All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination

There are 33 Sainik Schools across India under the Sainik Schools Society, with each school offering approximately 45–50 seats for Class 6 entry and a smaller number for Class 9. This means roughly 300 seats are available nationally at each entry level, making the examination highly competitive. With increasing number of applicants each year, the selection ratio is approximately 1 in 30 for popular schools.

The Class 6 AISSEE consists of 150 objective-type questions carrying 300 marks, to be completed in 150 minutes. The four sections are Mathematics (50 questions), General Knowledge (25 questions), Language — either English or Hindi — (25 questions), and Intelligence (50 questions). There is no negative marking, so students are encouraged to attempt all questions. The question paper level corresponds to Class 5 curriculum.

Sainik Schools are fully residential military schools that follow a structured and disciplined daily routine combining academics with military training. Students wear uniforms, follow a strict schedule from early morning PT to evening study hours, and participate in National Cadet Corps (NCC) training, sports, and extracurricular activities. The residential environment builds leadership, teamwork, and physical fitness from an early age, and a large proportion of Sainik School alumni go on to join the NDA and commissioned officer ranks of the Armed Forces.

Yes, AISSEE follows reservation norms as prescribed by the Government of India. Approximately 67% of seats are reserved for wards of defence personnel and ex-servicemen. Among the open seats, reservations for SC/ST/OBC categories apply as per government norms. Some states also have state quota seats. Additionally, girls were admitted to Sainik Schools starting from 2021–22, and seats are reserved for girl candidates.

Class 6 aspirants should have thorough command of Class 4–5 level Mathematics including arithmetic operations, fractions, percentages, simple geometry, and mensuration. The Intelligence section requires practice with verbal and non-verbal reasoning, series completion, and pattern recognition. General Knowledge preparation should cover Indian history, geography, science, and current affairs at an elementary level. Language proficiency in English or Hindi — including grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary — is equally important.