The CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is a 2025-launched exam for international undergraduates by China’s Ministry of Education, testing Chinese, math, physics, or chemistry in 60-minute online tests. By December 2025, 15 scholarships require it, and 80% of Chinese universities will mandate it by 2028, shaping global study pathways with standardized academic benchmarks.
Table of Contents
Basic Concepts of CSCA
The China Academic Capability Assessment (CSCA) is a unified academic test for international students led by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) under the Ministry of Education of China. The first exam will be launched in December 2025, covering four subjects: Chinese, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
As of October 2025, 15 Chinese Government Scholarship universities have clearly designated the CSCA as a mandatory requirement for 2026 admissions, and it is expected to cover over 80% of universities accepting international undergraduate students nationwide by 2028.
The exam is conducted online at home. The fee is 450 RMB for a single subject or 700 RMB for two subjects combined. Results will be released within 7-14 working days. The exam design emphasizes compatibility with arts and science streams. For example, science and engineering candidates must complete both Mathematics and Physics/Chemistry tests, while the reliance on Chemistry for medical majors is as high as 85%.
Exam Structure
CSCA achieves precise assessment through a ”Foundation + Specialization” dual-module design.
Arts stream candidates must complete Chinese, Mathematics, and Business/Management Mathematics (choose one of two), while science stream candidates must additionally take Physics or Chemistry.
Data shows that 60% of science and engineering majors require the submission of both Mathematics and Physics scores, and the correlation of Chemistry in medical majors reaches 85%.
All exam questions are objective type, with a single subject duration of 60 minutes, supporting Chinese and English dual-language test paper switching.
Candidates for English-taught programs must choose the English paper and do not need to take an additional Chinese proficiency test. This design allows 90% of non-native speaker candidates to directly match professional requirements.
Exam fees adopt tiered pricing, 450 RMB for a single subject or 700 RMB for two subjects combined, with full coverage of mainstream payment methods such as Alipay and WeChat.
Candidate Profile
Starting from 2026, applicants for the Chinese Government Scholarship will face dual constraints: in addition to language scores, CSCA results will be a rigid threshold.
Currently, 73 scholarship universities have explicitly included CSCA scores in their comprehensive scoring system, with 38 of them setting its weight at 20%-30% of the total score.
For self-funded international students, the requirement is not mandatory in 2026 for now, but top-tier universities like Tsinghua University and Peking University are piloting the use of CSCA scores as an admission reference.
It is worth noting that all international undergraduate freshmen enrolling in China in 2028 and beyond may face a comprehensive assessment. Policy adjustments are expected to lead to an annual exam participation exceeding 100,000 person-times, establishing a new international education assessment standard.
Impact Dimensions
In 2024, the average difference in international student Mathematics scores in universities in a certain coastal province reached 42 points, and the introduction of CSCA is expected to control this gap within 15 points.
From a quality control perspective, exam data will provide universities with a student quality tracking model, helping to optimize major settings and course difficulty.
Furthermore, with the iterative upgrade of the exam system (such as the planned launch of an AI-assisted grading feature in 2026), CSCA may become the world’s first international student assessment system to achieve ”integrated assessment, teaching, and evaluation”, fundamentally changing the data silo issue of traditional admissions models.
Which Types of Students Should Take the CSCA
The China Academic Capability Assessment (CSCA) has a mandatory association for three types of international students: undergraduate freshmen applying for the Chinese Government Scholarship starting from 2026, all international undergraduate students planning to enroll in Chinese universities after 2026, and some self-funded students (if explicitly required by the university).
As of October 2025, 15 Chinese Government Scholarship universities have designated the CSCA as a mandatory option, and it is expected to cover over 80% of universities accepting international undergraduate students nationwide by 2028.
The exam fee is 450 RMB for a single subject or 700 RMB for two subjects combined, with results released within 7-14 working days. In terms of subject compatibility, 60% of science and engineering candidates must submit both Mathematics and Physics scores, while the reliance on Chemistry for medical majors is as high as 85%.
Scholarship Applicants
According to the latest policy in 2025, 73 scholarship universities have explicitly included CSCA scores in their comprehensive scoring system, with 38 of them setting its weight at 20%-30% of the total score.
For example, a certain top university requires scholarship applicants’ Mathematics scores to be no less than 85 points (out of 100), and Chemistry scores must reach 78 points to enter the interview stage.
In addition, candidates for English-taught programs must choose the English paper and do not need to take an additional Chinese proficiency test. This design allows 90% of non-native speaker candidates to directly match professional requirements.
Undergraduate Applicants After 2026
Starting from 2026, all international students applying for undergraduate programs in China (regardless of whether they apply for a scholarship) must meet the CSCA examination requirements.
For example, Tsinghua University explicitly stated that science and engineering majors will prioritize the admission of candidates whose Mathematics and Physics scores both exceed 90 points, while medical majors require a Chemistry score of no less than 80 points.
Data shows that in 2025, 12 non-scholarship universities have included CSCA score requirements in their admissions brochures, and the number of participants is expected to exceed 100,000 person-times by 2028, forming a new international education entry threshold.
Self-Funded Students
Although the 2026 policy does not mandate self-funded students to take the CSCA, some universities are indirectly exerting influence through “recommended submission” or “major binding.” For example, a university in a coastal city stipulates that self-funded students applying for Finance must submit Mathematics scores (minimum 75 points), while Architecture majors require Physics scores (minimum 80 points).
From a cost-benefit perspective, the proportion of candidates choosing the online exam reaches 76%, mainly because the at-home exam saves on transportation and accommodation costs (an average saving of about 1200 RMB per person).
After the 2028 policy adjustment, self-funded students who fail to meet the CSCA minimum standard may face restrictions on changing majors or credit conversion penalties.
Key Dates
The registration for the first China Academic Capability Assessment (CSCA) in 2025 will be open from December 1st to December 15th, and the exam date is set for December 20th to 21st.
As of October 2025, 15 Chinese Government Scholarship universities have clearly designated the CSCA as a mandatory requirement for 2026 admissions, and it is expected to cover over 80% of universities accepting international undergraduate students nationwide by 2028.
The exam provides Chinese and English dual-language papers. Candidates for English-taught programs must choose the English paper and do not need to take an additional Chinese proficiency test. Regarding result announcement, online and computer-based exams will release scores within 7 working days after the exam, while paper-and-pencil exams will take 14 working days.
First Exam Date
The first CSCA exam date is set for December 20th to 21st, 2025. The registration window will be open from December 1st to December 15th, and late registration will not be accepted. The exam subjects cover Chinese, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, with a single subject duration of 60 minutes each, conducted online at home.
It is worth noting that candidates for English-taught programs must choose the English paper, and do not need to take an additional Chinese proficiency test. This design allows 90% of non-native speaker candidates to directly match professional requirements.
The exam fee is 450 RMB for a single subject or 700 RMB for two subjects combined, with full coverage of mainstream payment methods such as Alipay and WeChat.
Regular Exam Cycle
Starting from 2026, the CSCA will be fixed at 5 exams per year, specifically in January, March, April, June, and December. The registration window for each exam is 15 to 30 days before the exam. For example, the registration time for the March exam is February 1st to February 15th.
Candidates need to pay attention to the application deadlines of their target universities, as some universities require payment confirmation to be completed 7 days before the exam. Regarding result release, online and computer-based exams will release scores within 7 working days after the exam, while paper-and-pencil exams will take 14 working days.
Data shows that 60% of science and engineering majors require the submission of both Mathematics and Physics scores, while the reliance on Chemistry for medical majors is as high as 85%.
Score Validity and Application Linkage
CSCA scores are valid for 2 years, and candidates can choose to submit their best score. For example, the score from the first exam in December 2025 can be compared with the score from June 2026 for optimal use.
In terms of application linkage, students enrolling in the Fall of 2026 need to complete their preparation for the first exam before October 2025 to ensure timely score submission.
Some universities stipulate that candidates with a single subject score of less than 60 points in Mathematics or Chemistry will be restricted in their choice of major, and applicants with a total score of less than 240 points may lose their eligibility to compete for scholarships.
Exam Preparation Guide
Registration for the first exam in December 2025 closes on December 15th, and the score release period is 7-14 working days. In terms of subject distribution, 60% of science and engineering majors require the submission of both Mathematics and Physics scores, while the reliance on Chemistry for medical majors is as high as 85%.
Time Management
The recommended preparation cycle is divided into Foundation Period (3 months), Enhancement Period (2 months), and Sprint Period (1 month). The foundation period requires completing the knowledge framework for all subjects, with an average daily study time of 4-5 hours;
The enhancement period focuses on high-frequency test points, requiring completion of at least 50 comprehensive problems for the Mathematics calculus section, and mastering 15 typical reaction mechanisms for Chemistry organic synthesis problems.
The sprint period requires conducting 5 full-length mock exams, strictly adhering to the time allocation: it is recommended that Chinese reading comprehension questions take no more than 8 minutes per passage, and Physics calculation problems should use the step-by-step grading method (even if the final answer is wrong, but the steps are reasonable, candidates can aim for 30% of the procedural marks).