CSCA Exam Registration: How to Register for the CSCA Exam from Sri Lanka
CSCA exam registration step by step: account, sessions, online or centre format, CNY 450/700 fees and paying from Sri Lanka. Plan your next window now.
In short: CSCA exam registration is done only online at csca.cn, the official China Scholastic Competency Assessment site. You create an account, choose a test session and format (home-based online or a test centre), select your subjects, and pay CNY 450 for one subject or CNY 700 for two or more. Each registration window is short, so check the site for the next one well before your university deadline.
Next registration window (checked 23 Oct 2026): the October 2026 registration window has now closed. Dates for the next sessions are published on csca.cn, and we could not confirm them from the official site on 23 October 2026. Log in to your CSCA account, open the session list on the home page, and note the registration window for the session you want. Windows are shown in Beijing time (UTC+8), which is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of Sri Lanka time.
This page covers registration logistics only. For what the CSCA is, who needs it, which subjects suit each A/L stream and how to prepare, read our CSCA exam guide for Sri Lankan students. In brief, the CSCA is the undergraduate entrance test for international students applying to Chinese universities, first held on 21 December 2025, and it is required for Chinese Government Scholarship bachelor's applicants for the 2026 and 2027 academic years.
What do you need before CSCA exam registration?
Before you start CSCA exam registration, have your passport, a digital ID photo, a card that can pay online in Chinese yuan, an email address you check daily, and your final list of subjects. Registration windows last only about a week, so prepare everything in advance.
- Passport: register with your name exactly as it appears in your passport.
- Digital ID photo: recent, clear, front-facing, plain background.
- Payment card: a credit or debit card enabled for international online payments (see the payment section below).
- Email address: confirmations and score notices arrive by email.
- Subject list: the subjects and test language each target university requires.
- Test format: home-based online or a test centre (check the centre list after you log in).
- For home-based testing: a computer, a second device such as a smartphone for the proctor camera, and a stable internet connection.
How to register for the CSCA exam, step by step
To register for the CSCA exam, you create an account on csca.cn, complete your profile, pick a session and format, choose subjects and test language, pay the fee and save your confirmation. With your documents ready, the process takes about 20 minutes.
- Go to the official website. Open csca.cn and switch to English with the 中/EN button at the top. Use only this site; look-alike sites cannot register you.
- Create an account. Click Register (注册), enter your email, set a password and verify your email.
- Complete your profile. Enter your details exactly as in your passport and upload your ID photo.
- Choose a test session. On the home page, find the session and its registration window (Beijing time, UTC+8).
- Pick your test format. Home-based online, or a computer-based or paper-based test at an authorised test centre.
- Select subjects and test language. Professional Chinese (Humanities or STEM track), Mathematics, Physics and/or Chemistry; the science subjects can be taken in Chinese or English.
- Pay the fee. CNY 450 for one subject or CNY 700 for two or more.
- Save your confirmation. Download or screenshot the registration confirmation; some universities accept it while you wait for scores.
- Before exam day, log in again to check your exam details and any admit ticket or test instructions the site issues.
- After the test, log in to view and download your score report, then send it to your universities.
How much is the CSCA exam registration fee?
The CSCA exam registration fee is CNY 450 for one subject and CNY 700 for two or more subjects, according to the Shanghai government CSCA FAQ. Most Sri Lankan science-stream applicants take Mathematics plus at least one science subject, so they pay CNY 700.
| Subjects registered | Fee |
|---|---|
| One subject | CNY 450 |
| Two or more subjects | CNY 700 |
The amount in Sri Lankan rupees depends on the exchange rate your bank applies on the day, plus any foreign-transaction charge. Check the current CNY rate with your bank before paying. For wider budgeting, see the cost of studying in China for Sri Lankans.
How do you pay the CSCA fee from Sri Lanka?
You pay the CSCA fee online by card during registration. From Sri Lanka, use a credit or debit card that your bank has enabled for international online payments, and confirm that your foreign spending limit covers CNY 700.
Many Sri Lankan cards block overseas online payments by default. Call your bank or enable the setting in your banking app a day before the window opens. If a payment fails, do not pay twice; check your CSCA account and your bank statement first, and contact CSCA support if the status is unclear.
Can I take the CSCA exam online or offline?
Yes, the CSCA can be taken either way. There are three formats: a home-based online test with a live online proctor, a computer-based test at an authorised test centre, and a paper-based test at a test centre. You choose the format during registration.
| Format | Where | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Home-based online | Your own computer, live online proctoring | Within 7 working days |
| Computer-based | Authorised test centre | Within 7 working days |
| Paper-based | Authorised test centre | Within 14 working days |
Is there a CSCA exam centre in Sri Lanka?
The first overseas CSCA exam centres opened in Vietnam and Thailand in December 2025, with more planned. We could not confirm a CSCA exam centre in Sri Lanka as of 23 October 2026, so most Sri Lankan candidates use the home-based online format. Check the centre list on csca.cn after logging in, as new centres are added.
Which subjects should you select, and when are they held?
Mathematics is compulsory for everyone. Science, engineering, agriculture and medicine applicants must also take at least one of Physics or Chemistry. Professional Chinese is needed for Chinese-taught programmes but not for fully English-taught ones. Always follow each university's admissions guide.
Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry each have 48 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes; Professional Chinese has 80 questions in 90 minutes. Each subject is scored out of 100. The published session times, converted to Sri Lanka time (UTC+5:30), are:
| Subject | Beijing time | Sri Lanka time |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Chinese | 1:00–2:30 pm | 10:30 am–12:00 noon |
| Mathematics | 3:30–4:30 pm | 1:00–2:00 pm |
| Physics | 5:30–6:30 pm | 3:00–4:00 pm |
| Chemistry | 7:30–8:30 pm | 5:00–6:00 pm |
Confirm the times for your own session in your CSCA account, as they may change. Sessions held in December, April and June are scheduled for Asia-Pacific daytime, which suits Sri Lankan candidates best.
What are the CSCA exam dates for 2027?
The CSCA runs about five sessions a year; the 2026 pattern was January, March, April, June and December. Check the official 2027 calendar on csca.cn, because we could not confirm the full 2027 dates from an official source on 23 October 2026.
Plan backwards from your university deadlines. Scores take up to 14 working days, so choose a session that leaves time to sit a later one if needed. Our China university intakes and deadlines guide lists deadlines for the 2027 intake, and the Chinese Government Scholarship guide explains where CSCA scores fit in a CSC application.
What happens on exam day and after?
On exam day, follow the instructions issued in your CSCA account. For the home-based test, run the camera, microphone, second-device and internet checks beforehand, sit alone in a quiet, well-lit room, and keep your passport ready for identity checks. Results appear in your account within 7 working days (14 for paper tests).
- Log in early and convert every Beijing time to Sri Lanka time.
- Have a power backup (UPS or charged laptop) and mobile data as a backup in case of outages.
- Use the same name and passport as in your registration.
- Download your score report once released and upload it to each university application.
Common CSCA registration mistakes
- Missing the window: windows last about a week; set reminders in Sri Lanka time.
- Wrong subjects: a missing subject can make an application incomplete.
- Wrong test language: for English-taught programmes, take the science subjects in English.
- Name mismatch: your registration name must match your passport.
- Card blocked: enable international online payments before the window opens.
Proton Education Services runs online CSCA preparation courses in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Professional Chinese, each ending with mock exams in the CSCA style.
How Proton Education Services can help
Proton helps Sri Lankan students choose universities and subjects, register for the CSCA, and prepare university and scholarship applications. See our study-in-China services, read the full study in China from Sri Lanka guide, or contact our team on WhatsApp +94 74 201 6755.
Sources
- CSCA official website – registration and session list (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
- Shanghai Municipal Government – China Scholastic Competency Assessment: FAQs (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How do I register for the CSCA exam from Sri Lanka?
Register online at csca.cn. Create an account with your email, enter your details exactly as in your passport, upload an ID photo, choose a session and test format, select your subjects and pay by card. Sri Lankan candidates usually choose the home-based online format and should enable international online payments on their card before the window opens.
How much is the CSCA exam fee?
The CSCA fee is CNY 450 if you register for one subject and CNY 700 for two or more subjects. Because Mathematics is compulsory and most science applicants add Physics or Chemistry, many Sri Lankan students pay CNY 700. The rupee amount depends on your bank's exchange rate and charges on the day you pay.
Can I take the CSCA exam online from home?
Yes. The home-based online format lets you sit the CSCA on your own computer with a live online proctor. You need a computer, a second device such as a smartphone for the proctor camera and a stable internet connection. Results for online tests are released within 7 working days of the exam.
When is the next CSCA exam registration?
The October 2026 registration window has closed. Upcoming sessions and their registration windows are posted on csca.cn in Beijing time, which is 2.5 hours ahead of Sri Lanka. Check the site regularly and register as soon as the window for your chosen session opens, as windows typically last only about a week.
Can I retake the CSCA if my score is low?
The CSCA runs about five sessions a year, so you can register for a later session if you want a better score. Check with each university which score it accepts and confirm the current rules on csca.cn. Leave enough time before deadlines, as paper-based results can take up to 14 working days.