Sainik School ki taiyari kaise kare? Start with the paper, not with a book list. The AISSEE gives half its marks to Mathematics, rewards a child who reads and reasons calmly, has no negative marking and is answered on an OMR sheet. So a good plan builds Mathematics every day, adds reasoning, language and general knowledge in smaller daily doses, and ends with timed OMR practice. A child in Class 5 prepares for Class 6 entry and a child in Class 8 for Class 9 entry, and the two papers differ.
This guide gives a 12-week plan and a 26-week plan, daily time blocks, a mock-test schedule, a note on books and a list of things for parents to do and avoid. The exam facts come from the NTA bulletin. The plans themselves are our teaching advice, and we label them so.
Sainik School ki taiyari kaise karein: the short answer
- Mathematics every day. It carries 150 of 300 marks in Class 6 and 200 of 400 in Class 9.
- Reasoning in short daily sets. The Intelligence section is 50 marks in both papers and improves quickly with practice.
- Language or English by reading. Comprehension passages and grammar reward children who read widely.
- General knowledge, science and social science from school textbooks, plus the official topic list for the paper.
- Timed OMR practice close to the exam, attempting every question.
- No interview preparation. Sainik School admission has no interview.
What the paper rewards
| Class 6 | Class 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions and marks | 125 questions, 300 marks | 150 questions, 400 marks |
| Time | 150 minutes | 180 minutes |
| Mathematics share | 150 marks, half the paper | 200 marks, half the paper |
| Other sections | Language, Intelligence and General Knowledge, 50 marks each | Intelligence, English, General Science and Social Science, 50 marks each |
| Marking | Multiple choice on an OMR sheet; no negative marking | Multiple choice on an OMR sheet; no negative marking |
Our guide to the AISSEE syllabus and exam pattern lists the official topics section by section. Plan against that list, not against a coaching brochure.
The 12-week plan (our teaching advice)
Use this when a child already has a base in school Mathematics and has about three months before the exam.
| Weeks | Focus | What the child does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | Gaps in Mathematics and the habit of daily practice | Revise each Mathematics topic on the official list and note the ones that feel weak. Start reasoning sets and a reading habit. |
| 5 to 8 | Sectional practice | Timed sets for one section at a time. Add general knowledge or science and social science notes, using the official topic list. |
| 9 to 11 | Full-length mocks on OMR | One full paper a week, reviewed on the same day, with an error log kept by topic. |
| 12 | Revision and rest | Re-do the error log, sleep well, and do not start new topics. |
The 26-week plan (our teaching advice)
Use this for a child starting at a calmer pace, six months before the exam, or one whose Mathematics needs real rebuilding.
| Weeks | Focus | What the child does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 8 | Foundations | Daily Mathematics from the textbook, one new topic every few days. Read for twenty minutes a day. Short reasoning puzzles on weekends. |
| 9 to 16 | Topic coverage | Finish every Mathematics topic on the official list. Begin timed sectional sets. Cover general knowledge or science and social science topics. |
| 17 to 22 | Sectional to full papers | Alternate sectional practice with one full mock every two weeks. Keep an error log. |
| 23 to 25 | Weekly full mocks | One full paper a week on an OMR-style sheet, under exam timing. |
| 26 | Revision and rest | Light revision of weak topics. No new material. |
Daily time blocks for a school-going child
Children of ten and thirteen have homework, play and sleep to protect. These blocks are a starting point, and school work always comes first.
| Block | Class 5 child preparing for Class 6 | Class 8 child preparing for Class 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 40 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Reasoning | 15 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Language or English | 15 minutes of reading and grammar | 15 minutes of reading and grammar |
| General knowledge | 15 minutes, with a weekly quiz | Not a separate block |
| Science and Social Science | Not a separate block | 15 minutes each, alternating days |
| Total | About 85 minutes | About 105 minutes |
Add an hour of outdoor play. A Sainik School child will later keep a physical routine, and a medical examination is part of admission. Get routine health checks done early, including eyesight, so that nothing surprises the family at that stage.
Mock tests: how often and how to use them
| Time to exam | Type of practice | How often |
|---|---|---|
| More than 12 weeks | Topic tests of 10 to 20 questions | Twice a week |
| 12 to 6 weeks | Sectional timed sets, one section per sitting | Three times a week |
| 6 to 2 weeks | Full papers of 125 or 150 questions on an OMR-style sheet | Once a week |
| Last two weeks | One full paper, then only revision | Once, early in the fortnight |
A mock is worth nothing unless it is reviewed. After each one, sit with your child, list every wrong answer by topic and by type of error (concept, calculation, misread or time), and decide what to practise next. Our page on AISSEE previous year papers explains what NTA publishes and how to practise without a paper archive.
Books: start with the school textbook
The bulletin says the syllabus is prescribed by the Sainik Schools Society and gives the topics, but it does not name any recommended book. So the safest first source is your child’s own school textbook for the previous class, with NCERT textbooks available free on the NCERT website for those who follow them. A Class 5 child needs Class 5 Mathematics, English or the regional language, and environmental studies. A Class 8 child needs Class 8 Mathematics, Science and Social Science, and English.
| Need | Where to start | Check before you buy anything else |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | School textbook and its exercises | That every topic in the official Mathematics list is covered |
| Reasoning | A practice book or printed sets | That the edition year is recent and the topics match the bulletin’s Intelligence list |
| Language or English | Reading books and the school grammar text | That passages are at the child’s class level |
| General knowledge, science, social science | School textbooks and a current-affairs habit | That facts are current; tell the child to note down the year of any statistic |
We have not recommended brand-name books, because editions change and we cannot vouch for every one. Whatever you buy, compare its topic list with the bulletin before you start, since the bulletin’s list is the one that matters.
What parents should do, and what to avoid
- Do read the NTA bulletin yourself when it appears. It fixes the age rule, the dates and the syllabus.
- Do keep a fixed time and a quiet place for study, and sit nearby for the first weeks.
- Do praise effort and consistency more than scores, particularly after a poor mock.
- Do ask the school or coaching how Mathematics is being taught, and look at the child’s notebook once a week.
- Avoid long hours at the cost of sleep. A tired ten-year-old retains less.
- Avoid paying for interview training for a Sainik School. The interview was discontinued from the 2019-20 session.
- Avoid anyone who promises a seat. Qualifying marks do not confer a right to admission.
If you want a counsellor to look at your child’s level and suggest which of the two plans suits, free counselling is available by phone or WhatsApp on +91 70170 31757.
Sainik School preparation: common questions
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppBacche ko Sainik School ki taiyari kaise karaen?
Start with daily Mathematics, add short reasoning sets and reading, cover the official topic list from school textbooks, and practise timed OMR papers in the last weeks. Choose the 12-week or 26-week plan above depending on how much time is left.
How many months are needed to prepare?
It depends on the child. Three months can work for a child with a strong school base, and six months gives a calmer start. Read the new bulletin as soon as it is published, because the exam date is fixed there.
Is NCERT enough for the AISSEE?
NCERT or the child's school textbook is the right first source, and the bulletin names no recommended book. Check every topic on the official list against the textbook, and fill the gaps with practice.
Is there an interview in Sainik School admission?
No. The Sainik Schools Society discontinued the interview from the 2019-20 session. Admission follows the written test, a medical examination and e-counselling.
Is there negative marking?
No. The bulletin says there is no negative marking, so a child should attempt every question.
Which subject matters most?
Mathematics, with half the marks in both papers and first priority in tie-breaks.
Is coaching necessary?
No. Many children prepare well at home with a plan and a parent's support. Coaching helps when a child needs a teacher for Mathematics or timed practice with feedback.
Sources
If you would like classroom batches in Dehradun, read about our Sainik School coaching in Dehradun, and see the fee structure for current fees. Our Sainik School admission guide explains the full process from form to joining.
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