The CSCA Aptitude Assessment (2026/27 cycle)

What is CSCA?

From the 2026/27 admissions cycle, most undergraduate applicants to Chinese universities sit the CSCA aptitude assessment — Mathematics plus a subject-appropriate Chinese paper (Science/Professional Chinese for STEM & medicine, Liberal-Arts Chinese for humanities & social science). Each school publishes its own required subjects and indicative cut-offs in its undergraduate admission guide; always confirm on the official site.

Who it applies to

From the 2026/27 admissions cycle, most undergraduate applicants to Chinese universities are expected to sit the CSCA aptitude assessment. Graduate applicants are generally assessed on their prior record and research proposal rather than this exam — confirm the rule for your target program.

What is tested

• Mathematics — compulsory for every undergraduate applicant.
• A subject-appropriate Chinese paper:
  • Science / Professional Chinese for STEM, engineering and medicine.
  • Liberal-Arts Chinese for humanities, social science and economics.

Each school publishes its own required subjects and indicative cut-offs in its undergraduate admission guide. Treat any published number as indicative only.

How to prepare

• Confirm the exact subjects and cut-off for your target school on its official international-admissions site.
• Bring your mathematics to a solid high-school level; the Chinese paper tests subject reading/writing in Chinese, not just conversation.
• Check each university's page for its specific CSCA note — e.g. Tsinghua, Peking University.