CSCA Registration 2026–27: Step-by-Step Guide, Fees and Website
CSCA registration is online at csca.cn: create an account, book your test and pay 450 CNY for one subject or 700 CNY for two or more (confirm on csca.cn).
CSCA registration happens only on the official website, csca.cn. You create an account, add your details, book a session, subjects and test mode, and pay online. The fee is 450 CNY for one subject or 700 CNY for two or more subjects (verify the current fee on csca.cn). Each exam session has its own short registration window.
- Official website: csca.cn, for registration, login, payment and results
- Exam fee: 450 CNY for one subject, 700 CNY for two or more subjects (verify on csca.cn)
- Payment: online by card; university guides list a credit card
- What you need: a valid passport, a digital photo that meets the official photo rules, and a payment card
- Test modes: home-based online with live proctoring, or at an authorized test center (computer-based, or paper-based in some places) where available
- Current window: October 15–21, 2026 (Beijing Time) for the November 14–15, 2026 exam, as listed on csca.cn; check the official site for changes
- Results: in your csca.cn account, typically within 7–14 working days depending on test mode; check your session notice
New to the test? Read what the CSCA exam is and who must take it before you register, so you know which subjects to book. The official CSCA passport rule says candidates must use a valid passport and show the original for identity verification.
What is the official CSCA website?
The official CSCA website is csca.cn. If you searched for 'csca官网' or 'csca.cn', this is the address you want. It is where you create your account, register, choose your subjects and test mode, pay the fee and later check your results. Official notices about exam dates, rules and syllabi are published there first, so treat it as the final word on anything in this guide.
Several websites use CSCA in their name, including this one. CSCA.ai is an independent preparation platform built by WiseAdmit. We are not the official exam body, and we do not set dates, fees or rules. If you use any third-party service to help you register, make sure you end up with a registration confirmation from the official system on csca.cn. To avoid lookalike pages, type csca.cn into your browser yourself instead of clicking ads.
What do you need before you start CSCA registration?
- A valid passport. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport, and bring the original on exam day.
- A recent digital ID photo that meets the photo rules shown on csca.cn.
- A card that can make international online payments. University guides list a credit card.
- An email address you check every day, because confirmations and updates arrive there.
- The list of subjects, paper language and Professional Chinese track your target programs require.
- For a home-based exam: a computer that meets the technical requirements, a camera, stable internet and a quiet private room.
Most important of all, know your subjects before you open the form. Mathematics is required for every applicant. Professional Chinese is needed only for Chinese-taught programs, and you must pick the Humanities or STEM track that matches your major. Physics and Chemistry depend on the program. Our guide to CSCA exam subjects by major shows the usual combinations, but your university's admission guide has the final say.
How to register for the CSCA, step by step
The official process, as published by Chinese universities, has four stages: create an account, register, book your test and make payment. The screens on csca.cn can change between sessions, so use the steps below as a map and follow the instructions on the site itself.
How to register for the CSCA on csca.cn
Confirm your subjects and choose a session
Check each target program's admission guide for the subjects it requires. Then pick a session that leaves time for results and a possible retake before your university's score deadline.
Go to csca.cn and create an account
Type csca.cn into your browser yourself. Sign up with an email address you check daily and save your password somewhere safe, because you will use this account again for results.
Complete your registration details
Enter your personal information exactly as it appears on your passport, and upload the passport image and photo requested by csca.cn. Double-check the spelling of your name and your date of birth. Bring the original passport on exam day.
Book your test
Choose the session, your subjects, the paper language for Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry (Chinese or English), your Professional Chinese track if needed, and your test mode: home-based online or a test center where available.
Pay the exam fee
Pay online. The published fee is 450 CNY for one subject and 700 CNY for two or more. Check the amount shown on csca.cn, and read the change and refund rules before you confirm.
Save your confirmation
Take a screenshot or download your registration confirmation and payment receipt. For 2026 entry, some universities accepted a registration screenshot with the application while scores were pending.
Prepare your exam setup
For a home-based exam, check the device and room requirements on csca.cn and run any system check offered early. For a test center, confirm the address and plan your travel.
Check your results and send your scores
Log in to csca.cn to see your results, typically within 7–14 working days depending on test mode; check your session notice. Send them to universities exactly as each admission guide instructs.
How much does the CSCA exam cost?
The CSCA exam fee is 450 CNY for one subject and 700 CNY for two or more subjects, according to notices from Chinese universities and the Shanghai government's study-in-Shanghai FAQ. Verify the current fee on csca.cn before you pay, because fees can be updated for new sessions. In practice, your CSCA exam cost depends on how many subjects your program needs:
- Mathematics only (common for English-taught business and humanities programs): 450 CNY
- Mathematics plus Physics or Chemistry: 700 CNY
- Professional Chinese plus Mathematics: 700 CNY
- Three or four subjects: 700 CNY
Because the published fee stays at 700 CNY once you reach two subjects, it can make sense to add a subject that a backup program might require, as long as you can prepare for it properly. Also budget for card fees on foreign currency payments, travel to a test center if you choose one, and any retake. We could not confirm the official refund and rescheduling rules, so read them on csca.cn before you pay.
When is the CSCA registration deadline?
Each CSCA session has its own registration window. The official CSCA homepage lists the November 14–15, 2026 exam and its October 15–21, 2026 registration window in Beijing Time. It also announces a November 2026–June 2027 schedule; check later registration windows separately on csca.cn. Our CSCA exam 2026–27 guide summarizes the calendar.
- November 14–15, 2026: registration October 15–21, 2026
- December 19–20, 2026: registration window to be announced
- January 23–24, 2027: registration window to be announced
- March 13–14, 2027: registration window to be announced
- April 24–25, 2027: registration window to be announced
- June 26–27, 2027: registration window to be announced
Deadlines are in Beijing Time (UTC+8). If you live in Nepal (UTC+5:45) or Pakistan (UTC+5), a deadline at midnight in Beijing falls in your evening, hours before your own midnight. For every session and our advice on which one to choose, see the CSCA exam dates and registration timeline.
A second deadline matters just as much: your university's score deadline. For 2026 entry, Northwestern Polytechnical University asked for final scores by May 20, 2026 and Nanjing Forestry University by May 31, 2026. Work backward from your own universities' dates, allow up to 14 working days for results, and leave room for a second attempt if you need one. Our guide to CSCA exam format and scoring explains how results are reported.
How does the CSCA login work?
The CSCA login is your account on csca.cn. You use the same account to register, book, pay and check results, so write down the email address you used and keep your password safe. If you forget it, use the account recovery option on the site rather than creating a second account, which could split your records.
Your CSCA.ai account is a separate thing. It gives you access to practice questions, lessons and live classes on our platform. It does not replace your official csca.cn account, and official results are only shown on csca.cn.
What are the most common CSCA registration mistakes?
- A name that does not match the passport exactly, including the order of names
- A photo that does not meet the published photo rules
- Choosing the wrong Professional Chinese track (Humanities instead of STEM, or the reverse)
- Choosing a paper language you did not study the subject in
- Missing the window because the deadline was in Beijing Time, not local time
- Registering through a lookalike website instead of csca.cn
- Leaving payment to the last hour and then having the card declined
Once your seat is booked, the best use of the weeks before the exam is timed practice. Begin with free CSCA mathematics practice questions, since Mathematics is the one subject every applicant takes, and work without a calculator from the start.
Frequently asked questions
CSCA FAQ
What is the official CSCA website?
The official website is csca.cn. CSCA.ai is an independent preparation platform and is not the exam organizer.
How much is the CSCA exam fee?
The published fee is 450 CNY for one subject and 700 CNY for two or more subjects. Confirm the current amount on csca.cn before paying.
How do I register for the CSCA?
Create an account on csca.cn, complete your details with a valid passport and photo, book your session, subjects and test mode, then pay online.
When is the CSCA registration deadline?
Each session has its own window. The official csca.cn homepage lists October 15–21, 2026 (Beijing Time) for the November 14–15 exam. Check csca.cn for any changes and for later windows.
Where is the CSCA login?
On csca.cn. You use the same account to register, pay and check your results.
Can I pay the CSCA fee without a credit card?
University guides list a credit card as the payment method. If you do not have one, check the payment options shown on csca.cn or ask a parent or guardian to pay with theirs.
Can I change my CSCA test date after registering?
Change and refund rules are set by the official organizer. Read them on csca.cn before you pay.
CSCA.ai is an independent preparation platform. Confirm dates, fees and requirements on the official site, csca.cn.
