CSCA Exam for Sri Lankan Students: What It Is, Subjects & How to Prepare (2027)

CSCA exam Sri Lanka guide: who must sit it, which papers suit your A/L stream, format, scoring and a 1- or 3-month prep plan. Plan your 2027 application.

In short: the CSCA (China Scholastic Competency Assessment) is the entrance test China now uses for international bachelor's degree applicants. For Sri Lankan students, the CSCA exam is required if you apply for an undergraduate place at a Chinese Government Scholarship university for 2026 or 2027 entry, and it is open to anyone else planning to study in China. You take Mathematics plus the subjects your programme asks for, online from Sri Lanka or at a test centre.

This guide explains what the CSCA exam is, which papers a Sri Lankan A/L student should sit, how the test is scored, and how to prepare in one or three months. For the sign-up steps, see our separate CSCA registration guide.

What is the CSCA exam?

The CSCA exam (来华留学本科入学学业水平测试) is a standardised academic test for international students applying to undergraduate programmes in China. It is run through the China Scholarship Council's official CSCA website, csca.cn, and the first sitting was held on 21 December 2025. Universities read CSCA scores alongside your A/L results and other documents.

Think of the CSCA as China's version of the SAT: it checks whether you are academically ready for first-year university study, in one common format that applicants from every country sit.

Who needs to take the CSCA?

The CSCA is mandatory for international students applying to undergraduate programmes at Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) universities for the 2026 and 2027 academic years. Shanghai's official FAQ describes the test as open to all students planning to study in China, and university notices indicate it will later extend to all international undergraduate applicants.

• CSC scholarship applicants (bachelor's): required. If you are applying through the Chinese Government Scholarship, plan your CSCA sitting well before the scholarship deadline.
• Self-funded bachelor's applicants: many universities that take CSC students now ask all undergraduate applicants for CSCA scores. Check each university's admission notice.
• Master's and PhD applicants: the CSCA is an undergraduate entrance test, so it does not apply.

Two exemptions are published: applicants to fully English-taught undergraduate programmes do not need the Professional Chinese paper, and applicants to Chinese Language programmes with a valid HSK Level 4 score are exempt from Professional Chinese. Neither exemption removes Mathematics.

What subjects are in the CSCA exam?

The CSCA has four subjects: Professional Chinese (Humanities or STEM version), Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Mathematics is compulsory for every applicant. Applicants to science, engineering, agriculture or medicine programmes must also take at least one of Physics or Chemistry, and Chinese-taught programmes need the matching Professional Chinese paper.

Each CSCA subject is scored out of 100. The official sources do not publish a single pass mark; each university sets its own expectations, so treat your CSCA score as competitive rather than pass/fail.

Which CSCA papers should a Sri Lankan A/L student take?

Your CSCA papers depend on the degree you apply for, not your A/L stream as such, but the stream is a useful starting point. The table below is a typical guide based on the published rules; the admission notice of each target university is the final word, so check it before you register.

Commerce and Arts students should note that CSCA Mathematics is still compulsory even without Combined Maths at A/L. Biological Science students aiming at medicine should also read the MBBS in China guide, because medical schools set extra entry conditions.

How is the CSCA exam taken, and how often?

The CSCA is offered in three formats: a home-based online test with a live remote proctor, a computer-based test at an authorised test centre, and a paper-based test at a test centre. Sri Lankan students usually take the home-based online version, which needs a computer, a second device such as a phone for the proctor camera, and stable internet.

From 2026 the CSCA runs about five times a year, with sessions timed for different regions: the December, April and June sittings fall in Asia-Pacific daytime, which suits Sri Lanka. Each subject has its own slot on exam day (Beijing time: Professional Chinese 1:00–2:30 pm, Mathematics 3:30–4:30 pm, Physics 5:30–6:30 pm, Chemistry 7:30–8:30 pm; Sri Lanka is 2.5 hours behind). Session dates change, so confirm the current list on csca.cn.

CSCA results for online and computer-based tests come out within 7 working days, and paper-based results within 14 working days. You can sit a later session to improve a score; confirm with each university which attempt it will use. The fee is CNY 450 for one subject or CNY 700 for two or more subjects (as listed in the Shanghai government FAQ); check the fee on csca.cn when you register.

How should I prepare for the CSCA exam?

Start CSCA preparation from the official syllabi (exam outlines) and sample tests, which can be downloaded free from the official CSCA website. CSCA Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry overlap heavily with Sri Lankan O/L and A/L content, so most of the work is learning the question style and the time pressure: 48 questions in 60 minutes is about 75 seconds per question.

Be careful with "CSCA past papers" sold online. The exam only began in December 2025, so very few real papers exist; rely on the official sample and simulation tests and on well-made mock tests rather than unofficial collections.

Professional Chinese is the hardest CSCA paper for most Sri Lankan students, because it tests academic Chinese for first-year university, not everyday conversation. Allow months, not weeks, and see our HSK and learning Chinese guide if you are starting from zero.

CSCA preparation courses at Proton

Proton Education Services runs online CSCA preparation courses for each subject, with exam-style questions and full mock tests. Fees as listed on the Proton website in October 2026:

A free short CSCA introduction video is also available. You can book any of these courses on the Proton course registration page.

How does the CSCA fit into my China application?

The CSCA is one step in a longer study-in-China application: choose universities and programmes, sit the CSCA, then submit admission and scholarship applications before each deadline. Because CSCA results take up to 14 working days, sit the exam early enough to retake before your earliest deadline; the China university intakes and deadlines guide lists the 2027 dates. For the full picture, start with our complete guide to studying in China from Sri Lanka.

How Proton Education Services can help

Proton Education Services helps Sri Lankan students choose the right CSCA papers for their target universities, prepare with subject courses and mock tests, and then handle university admission, CSC scholarship and visa applications. See our study in China service or contact the Proton team on WhatsApp +94 74 201 6755.

Sources

• CSCA official website – China Scholastic Competency Assessment (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
• Shanghai Municipal Government – China Scholastic Competency Assessment: FAQs (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
• University of Marburg – China introduces new global academic assessment (accessed 23 Oct 2026)
• Proton Education Services – CSCA course list, protonbusiness.com (accessed 23 Oct 2026)

Frequently asked questions

Is the CSCA exam compulsory for Sri Lankan students?

The CSCA is compulsory if you apply for a bachelor's programme at a Chinese Government Scholarship university for 2026 or 2027 entry, which covers CSC scholarship applicants. Many universities also ask self-funded undergraduate applicants for CSCA scores, so read each university's admission notice. Master's and PhD applicants do not take the CSCA.

Can I take the CSCA exam in English?

Yes for the science subjects. Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry can each be taken in English or Chinese, so students applying to English-taught programmes normally choose English. Professional Chinese is a Chinese-language paper by design, and students on fully English-taught programmes are exempt from it.

Can I sit the CSCA from Sri Lanka?

Yes. The CSCA offers a home-based online test with a live remote proctor, so you can sit it at home in Sri Lanka with a computer, a phone as a second camera and stable internet. Computer-based and paper-based versions run at authorised test centres; check csca.cn for current locations.

What is a good CSCA score?

Each CSCA subject is marked out of 100, and there is no single official pass mark. Each university decides how it weighs the score alongside your A/L results, and competitive universities and scholarship places expect higher marks. Put most effort into Mathematics, which every applicant sits.

Where can I find CSCA past papers and mock tests?

Because the first CSCA sitting was in December 2025, genuine past papers are scarce. Use the free official exam outlines, sample materials and simulation tests on csca.cn first, then add timed mock tests from a structured preparation course to practise the 48-question, 60-minute format.

How much does the CSCA exam cost?

The Shanghai government FAQ lists CNY 450 for one subject and CNY 700 for two or more subjects, paid online by card when you register on csca.cn. Fees can change between sessions, so confirm the amount on the official site when you register.