Official 2025 syllabus overview

CSCA Test Syllabus by Subject

Compare what the CSCA assesses in Professional Chinese, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Each outline below follows the current subject syllabus published by CSCA.

Updated October 10, 2026

On this page

Navigate the CSCA subject syllabi

Find the paper that applies to your study route, then use its official scope to organize your preparation.

OrientationRead the guide with the right limits

The charts organize published scope points; they are planning aids, not official question weights.

Subject browserCompare all five syllabi

Browse the two Professional Chinese tracks alongside Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

Chinese tracksMatch language study to your field

The Humanities and STEM papers emphasize different academic vocabulary and communication tasks.

STEM scopePlan from the published topic areas

Use the Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry outlines to identify topics that need further review.

How to read this guide

Better understand what your dream university requires

CSCA publishes a separate syllabus for each subject. Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry may be taken in Chinese or English; the two Professional Chinese papers are in Chinese and serve different academic tracks.

About the charts: CSCA does not publish topic-by-topic question weights. Percentages on this page show the share of scope points listed in each official syllabus, rounded to whole numbers. For Professional Chinese, the six published task types are shown as an equal taxonomy because no weighting is stated. These charts are planning aids, not score predictions.

Subject browser

Explore the syllabus

Track

1 / 5

Humanities track

Professional Chinese: Humanities

Academic Chinese for first-year study in humanities and social-science fields. The syllabus emphasizes extracting information, recognizing formal written expression and reading discipline-related texts efficiently.

LanguageChinese

Duration90 minutes

FormatSingle-answer multiple choice

6official
areas

Official syllabus coverage mapEditorial share of listed scope points

Chinese character comprehension

17%

Recognize and interpret Chinese characters in academic contexts

Word selection

17%

Select words that fit the meaning and register of a sentence

Word discrimination

17%

Distinguish words with related meanings or usage

Passage completion

17%

Choose language that completes a coherent passage

Sentence completion

16%

Complete statements using appropriate academic Chinese

Reading comprehension

16%

Skim, scan and identify key ideas in discipline-related texts

The official syllabus lists six assessed task types but does not publish a question count or weighting for each type.

View the official syllabus

STEM track

Professional Chinese: STEM

Academic Chinese for mathematics, physics, chemistry, computing and related study. Candidates are expected to follow technical explanations, read data and diagrams, and discuss foundational concepts in an appropriate academic register.

LanguageChinese

Duration90 minutes

FormatSingle-answer multiple choice

6official
areas

Official syllabus coverage mapEditorial share of listed scope points

Chinese character comprehension

17%

Recognize Chinese characters used in technical study

Word selection

17%

Select vocabulary suited to technical statements

Word discrimination

17%

Differentiate closely related academic terms

Passage completion

17%

Complete connected technical explanations

Sentence completion

16%

Complete statements about concepts and processes

Reading comprehension

16%

Interpret textbooks, diagrams, data and introductory academic texts

The official syllabus lists six assessed task types but does not publish a question count or weighting for each type.

View the official syllabus

STEM track

Mathematics

A foundation-level paper covering algebraic reasoning, functions, geometry and probability. The published scope broadly reflects upper-secondary mathematics required before undergraduate science and engineering study.

LanguageChinese or English

Duration60 minutes

Format48 single-answer questions

4official
areas

Official syllabus coverage mapEditorial share of listed scope points

Sets and inequalities

17%

Set definitions, operations and representation
Quadratic and rational inequalities

Functions

33%

Domain, range, monotonicity and parity
Power, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions
Arithmetic and geometric sequences
Basic derivatives and simple applications

Geometry and algebra

25%

Plane analytic geometry
Vectors and complex numbers
Coordinate geometry in space and simple solids

Probability and statistics

25%

Classical probability
Mean, variance and other numerical characteristics
Basic concepts of normal distribution

Coverage shares are calculated from the 12 scope points listed in the official syllabus; they are not official question weights.

View the official syllabus

STEM track

Physics

The physics syllabus moves from mechanics and fields to thermal, optical and modern-physics foundations. It tests conceptual understanding together with direct application of standard physical laws.

LanguageChinese or English

Duration60 minutes

Format48 single-answer questions

5official
areas

Official syllabus coverage mapEditorial share of listed scope points

Mechanics

33%

Kinematics and free fall
Newton's laws
Momentum and impulse
Work and energy
Circular motion and gravitation
Oscillation and mechanical waves

Electromagnetism

22%

Electrostatics
Direct-current circuits
Magnetic fields and forces
Electromagnetic induction

Thermodynamics

17%

Kinetic theory of gases
Ideal gas equation
First law of thermodynamics

Optics

11%

Reflection and refraction
Interference and diffraction

Modern physics

17%

Photoelectric effect
Atomic structure
Nuclear-physics fundamentals

Coverage shares are calculated from the 18 scope points listed in the official syllabus; they are not official question weights.

View the official syllabus

STEM track

Chemistry

The chemistry paper connects quantitative fundamentals with substance properties, chemical theory and laboratory reasoning. Its scope includes both inorganic foundations and introductory organic chemistry.

LanguageChinese or English

Duration60 minutes

Format48 single-answer questions

4official
areas

Official syllabus coverage mapEditorial share of listed scope points

Basic concepts and calculations

29%

Matter and state changes
Chemical notation and equations
Concentration and pH
Amount-of-substance calculations
Ideal gas law

Properties and reactions

24%

Common inorganic substances
Basic organic compounds
Redox reactions
Ionic reactions and testing

Theories and laws

24%

Atomic structure and periodic law
Bonding and intermolecular forces
Rates and equilibrium
Electrolyte solutions

Experiments and applications

23%

Safety and apparatus
Gas preparation and identification
Separation and purification
Industrial chemical processes

Coverage shares are calculated from the 17 scope points listed in the official syllabus; they are not official question weights.

View the official syllabus

Study planning

Use the syllabus as a boundary, not a prediction

Confirm the exact paper and testing language with each target university before building your study plan.

Turn every listed scope point into a diagnostic checklist, then spend more time on areas where your foundation is weakest.

Recheck the official CSCA page before the test. Editions, downloads and test arrangements can change.