This　paper　studies　the　seismic　performance　of　composite　shear　walls　with　concrete-filled　square　steel-tube　boundary　element　and　innovative　shear　connections.　Eight　specimens　were　investigated　by　reversed　cyclic　load　tests.　The　test　parameters　were　the　type　of　the　shear　connections,　the　arrangement　of　a　steel　beam　in　the　middle　of　wall　body,　the　concrete　strength　and　the　axial　compressive　load　ratio.　The　failure　mode,　hysteretic　behaviour,　ductility,　stiffness　and　strength　degradation,　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　strains　development　were　studied.　The　test　results　show　that　the　hysteresis　curves　of　the　composite　shear　walls　were　plumper　compared　with　traditional　concrete　shear　walls.　Composite　shear　walls　with　concrete-filled　square　steel-tube　boundary　element　have　good　seismic　performance.　The　strong　shear　connections　had　a　considerable　effect　on　the　seismic　performance　of　this　composite　shear　walls.　There　was　no　considerable　difference　in　the　effect　on　seismic　performance　for　the　arrangement　of　a　steel　beam　in　the　middle　of　wall　body.　Finally,　the　restoring　force　model　for　composite　walls　with　concrete-filled　square　steel-tube　boundary　element　was　developed　with　adequate　accuracy.