CSCA Exam Questions: 9 Worked Examples and Where to Find PDFs

What is the current CSCA question format?

The official exam introduction describes Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as separate 48-question, 60-minute, single-choice papers offered in Chinese or English. Professional Chinese has 80 single-choice questions in 90 minutes and is taken in Chinese. Each subject is scored from 0 to 100. The papers required for your application depend on the route, teaching language and university; check the admission notice before choosing practice sets.

• Mathematics: 48 questions, 60 minutes, Chinese or English; listed among required papers in the official undergraduate routes.
• Physics and Chemistry: 48 questions in 60 minutes each; required only where the intended programme asks for them.
• Professional Chinese: 80 questions in 90 minutes, with Humanities and STEM tracks; requirements vary by route and teaching language.
• These examples are deliberately short teaching examples. They do not reproduce official CSCA items or establish the exam's exact difficulty.

Can you download an official CSCA past-paper PDF?

Do not assume that a file called 'CSCA 2026 real paper' is authentic. We could not verify an official public past-paper PDF archive on the CSCA portal at this review date. Look for a document linked from csca.cn itself, confirm its publication date and paper language, and compare its topics with the current syllabus. A third-party practice PDF can still be useful when its author identifies it as original practice and provides checked solutions. This article is a web guide, not a promised PDF download.

Avoid files advertised as leaked exam papers or guaranteed answers. The official CSCA platform terms prohibit unauthorised disclosure of examination questions and answers. A credible preparation resource explains its source, dates, authorship and solution method instead of asking you to trust a file name.

How to use the worked examples

Original Mathematics questions and worked answers

Mathematics 1: evaluate a function

Let f(x) = 2x² − 3x + 1. What is f(2)?

• A. 1
• B. 2
• C. 3
• D. 5

Answer: C, 3. Substitute x = 2: 2(2²) − 3(2) + 1 = 8 − 6 + 1 = 3. The common error is squaring the whole expression after substitution rather than squaring x first. Review next: Function notation, substitution and order of operations in the Mathematics syllabus.

Mathematics 2: solve a quadratic inequality

Which set solves x² − 5x + 6 < 0?

• A. x < 2
• B. 2 < x < 3
• C. x > 3
• D. x < 2 or x > 3

Answer: B, 2 < x < 3. Factor the expression to (x − 2)(x − 3). Its product is negative only when one factor is positive and the other negative, which happens strictly between the roots 2 and 3. The endpoints are excluded because the inequality is strict. Review next: Factoring and sign intervals before trying timed Mathematics practice.

Mathematics 3: probability without replacement

A bag contains three red balls and two blue balls. Two balls are drawn without replacement. What is the probability that both are red?

• A. 1/5
• B. 3/10
• C. 2/5
• D. 3/5

Answer: B, 3/10. The first red has probability 3/5. After it is removed, two red balls remain among four, so the second probability is 2/4. Multiply: (3/5)(2/4) = 6/20 = 3/10. 'Without replacement' changes the second denominator. Review next: Conditional probability and counting; try another variant with a different first draw.

Original Physics questions and worked answers

Physics 1: apply Newton's second law

A 1.5 kg object accelerates at 4 m/s² under a constant net force. What is the magnitude of that force?

• A. 2.5 N
• B. 5.5 N
• C. 6 N
• D. 12 N

Answer: C, 6 N. Use F = ma. Multiplying 1.5 kg by 4 m/s² gives 6 kg·m/s², or 6 newtons. The word “net” matters: individual forces can differ, but their resultant produces the acceleration. For more examples with full solutions, continue to our eight Physics practice questions.

Physics 2: use Ohm's law

A 4 Ω resistor has 12 V across it. What current passes through it?

• A. 0.33 A
• B. 3 A
• C. 8 A
• D. 48 A

Answer: B, 3 A. Ohm's law gives V = IR, so I = V/R = 12/4 = 3 A. Check the units: volts divided by ohms gives amperes. Multiplying 12 by 4 would use the equation in the wrong direction. Review next: Electric circuits and units; practise rearranging equations before inserting numbers.

Physics 3: calculate average speed

A student walks 150 m in 30 s along a straight path. What is the average speed?

• A. 0.2 m/s
• B. 5 m/s
• C. 30 m/s
• D. 180 m/s

Answer: B, 5 m/s. Average speed is total distance divided by elapsed time: 150/30 = 5 m/s. This question gives distance and time, so no acceleration formula is needed. Review next: Choose the equation from the quantity the question asks for, then check the units.

Original Chemistry questions and worked answers

Chemistry 1: balance a reaction

Which coefficients balance H₂ + O₂ → H₂O, in the order H₂ : O₂ : H₂O?

• A. 1 : 1 : 1
• B. 2 : 1 : 2
• C. 2 : 2 : 1
• D. 1 : 2 : 2

Answer: B, 2 : 1 : 2. The balanced equation is 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O. Both sides now contain four hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. Change coefficients in front of formulae, never the subscripts inside a substance. For more calculations and explanations, continue to our eight Chemistry practice questions.

Chemistry 2: convert mass to moles

How many moles are in 18 g of water if the molar mass of H₂O is 18 g/mol?

• A. 0.5 mol
• B. 1 mol
• C. 2 mol
• D. 18 mol

Answer: B, 1 mol. Amount in moles equals mass divided by molar mass: 18 g ÷ 18 g/mol = 1 mol. The grams cancel, leaving moles. If the sample were 36 g, the result would be 2 mol. Review next: Molar mass and unit cancellation before attempting more complex stoichiometry.

Chemistry 3: compare pH values

How does the hydrogen-ion concentration of a solution at pH 3 compare with one at pH 5?

• A. 2 times greater
• B. 10 times greater
• C. 100 times greater
• D. 1,000 times greater

Answer: C, 100 times greater. The pH scale is logarithmic: a difference of one pH unit is a tenfold change in hydrogen-ion concentration. Two units give 10 × 10 = 100. The lower-pH solution has the higher concentration. Review next: Acids, bases and logarithmic scales; avoid treating pH as a linear percentage.

What these nine examples can and cannot tell you

A correct answer here shows that you can use a particular rule in a short setting. It does not predict your CSCA score or prove that these items match the live exam's difficulty. A full paper requires 48 decisions in 60 minutes, so timing, topic coverage and review matter as much as any single worked example. Use our free subject practice to try different items, then use a full-length mock test when you have covered most of the official syllabus.

Frequently asked questions

Are these official CSCA past questions? No. All nine questions and explanations on this page were written as original CSCA.ai teaching examples. We do not call unverified files official or claim to know future exam questions.

Where can I find a trustworthy CSCA questions PDF? First check documents linked from csca.cn and its syllabus area. For third-party practice, look for a named publisher, publication date, clear 'original practice' label and worked answers. Never pay for alleged leaked papers.

Do I need the same subjects as another applicant? Not necessarily. The official exam introduction distinguishes application routes, and universities determine whether Physics, Chemistry or Professional Chinese is required for a programme. Check your own shortlist and the subjects-by-major guide.

What should I do after missing several questions? Group your errors by topic, revisit the corresponding syllabus section, and solve a new question without looking at the explanation. Our 90-day study plan gives a longer review cycle.

Sources, scope and review date

Exam format, paper languages, scoring and subject routes were checked against the official CSCA exam introduction on 15 October 2026. Official materials may change; follow your sitting's notice and university admissions requirements. The nine questions and worked solutions are original illustrations prepared for this article and have not been taken from CSCA papers.