CSCA is not only a Chinese-language test. Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry are separate subject modules, and the combination you take depends on your admission route and intended degree.
Official format
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 48 in each subject |
| Time | 60 minutes for each subject |
| Format | Multiple choice |
| Maximum score | 100 in each subject |
| Language | Chinese or English, subject to university requirements |
That is an average of 75 seconds per question. The official overview does not promise partial marks or give candidates an unrestricted language choice. Confirm the university’s requirements first.
Check calculator and rough-work rules in the instructions for your specific session. An old sample paper is not a rulebook.
Which subjects are compulsory?
Under the current CSCA framework:
| Applicant category | Compulsory subjects | Additional subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Government Scholarship bachelor’s applicant | Mathematics + Professional Chinese | Physics and/or Chemistry as required by the programme |
| Non-CSC applicant to a Chinese-taught programme at an institution using CSCA | Mathematics + Professional Chinese | Physics and/or Chemistry as required by the programme |
| Non-CSC applicant to an English-taught programme at such an institution | Mathematics | Physics and/or Chemistry as required by the programme |
Engineering programmes commonly require Physics. Chemistry, pharmacy and some medical programmes may require Chemistry, while others ask for both. The university decides.
How difficult is it?
The subjects draw on secondary-school knowledge, but it is misleading to call the examination an “easy Gaokao.” Difficulty depends on your school preparation, working language and speed.
The main pressures are:
- 48 questions in 60 minutes;
- unfamiliar wording and notation;
- weak basic algebra disrupting otherwise familiar topics;
- technical vocabulary slowing down reading in a second language;
- no guarantee that a sample paper matches the exact difficulty of a live session.
Candidate reports can provide context, but a small community poll is not official performance data.
Syllabus areas by subject
The official syllabus is published on the CSCA website. The groups below are a revision map, not a promise about the percentage of questions.
Mathematics (数学)
| Area | What to revise |
|---|---|
| Sets and inequalities | set operations, quadratic and other fundamental inequalities |
| Functions | properties, powers, logarithms, trigonometry, sequences and introductory differentiation |
| Geometry and algebra | coordinate geometry, conic sections, vectors, complex numbers and solid geometry |
| Probability and statistics | classical probability, mean, variance and basic normal-distribution concepts |
Physics (物理)
| Area | What to revise |
|---|---|
| Mechanics | kinematics, Newton’s laws, work, energy and momentum |
| Electricity and magnetism | circuits, Ohm’s law, electric fields and magnetic fields |
| Thermodynamics | kinetic theory, ideal gases and the first law of thermodynamics |
| Optics | reflection, refraction, interference and diffraction |
| Modern physics | photoelectric effect, atomic structure and introductory nuclear physics |
Chemistry (化学)
| Area | What to revise |
|---|---|
| Quantitative foundations | mole calculations, stoichiometry, solutions and concentration |
| Structure of matter | atoms, periodicity and chemical bonding |
| Reactions | ionic and redox processes |
| Inorganic and organic chemistry | only the topics named in the current syllabus |
| Experiments and applications | safety, apparatus, gas preparation, separation, purification and industrial processes |
Chinese or English?
The CSCA platform offers both languages for these subjects, but a university may specify a preferred or compulsory option.
| Factor | Chinese | English |
|---|---|---|
| Terminology | Prepares you for Chinese-taught study | Fits candidates who studied the subject in English |
| Reading speed | May slow down word problems | Offers no benefit if the English terminology is also unfamiliar |
| Mathematics | Formulae transfer, but instructions still require fast reading | Often easier with strong academic English |
| Physics and Chemistry | Demands a large technical vocabulary | Demands command of international terminology |
Choose from full sample-test results, not intuition. If your scores differ substantially, clear comprehension and accurate solutions should take priority.
Essential Mathematics vocabulary
Instructions
- 求 (qiú): find;
- 计算 (jìsuàn): calculate;
- 已知 (yǐzhī): given;
- 判断 (pànduàn): determine;
- 选择 (xuǎnzé): select;
- 下列 (xiàliè): the following;
- 正确 (zhèngquè): correct;
- 错误 (cuòwù): incorrect.
Algebra and functions
- 方程 (fāngchéng): equation;
- 不等式 (bùděngshì): inequality;
- 函数 (hánshù): function;
- 集合 (jíhé): set;
- 交集 (jiāojí): intersection;
- 并集 (bìngjí): union;
- 定义域 (dìngyìyù): domain;
- 值域 (zhíyù): range;
- 单调 (dāndiào): monotonic;
- 奇函数 (jī hánshù): odd function;
- 偶函数 (ǒu hánshù): even function.
Geometry and trigonometry
- 三角形 (sānjiǎoxíng): triangle;
- 圆 (yuán): circle;
- 椭圆 (tuǒyuán): ellipse;
- 双曲线 (shuāngqūxiàn): hyperbola;
- 抛物线 (pāowùxiàn): parabola;
- 面积 (miànjī): area;
- 体积 (tǐjī): volume;
- 半径 (bànjìng): radius;
- 坐标 (zuòbiāo): coordinates;
- 正弦 (zhèngxián): sine;
- 余弦 (yúxián): cosine;
- 正切 (zhèngqiē): tangent;
- 弧度 (húdù): radian.
Probability
- 概率 (gàilǜ): probability;
- 排列 (páiliè): arrangement or permutation, depending on context;
- 组合 (zǔhé): combination;
- 平均值 (píngjūnzhí): mean.
Essential Physics vocabulary
- 速度 (sùdù): velocity or speed;
- 加速度 (jiāsùdù): acceleration;
- 力 (lì): force;
- 重力 (zhònglì): gravitational force;
- 摩擦力 (mócālì): friction;
- 动能 (dòngnéng): kinetic energy;
- 势能 (shìnéng): potential energy;
- 功率 (gōnglǜ): power;
- 动量 (dòngliàng): momentum;
- 电流 (diànliú): current;
- 电压 (diànyā): voltage;
- 电阻 (diànzǔ): resistance;
- 电路 (diànlù): electric circuit;
- 串联 (chuànlián): series connection;
- 并联 (bìnglián): parallel connection.
Essential Chemistry vocabulary
- 摩尔 (mó’ěr): mole;
- 原子 (yuánzǐ): atom;
- 分子 (fēnzǐ): molecule;
- 元素 (yuánsù): element;
- 化合物 (huàhéwù): compound;
- 氧化 (yǎnghuà): oxidation;
- 还原 (huányuán): reduction;
- 酸 (suān): acid;
- 碱 (jiǎn): base or alkali, depending on context;
- 盐 (yán): salt;
- 溶液 (róngyè): solution;
- 浓度 (nóngdù): concentration;
- 化学键 (huàxuéjiàn): chemical bond;
- 共价键 (gòngjiàjiàn): covalent bond;
- 离子键 (lízǐjiàn): ionic bond.
A preparation sequence that exposes the real problem
- Download the current syllabus and complete the official sample test.
- Mark topics you miss even when language is not a factor.
- Measure separately how many marks terminology costs you.
- Practise complete 60-minute blocks.
- Keep an error log with the topic, cause, correct method and solution time.
- Review formulae and basic calculations without a calculator where this matches your session rules.
- A few days before the test, verify the platform, equipment and time zone.
Bottom line
Do not select a subject combination or working language from another candidate’s experience. Get the university’s requirements in writing, sit a sample paper in both available languages and prepare from the current official syllabus.
For the language component, see CSCA Professional Chinese: format and strategy.
