Sainik School Admission 2027 (AISSEE): Registration, Eligibility, and Exam Pattern

Quick answer for parents searching right now: the AISSEE 2027 registration form for Sainik School admission has not opened yet (as of 18 October 2026), but it is expected any day - last year the window ran from 10 October to 9 November. The exam itself is expected in January 2027, OMR-based and offline. Here is everything verified, in one place, so you are ready the day the form opens.

What is AISSEE and who conducts it?

The All India Sainik School Entrance Examination (AISSEE) is the single entrance test for admission to Class 6 and Class 9 in Sainik Schools across India. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and managed by the Sainik School Society under the Ministry of Defence. Admission covers 33 existing Sainik Schools plus 19 newer ones. The entire application is online, and the exam is offline on OMR sheets.

AISSEE 2027 dates: what is confirmed and what is expected

Only the NTA portal (exams.nta.ac.in/sainik-school-society) gives confirmed dates, and as of 18 October 2026 the 2027 application is not open there yet. The expected timeline, based on last year's cycle reported by The Times of India:

• Registration opens: October 2026 (last year: 10 October 2025)
• Last date to apply: November 2026 (last year: 9 November 2025)
• Admit card: December 2026
• Exam: January 2027, OMR-based
• Result: February-March 2027, followed by e-counselling from March

Treat every date except "last year's" as tentative until the NTA bulletin is out. If a coaching site gives you a "confirmed" 2027 date today, check it against the NTA portal yourself.

Eligibility: the age cut-offs that disqualify most applicants

More applications fail on age than on anything else. Check this first:

• Class 6: the child must be 10 to 12 years old as on 31 March 2027 (born between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2017), and studying in or having passed Class 5 from a recognised school. Any board - CBSE, ICSE, or state board - is fine, and both boys and girls are eligible.
• Class 9: the child must be 13 to 15 years old as on 31 March 2027, and currently enrolled in Class 8 (2026-27 session). Students already in or past Class 9 are not eligible.

Exam pattern: Class 6 vs Class 9

• Class 6: 300 marks covering mathematics, English, general knowledge (science and social studies), language, and intelligence. Available in English, Hindi, and the local state language.
• Class 9: 400 marks covering mathematics, English, intelligence, general science, and social studies. English only.

Mathematics carries the most weight in both, and the intelligence section - logical reasoning and pattern questions - is where untrained students lose easy marks. Reservation follows government norms: 15% of seats for SC candidates, further reservation for ST and OBC, most seats reserved for the school's home state, and a growing share for girls.

How to prepare in the roughly three months left

1. Start with the previous papers. AISSEE repeats its patterns. Two or three past papers will show your child exactly where they stand, subject by subject. Then organise the fix with a study timetable that actually works - the method is the same at any class.
2. Weight your time by marks, not preference. Maths first, then intelligence, then English and GK. Children naturally revise what they already like; the score lives in what they avoid.
3. Practise on OMR sheets, not notebooks. The exam is offline with bubbles to fill. Bright children lose marks to mis-filled sheets, and this is completely trainable at home.
4. Build reading speed for English. The comprehension sections are long. Ten minutes of timed reading daily beats an hour of grammar drill. These revision techniques help the learning stick between sessions.
5. Keep documents ready now. Birth certificate, Class 5 or Class 8 documents, category and domicile certificates if applicable, a passport photo and a signature scan. When the form opens, portals slow down in the first and last weeks - the middle is the sweet spot.

FAQs

When will AISSEE 2027 registration start?

Not yet, as of 18 October 2026. Registration is expected in October 2026 - last year's window ran 10 October to 9 November. The only confirmed source is the NTA portal at exams.nta.ac.in/sainik-school-society.

What is the age limit for Sainik School Class 6 admission 2027?

The child must be 10 to 12 years old as on 31 March 2027 (born between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2017) and studying in or having passed Class 5. Any recognised board is accepted, and both boys and girls can apply.

What is the AISSEE 2027 exam pattern?

OMR-based and offline. Class 6: 300 marks across maths, English, GK, language and intelligence, in English, Hindi or the state language. Class 9: 400 marks across maths, English, intelligence, general science and social studies, in English only.

How can my child prepare for AISSEE in three months?

Start with two or three previous papers to find weak areas, weight study time toward maths and the intelligence section, practise filling OMR sheets at home, and do short daily timed reading for English comprehension.

Sainik School admission is one of those rare things that rewards early, organised parents: the form opens soon, the exam is in January, and the children who practise the actual pattern - on paper, on OMR, against the clock - are the ones who make the merit list. If your child needs structured help for maths or English, our guide to finding the right tutor near you is a good next step.