CSCA Exam in English or Chinese? How to Choose the Language of Each Paper
An applicant-focused guide to choosing CSCA paper languages, checking university requirements, and resolving unclear Professional Chinese rules before registration.
You can choose English or Chinese separately for the CSCA Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry papers, according to the Chinese Embassy's CSCA FAQ. Professional Chinese is offered only in Chinese. The right choice is the language your intended university accepts for your exact program, not simply the one that feels easier. Check this before you lock your registration details.
Which CSCA papers have an English version?
- Mathematics: English or Chinese.
- Physics: English or Chinese.
- Chemistry: English or Chinese.
- Professional Chinese, Humanities or STEM: Chinese only.
The embassy FAQ says a candidate may use different test languages for different foundational subjects. It also says to follow the target institution's requirement where one is specified. The Shanghai government CSCA explainer likewise describes English and Chinese versions of the three foundational papers. A university can still specify which version it wants for a particular program.
Choose the exam language in this order
A practical check before registration
Open the exact program notice
Find the international undergraduate admission page for the university, major, intake year and teaching language.
Write down every CSCA paper
Record Mathematics and any required Physics, Chemistry or Professional Chinese track. Requirements vary by institution and route.
Look for a language instruction
Note whether each foundational paper must be in English or Chinese. Do not infer this solely from the degree's teaching language.
Ask when the notice is silent
Email admissions with the program name and scholarship route. Ask which CSCA subjects and test languages they accept, and keep the answer.
Check the official registration screen
Before submitting, compare the selected subjects, languages and passport details with your notes. The published FAQ warns that candidates cannot edit registration details themselves after submission.
Examples: how different choices can arise
China University of Petroleum (Beijing)'s 2026 CSCA subject list gives a real language comparison. Its English-taught Petroleum Engineering program requires Mathematics in English plus Physics or Chemistry in English. Its Chinese-taught Petroleum Engineering program requires Science Chinese, Mathematics in Chinese, and Physics or Chemistry in Chinese. The university explicitly tells applicants to use the test language that matches the program's teaching language. These are rules for that named university and 2026 intake, not a universal rule for every CSCA applicant. Check the latest notice for your own program before registering.
A candidate applying to both English-taught and Chinese-taught programs should make one row per program: subject, accepted paper language, Professional Chinese requirement, scholarship route and document deadline. If the rows conflict, ask whether one exam selection can satisfy both. Registering first and asking later may leave you with the wrong paper language.
Do English-taught applicants need Professional Chinese?
Do not assume a blanket exemption. Public guidance has used different wording for scholarship routes: the Shanghai government FAQ says applicants to fully English-taught undergraduate programs are exempt from Professional Chinese, while the official CSCA exam introduction and some university instructions may phrase the Chinese Government Scholarship requirement differently. Because this changes the number of papers you must take, check the most recent notice for your application route and get written confirmation from the intended university or scholarship office before omitting the paper.
If Professional Chinese is required, ask whether you need the Humanities or STEM track. The paper itself is in Chinese, so choosing English for Mathematics does not convert Professional Chinese into an English exam. HSK is a separate qualification; any exemption for a Chinese Language major should also be checked against that program's current notice.
How to prepare for the chosen language
- For an English paper, practise the terms in the official Mathematics syllabus, Physics syllabus or Chemistry syllabus, depending on your papers. Write a short glossary of words that slow you down in practice. These are the 2025-edition organizer PDFs; check csca.cn for a newer edition before your sitting.
- For a Chinese paper, prepare both the subject concept and its Chinese vocabulary. A familiar formula may still be hard to use if you misread the question stem.
- Do timed practice in the language you will actually select. Switching languages only on test day adds avoidable reading effort.
- Use the CSCA Math syllabus guide, Physics syllabus guide or Chemistry syllabus guide to map topics before taking practice questions.
- Treat CSCA.ai practice as independent study material, not as an official translation or official past paper.
Questions to email the university
A concise message works best: 'I am applying to the [program name] for [intake] through [scholarship or direct route]. Which CSCA subjects are required, and do you accept the English version of Mathematics/Physics/Chemistry? Is Professional Chinese required, and if so which track?' Include a link to the program's notice if you are asking about ambiguous wording. Do not send passport numbers or other private details in a first enquiry.
Common questions
Can I take Math in English and Physics in Chinese? The embassy FAQ says candidates may choose languages separately for the foundational subjects, provided the selections meet the target institution's requirements.
Is Professional Chinese available in English? No. The embassy FAQ lists it as Chinese-only, with Humanities and STEM tracks.
Does an English-taught degree automatically determine the CSCA language? No. Use the university's own notice for each paper. For Professional Chinese, verify your program and scholarship route specifically because published guidance differs.
Sources and update check
Checked 22 October 2026: Chinese Embassy CSCA FAQ for language choice by subject; Shanghai government CSCA FAQ and official CSCA exam introduction for the differing Professional Chinese descriptions. The three linked 2025-edition subject syllabus PDFs were checked for availability on 31 October 2026. China University of Petroleum (Beijing)'s 2026 subject list was checked on 31 October 2026 for the named program examples above. The latest official sitting notice and your target university’s written requirements take priority. CSCA.ai is an independent preparation platform.
