The AISSEE syllabus is the list of topics printed in Appendices II and III of the NTA information bulletin. For Class 6 the paper has four sections (Language, Mathematics, Intelligence and General Knowledge) with 125 questions, 300 marks and 150 minutes. For Class 9 it has five (Mathematics, Intelligence, English, General Science and Social Science) with 150 questions, 400 marks and 180 minutes. Every question is multiple choice, answered on an OMR sheet, and there is no negative marking.
Everything on this page that is marked as official comes from the AISSEE-2026 bulletin, the latest one published. When we checked on 12 October 2026 the NTA page had not yet released a bulletin for AISSEE-2027, so treat the topic lists as last year’s reference until the new one appears. Where something is our own teaching advice, we say so.
What the AISSEE is
The All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency for admission to Class 6 and Class 9 in the 33 Sainik Schools and in the approved New Sainik Schools. The 2026 paper was held on 18 January 2026 at 464 centres in 190 cities. The syllabus itself is prescribed by the Sainik Schools Society, and the bulletin points candidates to its two appendices for the topics.
Exam pattern: Class 6 and Class 9
Class 6: 125 questions, 300 marks, 150 minutes
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks per answer | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Language | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| B | Mathematics | 50 | 3 | 150 |
| C | Intelligence | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| D | General Knowledge | 25 | 2 | 50 |
Class 9: 150 questions, 400 marks, 180 minutes
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks per answer | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Mathematics | 50 | 4 | 200 |
| B | Intelligence | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| C | English | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| D | General Science | 25 | 2 | 50 |
| E | Social Science | 25 | 2 | 50 |
The Class 6 paper ran from 2.00 pm to 4.30 pm and the Class 9 paper from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm. For Class 6, the question paper can be taken in any of 13 languages listed in the bulletin, chosen at the time of application and not changeable later, and candidates who choose English or Hindi get a bilingual booklet. The Class 9 paper is in English only. The bulletin also says that the language section of the Class 6 paper is based on topics dealt with up to Class 5.
Class 6 syllabus: official topics, grouped by section
The bulletin lists each topic separately. We have grouped them so that a parent can see the shape of each section. The bulletin’s own list is the authority.
| Section | Topics in the bulletin |
|---|---|
| Mathematics (50 questions) | Numbers: natural numbers, prime and composite numbers, LCM and HCF, operations on numbers, simplification, fractions, arranging of fractions, decimal numbers, Roman numerals. Everyday arithmetic: unitary method, ratio and proportion, average, percentage, profit and loss, simple interest, speed and time, conversion of units, temperature. Geometry and measurement: lines and angles, types of angles, complementary and supplementary angles, circle, plane figures, area and perimeter, volume of cube and cuboids. |
| Intelligence (25) | Analogies (mathematical and verbal), patterns (spatial and mathematical), classification, visual and logical reasoning, series and sequences, critical thinking and problem solving, familial relations. |
| Language (25) | Comprehension passage and vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, idioms and phrases, confusing words, spelling, rhyming words), and grammar: articles, prepositions, kinds of nouns and pronouns, verbs and tense forms, adjectives, adverbs, interjection, question tags, types of sentences, number, gender, singular and plural, collective nouns, ordering of words and sentence formation. |
| General Knowledge (25) | India: national symbols, India at a glance, art and culture, literary and cultural awards, national and international personalities, the Indian defence system, sports, organisations. Earth and environment: solar system and our earth, mountain terrain, water cycle, energy, climate and natural calamities, water use and pollution. Life and science: digestion and food preservation, farmers and farming, tribal communities and forest, scientific devices, relationships between humans and animals, functions of plants, animals and humans. |
Class 9 syllabus: official topics, grouped by section
| Section | Topics in the bulletin |
|---|---|
| Mathematics (50 questions) | Number work: rational numbers, squares and square roots, cubes and cube roots, exponents and powers, playing with numbers, divisibility tests, factorisation. Commercial mathematics: comparing quantities, percentage, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, discount, direct and inverse proportion, time and work. Algebra: linear equations in one variable, algebraic expressions. Geometry: understanding quadrilaterals, triangles and their properties, angle sum property, Pythagoras theorem, parallel lines, solid shapes and their views, Euler’s formula. Mensuration: area and perimeter, volume and surface area. Data: data handling, bar and line graphs, statistics (mean, mode and median of raw data) and probability. |
| Intelligence (25) | The same seven topics as Class 6: analogies, patterns, classification, visual and logical reasoning, series and sequences, critical thinking, familial relations. |
| English (25) | Comprehension passage, synonyms and antonyms, spelling, confusing words, idioms and phrases, and grammar: prepositions, articles, verbs and tenses, modals, subject-verb agreement, narration, voices, question tags, adverbs, conjunctions, nouns, adjectives and their comparison, pronouns, gender, number and types of sentences, plus spotting errors, sentence improvement, word order and change of sentence as directed. |
| General Science (25) | Matter and materials: fossil fuels, combustion and flame, metals and non-metals, synthetic fibres and plastics. Physics and space: force, friction and pressure, sound, reflection and dispersion of light, chemical effects of electric current, stars and the solar system. Life science and environment: cell structure and function, reproduction in plants and animals, micro-organisms, pollution of air and water, global warming, conservation of plants and animals, biosphere reserves and national parks. The body: adolescence, puberty and endocrine glands. Agriculture: cropping seasons and agricultural practices. |
| Social Science (25) | Geography: geographical diversity of India, resources and their conservation, weather and climate, landforms and life, locating places on the earth, oceans and continents. Civics and economics: types of government, the Constitution of India, universal franchise and the electoral system, Parliament, local self-government, from barter to money, markets, economic activity. History: the beginnings of Indian civilisation, India’s cultural roots, early cities and states, the rise of empires, the Gupta era, the Marathas, the colonial era. |
These are grouped summaries. We have not tried to match them chapter by chapter to NCERT textbooks, because NCERT has revised several textbooks in recent years and a mapping tied to one edition would mislead families using another. A safer method is to take the bulletin’s list, tick off each topic against your child’s own textbook index, and note the gaps.
A time budget by section (our teaching advice, not part of the bulletin)
A paper of 125 questions in 150 minutes allows an average of about 1.2 minutes a question. The Class 9 paper, at 150 questions in 180 minutes, allows the same. Questions are not equally hard, so the split below is a starting target for practice papers and will need adjusting for each child.
| Class | Suggested split in a practice paper | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Class 6 | Mathematics 55 minutes, Language 25, Intelligence 25, General Knowledge 15 | 30 minutes to revisit doubtful answers and check the OMR sheet |
| Class 9 | Mathematics 75 minutes, Intelligence 25, English 20, General Science 20, Social Science 15 | 25 minutes to revisit doubtful answers and check the OMR sheet |
Since there is no negative marking, the sensible habit is to attempt every question before the paper ends, marking the doubtful ones for a second look. Mathematics deserves the biggest share of preparation time because it carries half the marks, and because the bulletin lists Mathematics first among the tie-breakers when two candidates score equally.
What is official and what is advice
| From the bulletin | From us |
|---|---|
| Section names, question counts, marks, time, mode and languages | The time split and the order in which to attempt sections |
| The topic lists in Appendices II and III | The grouping of topics on this page |
| No negative marking; no calculators in the hall | Attempting every question and marking doubtful ones |
| Language questions based on topics up to Class 5 | Using the child’s own textbook index to find gaps |
If you need the syllabus as a document, the official version is the AISSEE-2026 bulletin on the NTA website, with the topic lists in its appendices. Download it from the source and not from third-party sites, which sometimes carry outdated editions. If you would like to talk through a study plan for your child, free counselling is available by phone or WhatsApp on +91 70170 31757.
AISSEE syllabus: common questions
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppWhat is the AISSEE syllabus for Class 6?
Four sections: Language (25 questions), Mathematics (50), Intelligence (25) and General Knowledge (25), covering the topics listed in Appendix II of the bulletin. Language is based on topics up to Class 5.
What is the AISSEE syllabus for Class 9?
Five sections: Mathematics (50 questions), Intelligence (25), English (25), General Science (25) and Social Science (25), covering the topics listed in Appendix III of the bulletin.
Is there negative marking in AISSEE?
No. The bulletin states there is no negative marking for a wrong response.
Which language is the Class 6 paper in?
A candidate can choose from 13 languages listed in the bulletin at the time of application. Choosing English or Hindi gives a bilingual booklet. The Class 9 paper is in English only.
Will the syllabus be the same for AISSEE-2027?
The syllabus is prescribed by the Sainik Schools Society and printed in each year's bulletin. The AISSEE-2027 bulletin had not been released when we checked on 12 October 2026, so confirm the topics when it is published.
Which subject should my child focus on most?
Mathematics, because it carries 150 of 300 marks in Class 6 and 200 of 400 in Class 9.
Does the syllabus include an interview?
No. Sainik School admission has no interview. Admission follows the written test, e-counselling and a medical examination.
Sources
- NTA, AISSEE portal (information bulletin, public notices, answer keys)
- NTA, AISSEE-2026 information bulletin (PDF)
- NTA, public notice of 27 February 2026 declaring the AISSEE-2026 result (PDF)
- NTA, public notice of 16 September 2026 with the examination calendar up to March 2027 (PDF)
- Sainik Schools Society, order of 4 July 2018 discontinuing the admission interview (PDF)
If your child is preparing for the entrance in Dehradun, see how our classroom Sainik School coaching in Dehradun teaches these sections. You can also read how to prepare for the Sainik School entrance exam and ask about current fees on the fee structure page.
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