International students should know the CSCA exam offers five testing opportunities annuallywith flexible online options, while the Gaokao is a single annual June event. The CSCA tailors its Chinese test by major, requiring 3,000-4,500 specialized vocabularyfor science/humanities streams, a significant contrast to the Gaokao’s single, general foreign language exam.
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Examination Structure Differences
The CSCA requires international students to take tests in Mathematics, Professional Chinese, and Science subjects, while the Gaokao adopts a “3+1+2” or “3+3” model, allowing students to choose subject combinations. For example, the CSCA Math exam covers basic Algebra and Geometry and is compulsory for all majors, whereas Gaokao Math is set at different difficulty levels based on the Arts/Science division. Furthermore, the CSCA exam is held 5 times a year, supporting computer-based and at-home online formats, while the Gaokao is uniformly held only in June each year.
Subject Setup
The CSCA subject structure is centered around compulsory subjects. Mathematics is mandatory for all majors, and at least one subject from Physics or Chemistry must be chosen. Professional Chinese exemption conditions vary based on the language of instruction. For example, students applying for English-taught programs are exempt from the Professional Chinese exam but must provide an HSK Level 4 certificate. The Gaokao, through the “3+1+2” model, grants students more choice, with Physics or History as one selection, and two more subjects chosen from Politics, Geography, etc., forming 12 combinations.
Data shows that in the 2017 Gaokao in Zhejiang Province, 91% of majors required Physics as a selection subject, but students actively avoided it due due difficulty, resulting in a selection rate of less than 10%.
Scoring Mechanism
The CSCA adopts a 100-point standardized scoring system. Math and Professional Chinese scores are directly included in the total score, and Science subjects are graded by level according to university requirements. For example, Science and Engineering majors may require a Physics score of B level or above.
The Gaokao uses a mix of raw scores and level-based (T-score) scoring. Chinese, Math, and Foreign Language use raw scores. Selection subjects are converted to level scores based on ranking. Under the 3+1+2 model, Physics/History are counted as raw scores, and the remaining selection subjects are converted using a formula.
Taking Jiangsu Province as an example, in the 2024 Gaokao, the proportion of students who selected Physics reached 63%, but after the level-based scoring conversion, the average score of the top 10% of students increased by 15.7 points.
Examination Process
The CSCA supports multiple examination opportunities. Candidates can pass all subjects within two years, and it offers three formats: computer-based, paper-based, and at-home online. For example, the first exam in 2025 allows candidates to choose December 21st or one of the subsequent 5 examination windows.
The Gaokao is a “one-shot” system where all subjects are completed centrally on June 7-8. Foreign language listening is scheduled separately, and some regions allow two listening tests, taking the highest score.
Data shows that in the 2024 Gaokao, about 78% of candidates lost more than 5 points in the foreign language listening section due to nervousness, while the CSCA’s online exam controls the cheating rate to less than 0.3% through invigilation technology.
Subject Selection Flexibility
The CSCA subject structure is centered around compulsory subjects. Mathematics is mandatory for all majors, and at least one subject from Physics or Chemistry must be chosen. Professional Chinese exemption conditions vary based on the language of instruction. For example, students applying for English-taught programs are exempt from the Professional Chinese exam but must provide an HSK Level 4 certificate.
The Gaokao, through the “3+1+2” or “3+3” model, grants students more choice. Physics or History is one selection, and two more subjects are chosen from Politics, Geography, etc., forming 12 combinations.
Data shows that in the 2017 Gaokao in Zhejiang Province, 91% of majors required Physics as a selection subject, but students actively avoided it due to difficulty, resulting in a selection rate of less than 10%.
Compulsory Subjects
The CSCA Math exam covers basic Algebra, Geometry, and Probability & Statistics, compulsory for all majors, with an exam duration of 60 minutes, including 48 multiple-choice questions.
Gaokao Math is set at different difficulty levels based on the Arts/Science division. In the 2024 Jiangsu Gaokao, the raw score mean for Math was 98.5 points, with a standard deviation of 22.1 points. Students who selected Physics scored 14.6 points higher in Math than those who did not.
The CSCA Math score is directly included in the total score, while Gaokao Math is included as a raw score in the “3+1+2” model. The difference in the average Math score for Physics/History candidates reached 8.3 points.
Elective Subjects
CSCA Physics and Chemistry are elective subjects. Science and Engineering majors must choose at least one. In the first exam of 2025, the registration rate for Physics was 68%, and for Chemistry, it was 52%.
Data shows that the Physics selection rate for students applying for Medical majors was as high as 91%, while the Chemistry selection rate for Humanities and Social Sciences majors was only 37%.
Under the Gaokao “3+1+2” model, there is a strong correlation between selecting Physics and Chemistry. In the 2024 Guangdong Gaokao, the proportion of students who selected both Physics and Chemistry was 41%, and their undergraduate admission rate was 22% higher than those who selected only one.
The CSCA allows interdisciplinary combinations, but universities have implicit requirements for major matching. For example, Environmental Engineering majors require at least one subject from Physics or Chemistry to reach B level.
Language Exemption
The CSCA Professional Chinese exam is divided into two categories: Liberal Arts and Science. Applicants for Chinese-taught programs must score above 80 points, while those for English-taught programs are exempt from this subject.
In the first global exam of 2025, the exemption pass rate for HSK 4 holders in Professional Chinese reached 98%, while the exam pass rate for non-holders was only 54%.
The Gaokao has no language exemption mechanism, but the Foreign Language subject offers two examination opportunities. In the 2024 Jiangsu Gaokao, the average score for foreign language listening was 18.7 points, and the average score increased by 4.2 points with two examination opportunities. The differentiated design of the CSCA language threshold shifts the exam pressure for English-taught program applicants to Math and Science subjects, shortening the average preparation period by 23 days compared to Chinese programs.
Language Threshold Setting
The CSCA divides Professional Chinese into Liberal Arts Chinese and Science Chinese, requiring mastery of 4,500 basic vocabulary and 3,000 specialized terms, respectively. Both exams have a duration of 90 minutes, and the question types include character recognition and comprehension, and cloze test questions (multiple choice), with 80 objective multiple-choice questions;
Gaokao Foreign Language only requires mastery of 2,000 commonly used vocabulary and does not differentiate between Liberal Arts and Science majors. This design means that the vocabulary requirement for CSCA Liberal Arts Chinese is 2.25 times that of Gaokao Foreign Language, and the specialized vocabulary requirement for Science Chinese is also 50% higher.
Core Differences
The core difference in the CSCA language threshold is reflected in the comparison between segmented assessment and unified testing. The Liberal Arts Chinese exam requires candidates to master 4,500 basic vocabulary, with question types covering character recognition and comprehension, and cloze test questions (multiple choice), with 80 objective multiple-choice questions. Science Chinese focuses on 3,000 specialized terms, and all questions must be completed within 90 minutes.
The Gaokao Foreign Language subject adopts unified examination setting, with a vocabulary requirement of about 2,000 commonly used words, and does not differentiate between major directions. All candidates use the same test paper.
The vocabulary requirement for CSCA Liberal Arts Chinese is 2.25 times that of Gaokao Foreign Language, and the specialized vocabulary requirement for Science Chinese is also 50% higher. Simultaneously, the CSCA Professional Chinese exam duration is 30 minutes longer than the Gaokao Foreign Language.
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Exemption Mechanism
The CSCA offers a Professional Chinese exam exemption channel for English-taught program applicants, but requires a valid HSK 4 certificate, which requires mastery of 1,200 basic vocabulary, while Chinese-taught program applicants must take the Professional Chinese exam.
This exemption mechanism allows English-taught program applicants to focus their preparation on Math and Science subjects, shortening the average preparation time by 15 days compared to Chinese program applicants.
The Gaokao has no language exemption mechanism. All candidates must take the unified foreign language exam, but some regions allow two listening tests, taking the highest score. For example, in the 2024 Jiangsu Gaokao, 68% of candidates chose the second test, and the average score increased by 4.2 points.
The CSCA’s differentiated exemption policy increases the language preparation efficiency of English-taught program applicants by 23%, but the Professional Chinese exam pass rate for applicants without an HSK 4 certificate is only 54%, highlighting the rigidity of its language threshold.
Major Matching
The CSCA sets tiered language requirements based on major categories. Medical majors require a Chinese exam vocabulary of 6,000 words, while Business majors only require 4,000 words. This design precisely matches language ability with professional learning needs.
Data shows that the Chinese exam pass rate for Clinical Medicine applicants is only 29%, while for Economics majors it is as high as 67%, reflecting the key impact of major compatibility on the language threshold.
The Gaokao uses a unified foreign language test, without differentiating professional needs, leading to 52% of Science and Engineering candidates scoring over 130 points in the foreign language, but the actual major compatibility is less than 40%.
By linking the language threshold to professional requirements, the CSCA results in a 28% higher first-year academic pass rate for admitted students compared to Gaokao centralized admissions, confirming the predictive validity of its language assessment system for academic success.
Application Process Steps
The CSCA application period is concentrated from November 11th to December 21st, requiring completion of online registration, payment, and test center confirmation through the online platform. Gaokao registration starts on October 11th and lasts until November 23rd, including on-site qualification review and photo taking.
Data shows that the CSCA registration platform received 123,000 visits on the first day of registration in 2025, and the server response time exceeded 8 seconds during peak hours. During the Gaokao registration period, a cumulative total of 105 million pieces of candidate information were processed nationwide, with a system failure rate of only 0.03%.
Registration Time and Portal
The CSCA uses a single-stage centralized registration model. The 2025 registration window is from November 11th to December 21st, and candidates must complete information submission and payment within 48 hours.
The Gaokao is conducted in two stages: October 11th to 23rd for online registration, and the qualification review deadline is before November 5th. Some provinces allow supplementary registration from November 16th to 30th.
For example, Hubei Province opened a total of 21 registration sites during the 2025 Gaokao registration period, with a maximum daily processing volume of 87,000 applications. The CSCA registration system supports 12 language interfaces, while the Gaokao only provides Chinese (Simplified/Traditional) options.
Material Preparation and Review
The CSCA requires submission of a scanned copy of the passport main page (validity must cover the exam period), a notarized high school transcript (with the school’s official seal), and a language proficiency certificate (such as HSK 4 certificate). The material omission rate is as high as 17%, leading to review delays.
The Gaokao requires the original household registration book, academic file (including high school academic proficiency test scores), and a recent passport photo. In the 2025 Hubei Gaokao, the material review pass rate was 95%, with 3.2% of candidates being returned due to inconsistent academic status information.
The CSCA uses an AI-assisted review system, with an average processing time of 2.3 hours, while the Gaokao relies on manual verification, with a single material review taking 15 minutes.
Test Center Selection and Confirmation
The CSCA allows candidates to choose from 83 test centers globally and supports the at-home online examination mode. The technical failure rate for online test centers during the first exam of 2025 was 0.7%.
The Gaokao strictly enforces territorial management. Candidates must take the exam at a test center in their household registration or academic status location. Hubei Province set up a total of 3,212 test centers in 2025, with 18 standardized examination rooms set up in the Zhenjiang area.
Data shows that CSCA candidates modify their test center preference an average of 2.4 times, while 92% of Gaokao candidates must accept the system’s assignment due to seat limitations.
CSCA score reports are encrypted using blockchain technology, ensuring delivery to target universities within 48 hours, while Gaokao scores are uniformly released through the Education Examination Authority’s official website.
Admission Focus
The CSCA admission weighting is concentrated on the standardized scores of Math (mandatory), Professional Chinese (divided into Liberal Arts and Science), and Science subjects (Physics/Chemistry elective). For example, the Math exam includes 48 multiple-choice questions, covering Algebra, Geometry, and Probability & Statistics, with a duration of 60 minutes.
The Gaokao balances the difficulty of Liberal Arts and Science through the “3+1+2” model. For example, the raw score mean for Math in the Jiangsu test region reached 98.5 points, and students who selected Physics scored an average of 14.6 points higher in Math.
Ability Dimension
The CSCA locks in the admission focus through the dual dimensions of language and subject. The Professional Chinese exam is divided into Liberal Arts (requires mastery of 4,500 vocabulary) and Science (focuses on 3,000 specialized terms), while Gaokao Foreign Language requires only 2,000 basic vocabulary for a full score.
CSCA Science applicants must choose at least one subject from Physics or Chemistry. For example, Medical majors require a Chemistry score of B level or above, while the Gaokao selection subjects, after the T-score conversion, saw the average score of the top 10% of candidates increase by 15.7 points.
This design makes CSCA scores more directly reflective of the fundamental abilities required for students’ professional studies. For example, the Professional Chinese pass rate for Chinese-taught program applicants is 23% lower than for English-taught programs, but their academic adaptability after enrollment is 28% higher.
Subject Strategy
The CSCA’s “mandatory + elective” model requires candidates to combine subjects based on their target major. For example, Business majors need to take Liberal Arts Chinese and Math, while Science and Engineering majors need to add Physics or Chemistry. The Gaokao uniformly uses the national paper and does not differentiate language difficulty by major.
CSCA Math is mandatory for all majors. The question type is fixed at 48 multiple-choice questions, focusing on logical reasoning. For example, the error rate in the function module accounts for 78%, while applied questions in Gaokao Math account for 35%, and candidates spend an average of 45 minutes.
The differentiation in subject combinations makes CSCA admission more focused on major compatibility. For example, the admission rate for Physics selectors in Engineering majors is 22% higher than for non-selectors, while the major compatibility of Gaokao subject selection is only 40%.
Scoring Application
CSCA scores use a percentage system and are linked to global percentile rankings. For example, at-home online exam scores are released within 7 working days, and paper-based exams within 14 working days, while Gaokao scores are only presented as raw scores or T-scores.
CSCA Math scores are directly included in the total score and must meet the threshold set by the university (e.g., above 75 points for Science and Engineering majors), while Gaokao selection subjects are converted to T-scores based on ranking. For example, the top 10% of Physics candidates saw an average increase of 15.7 points after the T-score conversion.
This scoring mechanism makes CSCA admission more reliant on the absolute value of standardized scores. For example, applicants with a total score above 80 points account for 65% in scholarship evaluations, while Gaokao admission considers a combination of continuous assessment scores and application strategies.