Physics

What CSCA Physics covers

CSCA Physics measures whether an applicant has the physics foundations needed for undergraduate study in science, engineering, technology, and other quantitatively demanding fields. It is not automatically required for every applicant. The subjects you must take depend on the university, program, teaching language, and admission route. Confirm the current requirement with each target university before registering.

The examination is bilingual in Chinese and English. A candidate can therefore work from the language version that matches their preparation, but should still learn the official bilingual terminology because symbols, diagrams, units, and technical phrasing may appear throughout the paper.

Exam format

Item	Official format
Duration	60 minutes
Questions	48
Question type	Single-answer multiple choice
Language	Chinese and English
Score	0–100

With 48 questions in 60 minutes, pacing matters. A sensible practice target is to recognize the method quickly, complete routine calculations accurately, and leave enough time to revisit questions involving multi-step reasoning or unfamiliar wording.

Official syllabus modules

Mechanics

Mechanics includes motion, forces, Newton's laws, work and energy, momentum, circular motion, gravitation, oscillations, and mechanical waves. Preparation should connect equations to physical meaning: identify the system, choose a sign convention, draw a force or motion diagram, and check whether the final unit and direction are reasonable.

Electromagnetism

This module covers electrostatics, electric fields and potential, direct-current circuits, magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction, and alternating-current ideas. Students should be able to interpret circuit diagrams, apply conservation laws, and relate field direction to force, motion, and induced effects.

Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics includes molecular ideas, temperature, heat transfer, gas behaviour, internal energy, and the laws of thermodynamics. Strong preparation combines conceptual questions with calculations and pays close attention to state variables, process conditions, signs, and units.

Optics

Optics covers reflection, refraction, lenses, interference, diffraction, and other wave properties of light. Practise ray diagrams and graphical reasoning as well as formulas. A diagram that is not drawn to scale should not replace the governing physical rule.

Modern Physics

Modern Physics includes atomic structure, quantum and photoelectric ideas, nuclei, radioactivity, and related applications. Learn the key models, the evidence behind them, and the relationships among energy, frequency, wavelength, mass, and nuclear change.

The official syllabus defines these five modules but does not publish percentage weights for them. Do not rely on unofficial weight tables when deciding what to skip.

How to prepare

1. Compare your current knowledge with every item in the official syllabus and mark each item as secure, developing, or not yet studied.
2. Build one bilingual term list from the official glossary. Add the symbol, unit, and a short example for terms that are easy to confuse.
3. Review concepts before speed practice. For each formula, know its assumptions and when it does not apply.
4. Practise mixed multiple-choice sets under a 60-minute limit. Record whether each error came from knowledge, setup, algebra, units, language, or time pressure.
5. Revisit weak modules with targeted questions, then return to full mixed papers so that topic switching becomes automatic.

Common mistakes

• Registering for a subject without checking the exact program requirement.
• Memorising formulas while ignoring diagrams, directions, assumptions, and units.
• Treating Chinese and English terminology as separate topics instead of mapping both to the same physical concept.
• Spending too long on one calculation and losing time on routine questions.
• Using unofficial topic percentages as if they were part of the official syllabus.

Related guidance

Read the CSCA exam overview for the wider examination structure. Compare Mathematics and Chemistry when building the subject combination requested by your target program. The Physics preparation guide provides a longer study workflow.

Source note

This independent guide summarizes the official CSCA exam introduction, the 2025 Physics syllabus, and the official bilingual glossary retrieved on 17 August 2026. Requirements and documents can change, so verify them again before registration.