The most misunderstood fact about the CSCA: there is no passing score. Every subject is graded 0–100 and each university sets its own cutoffs per program. Students chasing a mythical ‘pass mark’ study blind — this guide shows what your score actually means and what to aim for. First confirm which subjects you actually need — cutoffs only matter for papers you sit.

How scoring works Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry run 48 multiple-choice in 60 minutes; Professional Chinese runs 80 multiple-choice in 90 minutes. Each paper scores 0–100. Results release in about 7 business days for online sittings and 14 days for paper-based sittings, and all subjects combine into a single transcript document.

No pass mark — only university cutoffs Universities receive your scores and may also see your percentile rank among global test-takers. Competitive programs and scholarships set higher bars; the only target that matters is your chosen university’s admission guide. A 75 in Mathematics means nothing in isolation — it matters relative to your program’s cutoff and cohort.