AISSEE 2027: 20 Days Left — Class 9 Parents, Your Final Checklist Before 2 December

Last verified: 12 November 2026. This is an update/explainer tied to the AISSEE 2027 application deadline — not a new announcement. All dates, fees and eligibility rules below are ✅ CONFIRMED from the NTA public notice dated 3 November 2026, as reproduced in full from the official Information Bulletin by Maru Gujarat (6 November 2026) and corroborated by Education Times (The Times of India, 5 November 2026).

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20 days left — and Class 9 is the tighter race

The AISSEE 2027 application window closes on 2 December 2026 at 11:50 PM. Today, 12 November, that leaves 20 days. The exam itself is on Sunday, 31 January 2027 — 80 days away.

Most of the deadline talk this month has been about Class 6, and understandably so: it has the bigger seat count. But Class 9 is the tighter race, and it catches families out. There are far fewer Class 9 seats — the bulletin lists 732 tentative Class 9 seats across the 33 existing Sainik Schools, against 3,160 for Class 6 — and the paper is longer, harder, and entirely in English. If your child is in Class 8 now and aiming for Class 9, these 20 days deserve a plan of their own.

The Class 9 checklist

1. Age — check it first, because there is no flexibility. Your child must be 13 to 15 years old as on 31 March 2027, which means born between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2014, both days inclusive. The bulletin is explicit that there is no age relaxation for any category, including SC/ST and defence wards. If the date of birth on the birth certificate falls outside that window, the form will not save the application — check the certificate, not your memory.

2. Class 8 must be passed by admission time. The bulletin requires Class 9 applicants to have passed the Class 8 examination from a recognised school at the time of admission. A child currently in Class 8 is eligible to apply now; the pass certificate is what matters at admission.

3. Know the paper you are signing up for. Class 9 is a single paper of 180 minutes (2:00 to 5:00 PM), 150 questions, 400 marks, all in English: Mathematics 50 questions for 200 marks, and Intelligence, English, General Science and Social Science at 25 questions and 50 marks each. There is no negative marking — every question is worth attempting. To qualify, a candidate needs 25% in each section and 40% in aggregate; SC/ST candidates are exempt from the minimum in the existing Sainik Schools, though in New Sainik Schools all categories must meet it.

4. Fee and documents. The fee is Rs. 850 for General, OBC (NCL) and wards of defence personnel and ex-servicemen, and Rs. 700 for SC/ST candidates, payable online. Keep ready: a recent photograph (JPG, 10–200 KB, taken on or after 1 July 2026), signature and left-thumb impression (JPG, 10–50 KB each), and the date-of-birth, domicile and category certificates as PDFs (50–300 KB). Defence wards need the service certificate or PPO.

5. Four exam cities, in order. The form asks you to pick four exam cities in order of preference. Choose with care — it is one of the hardest things to change later. The city intimation slip comes on 11 January 2027 and the admit card on 25 January 2027.

What happens after 2 December

Apply only at exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society — the official NTA portal. And a word of caution from the Education Times report: some third-party websites are currently listing a lower fee (Rs. 800 / Rs. 650). The bulletin says Rs. 850 / Rs. 700. Trust the bulletin.

Twenty days is enough for a Class 9 application — if this week is the week the documents get ready. The families who struggle are rarely the ones who started late. They are the ones who started on the last day.

For the full Class 6 and Class 9 schedule, read our AISSEE 2027 notification guide and the exam timings explainer. For the fee and eligibility rules in detail, see our fee and eligibility guide.

FAQs

What is the last date to apply for AISSEE 2027 Class 9?

2 December 2026, up to 11:50 PM. Applications are accepted only online at exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society. A late window runs from 3 to 6 December with an extra fee of Rs. 500.

What is the age limit for AISSEE 2027 Class 9?

13 to 15 years as on 31 March 2027 — born between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2014. There is no age relaxation for any category.

Does a Class 9 applicant need to have passed Class 8?

Yes. The candidate must have passed the Class 8 examination from a recognised school by the time of admission.

Is the AISSEE Class 9 paper in Hindi or English?

English only. Class 9 has five sections — Mathematics, Intelligence, English, General Science and Social Science — for 400 marks in 180 minutes, with no negative marking.

Sources

• NTA AISSEE 2027 Information Bulletin (3 November 2026), reproduced in full by Maru Gujarat: https://www.marugujarat.in/2026/11/aissee-2027-sainik-schools-entrance-exam-information-bulletin/
• Education Times (The Times of India), “Sainik School admission 2027” (5 November 2026): https://www.educationtimes.com/news/sainik-school-admission-2027-online-application-eligibility-age-limit-exam-pattern-fees-and-important-dates/articleshow/135555947.cms
• NTA AISSEE portal (official): https://exams.nta.nic.in/sainik-school-society/