your move:
•
Screenshot everything
•
Email CSCA support immediately after the exam
•
Request retake (rarely granted, but worth trying)
15. Can I retake if I fail?
Yes, unlimited retakes. Scores are valid for 2 years. But remember: university
deadlines wait for no one. If you're applying for September 2026 intake, you need scores
before your target uni's deadline.
16. Do I submit CSCA scores with my application or after?
Both. Some universities (like Fudan Phase 1) require scores by January 15, meaning
only December CSCA takers qualify. Others let you apply first and update scores later.
Strategy: Apply early with placeholder scores, then update when results release (7
working days for online tests).
17. Which universities require CSCA?
Confirmed:
•
Fudan, Zhejiang, SJTU, Tsinghua (optional for 2025), HIT, Tianjin, Xiamen, CUMT,
SWU, SCUT
Not required (yet):
•
Sino-foreign joint ventures (XJTLU, Nottingham Ningbo, NYU Shanghai)
•
Some lower-tier provincial universities
Check your target uni's 2026 admission guide. Requirements are still updating.
18. I'm taking a gap year—what do I put for "current school"?
Put your previous high school. This field is for data purposes only—no asterisk = not
critical .
19. Can't I just self-study from free resources?
You can. But here's what free resources won't tell you:
•
The exact question distribution from December/January exams (trig-heavy,
calc-light)
•
Which formulas to memorize vs. derive
•
The time management strategy for 48 questions in 60 minutes
•
How to handle technical failures during the exam
Crossline Edu's team includes international school teachers and Chinese curriculum
experts. Our CSCA Video Courses ($129.90/subject) break down every topic with
Chinese exam logic.
Their Discord community (5,000+ members) has real-time updates on:
•
Payment workarounds
•
Software download issues
•
University-specific requirements
•
Recall questions from latest exams
20. What's the best value prep option?
Your Situation
Recommended Service
Price
Budget-conscious, selfdisciplined
Study Pack Bundle
From $48
Visual learner, needs structure
Video Masterclass
(Math/Physics/Chem)
$129.90 each
Exam in 2 weeks, panicking
15-Day Intensive Bootcamp
Check site
Free Options
Free Recalled Exam Papers
Download in the discord
group
Shop all options: crosslineedu.com/collections/all-services
We also offer Scholarship Application Kits with real successful essays and preadmission letter templates—critical for CSC Type A applications.
Final Thoughts
The CSCA isn't impossible. It's a systematic test of foundational knowledge with
brutal time pressure and specific Chinese exam logic. The students who fail are the
ones who:
1. Underestimate the no-calculator rule
2. Don't practice speed
3. Study generic SAT material instead of CSCA-specific content
Start prep early. Join a community. And if you want structured guidance from people
who've actually taken the exam, consider our services as well.
Good luck with your March/April exams!
The 2026 China Study Abroad Survival Guide: The REAL stuff brochures won't tell
you (CSCA, 30k Deposits, & "English" Programs)
If you are currently refreshing the CSC website hoping it doesn't crash, or googling
"CSCA Math Past Papers," take a breath. You are not alone.
I’ve been tracking discussions across multiple international student communities for
the upcoming 2026 intake. While the university brochures show pretty campuses and
happy students, they leave out the logistical nightmares.
Here is a breakdown of the pain points that are blindsiding applicants this year, and how
to deal with them.
1. CSCA Exam: The New Gatekeeper
If you are applying to top-tier universities (like HITSZ, SJTU, XJTU), you have probably
just realized you need to sit the CSCA EXAM. Here is the reality check:
•
No Calculator Shock: This is the biggest complaint. For Math and
Physics, calculators are strictly forbidden.
o
•
•
The Trap: The questions aren't necessarily impossible (often A-Level/SAT II
standard), but the time pressure is brutal. You need to be able to do
trigonometry, logarithms, and basic arithmetic in your head rapidly. If you
rely on your Casio for everything, start practicing mental math today.
The Website is... Temperamental: The registration portal is notorious for
crashing, specifically with international credit cards (Visa/Mastercard).
o
Common Error: "Error 403" or stuck on "Payment Processing."
o
The Fix: Do NOT use Chrome with ad-blockers (if it fails, if not, proceed as
usual). Use Microsoft Edge or Incognito Mode. If you can, find a friend
with Alipay or WeChat Pay to help you; those methods almost never fail.
Don't Wait: Registration windows are short. If you miss the deadline, you miss
the intake for schools that require it.
2. Personal Statement (PS) vs. Study Plan (SP)
Many applicants think these are the same document and upload the same PDF
twice. Do not do this.
•
Personal Statement (The Past): This is about you. Your background, your
struggles, your extracurriculars, your leadership. Why do you want to study in
China? Why this specific major? (Avoid generic "China has a long history" fluff).
•
Study Plan (The Future): This is academic. What courses do you want to focus
on? Do you have a specific research interest? What is your career map after
graduation?
•
AI Warning: Admissions offices are becoming increasingly strict about AIgenerated essays. Even if you wrote it yourself, using tools like Grammarly to
heavily rewrite sentences can flag it as AI. Write naturally. Be authentic.
3. Financial Shocks
Budgeting for tuition is one thing, but the hidden upfront costs are hurting people this
year.
•
Application Fees are Non-Refundable: It costs between 400 to 800 RMB per
university just to apply. If you spray-and-pray to 10 schools, you are out over
$600-$1,000 USD before you even get an offer.
•
The Deposit (e.g., HITSZ): This is catching everyone off guard. Some universities
require a deposit to "lock in" your seat after you get the pre-admission letter
but before they send you the visa documents (JW202).
o
•
Horror Story: Some students were asked for up to 30,000 RMB (~$4,100
USD) upfront. Make sure you have liquid cash available in
March/April/May so you don't lose your spot.
Notarization: You cannot just scan your high school transcript. It must be
translated (if not in EN/CN) and Notarized. This costs money per page.
4. English Taught Reality
"My program is 100% English taught, so I don't need Chinese, right?"
Wrong.
•
Graduation Requirement: Many Chinese universities like HITSZ requires you to
pass HSK 4 (sometimes HSK 3) to actually get your degree certificate, regardless
of your major.
•
Life Outside Campus: Inside the classroom, English is fine. Step one foot
outside the dormitory gate, and you need Mandarin to order food, talk to Didi
drivers, or set up your bank account.
•
Advice: Do not skip the mandatory Chinese language classes in your first year.
You will regret it later.
5. Technical Prep: Do This BEFORE You Fly
•
WeChat Verification: You cannot just download WeChat and sign up. You need
an existing user to scan your QR code to verify you. This is incredibly hard to do
when you are alone at the airport. Find a local Chinese community or a Discord
group to help you verify now.
•
The VPN Situation:
o
Your free VPN will not work in China.
o
Your roaming data is expensive.
o
Action: Purchase and install a reliable paid service before you board the
plane. You cannot download them easily once you land behind the
firewall.
6. Miscellaneous Tips from the Trenches
•
Under 18?: You will need a Guardian Letter. This is a legal headache. You need a
fastidious adult living in China (sometimes specifically in the city of your Uni) to
sign for you.
•
Scholarship Stacking: Generally, you cannot hold a CSC Scholarship (Type A or
B) and a Provincial/University scholarship at the same time. You have to pick the
best one.
TL;DR: The process is harder than the brochures make it look. Practice mental math for
the CSCA, save up cash for unexpected deposits, get your WeChat verified early, and
start learning basic Chinese now.
Need study materials or a place to vent?
We are building a community to share mock tests and updates.
Join the Discord here: https://mee6.xyz/i/Vqxagqf68e
Good luck everyone! Jia you!