Sainik School Entrance Exam Pattern: Marks, Duration and Qualifying Criteria
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Sainik School Entrance Exam Pattern: Marks, Duration and Qualifying Criteria

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PickMySchool Team
9 October 20264 min read11 views

Sainik School entrance exam pattern: marks, duration and qualifying criteria for Class 6 and Class 9.

Before you start solving Sainik School question papers, it helps to know exactly how the paper is built. This guide summarises the AISSEE exam pattern for Class 6 and Class 9, including marks, duration and the qualifying criteria reported for recent years. Always confirm details in the official NTA bulletin for your year.

Update (27 October 2026): NTA’s revised exam calendar lists AISSEE 2027 on 31 January 2027 (tentative). Watch exams.nta.nic.in for the information bulletin and registration. See all revised NTA dates.
In short: Class 6 has 125 questions for 300 marks in 150 minutes; Class 9 has 150 questions for 400 marks in 180 minutes. Both are multiple choice, OMR-based and reported to have no negative marking.

Class 6 and Class 9 Pattern Compared

FeatureClass 6Class 9
Questions125150
Total marks300400
Duration150 minutes180 minutes
SubjectsMathematics, Language, General Knowledge, IntelligenceMathematics, English, General Science, Social Science, Intelligence
ModeOffline, OMR-based, multiple choiceOffline, OMR-based, multiple choice
Negative markingReported as noneReported as none

Figures are as reported by education sites for AISSEE 2026; confirm in the official bulletin.

Marks by Subject

Class 6: Maths 50 questions of 3 marks; Language, General Knowledge and Intelligence 25 questions of 2 marks each. Class 9: Maths 50 questions of 4 marks; Intelligence, English, General Science and Social Science 25 questions of 2 marks each. See our Class 6 and Class 9 practice guides.

Qualifying Criteria

Reports say candidates need at least 25% in each subject and 40% in aggregate, with relaxations for reserved categories. Cut-offs and seat allotment depend on the school, category and state quota, and counselling is run by the Sainik Schools Society rather than NTA. Check the current bulletin for exact rules.

What the Pattern Means for Preparation

  • Maths carries half of the marks, so daily practice pays most.
  • Intelligence and Language sections reward speed and accuracy.
  • There is no reported negative marking, so attempt every question.
  • Practise with OMR sheets to avoid marking errors.
  • Take timed papers; see our previous year papers guide.

Official Source

The National Testing Agency conducts the exam. Check the notification and information bulletin on exams.nta.ac.in/AISSEE. Back to our Sainik School question papers guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many marks is the Sainik School Class 6 exam?

300 marks across 125 questions.

How many marks is the Class 9 exam?

400 marks across 150 questions.

Is there negative marking in AISSEE?

Education sites report none; confirm in the bulletin.

What are the qualifying marks?

Reported as 25% in each subject and 40% aggregate, with relaxation for reserved categories.

Explore More

Sainik School Question Papers  ·  Class 6 Practice  ·  Class 9 Practice  ·  Previous Year Papers  ·  Boarding Schools