Most parents spend six months preparing their child for the written exam. The medical test? They assume it's just a formality. A quick checkup. Done in twenty minutes.
It isn't.
Children lose confirmed seats at the medical test every single year - not because they did anything wrong, but because nobody told them what to expect and nobody checked the parameters in advance.
The medical examination is a genuine elimination round. Understanding it before you walk in is not optional - it's necessary.
Who Gets Called for the Medical Test?
Not every AISSEE ↗ qualifier goes straight to medical. The Sainik School Society follows a specific ratio for shortlisting.
The Sainik School Society calls candidates for the medical test in a 1:3 ratio of total qualified students.That means three times the number of total available seats are called for the medical round. If a school has 90 seats, around 270 candidates are shortlisted for medical examination.
The final merit list is released only after the medical examination round.So the medical isn't a post-admission step - it's a filter before final selection is confirmed. Candidates who fail the medical simply don't make it into the final merit list.
Getting called for medical is a strong sign - but it's not a confirmed seat. Not yet.
Step 1 - Reporting at the Medical Centre
After seat acceptance during counselling, candidates must report at the Medical Examination Centre as per the slot allotted by the admitting school.The venue and date are communicated through the AISSAC portal - each candidate gets an individual slot. Some schools also send an email confirmation to the registered email ID.
Candidates are required to report for medical examination at 0800 hours on the scheduled date, otherwise the candidate will be treated as disqualified for admission.
Read that carefully. Late arrival means disqualification. Not a second chance. Not a rescheduled slot. The seat is gone. Arrive early, carry every document, and don't treat this appointment casually.
Step 2 - What Documents to Carry on Medical Day
Candidates must bring three sets of the Medical Form - available on the AISSAC portal under 'List of Documents'- along with the following originals and self-certified copies:
- AISSEE-2026 Admit Card - original plus copy
- AISSEE-2026 Score Card - original plus copy
- Aadhaar Card of the candidate - original plus copy
- Date of Birth Certificate - original plus copy
- Aadhaar Cards of both parents - originals plus copies
Print three sets of the medical form before you leave home. Doctors at the centre need to fill and sign them. Don't arrive expecting to print on the spot.
Step 3 - What Doctors Actually Examine
This is where many parents are blindsided. The medical examination at Sainik School is a structured, systematic assessment. It is conducted by qualified medical officers - not a school nurse.
Doctors check vision, hearing, overall health, heart, lungs, ENT, skin, speech, kidneys, and bones systematically.Here's what each area means practically:
Vision - This is the most critical check and the most common reason for rejection. Each eye must have a complete field of vision, and both binocular vision and depth perception must be normal.Know your child's exact eye power before medical day. A myopia of -2.50 is typically the boundary. Anything beyond that is a rejection. If your child wears glasses, get a proper eye test from an ophthalmologist before the medical - not the day before, weeks before.
Height and Weight - Both are measured and recorded precisely. Both underweight and overweight can be flagged. A child who spent months sitting at a desk studying with no physical activity and gained significant weight can fail here despite strong academic preparation.Minimum height for Class 6 entry is roughly 140 cm; for Class 9 around 152 cm - verify exact figures from the official SOP.
Physical Build - The candidate must show no signs of poor physical build, underdevelopment, major deformities, or obesity.Body weight must remain within the standard height-weight chart for the relevant age group.
Bone and Joint Health - Bone growth and joint function must be normal, with no structural abnormalities or movement restrictions.Flat feet and knock knees are specifically checked.
Speech - The candidate must not have any speech difficulties such as stammering or other noticeable speech defects.This one surprises many families - it is taken seriously.
Heart and Lungs - Auscultation by the examining doctor. Any irregular sounds, murmurs, or breathing irregularities will be flagged for further investigation.
ENT - Ears, nose, and throat. Hearing is tested. Perforated eardrums or significant hearing loss in one ear can disqualify a candidate.
Step 4 - The Fit or Unfit Finding
After the examination, the medical officer records a fitness verdict. A candidate declared medically fit proceeds to the next stage - physical document verification at the allotted school. A candidate declared medically unfit is removed from the merit list for that school.
It is the parent's responsibility to ensure the medical examination of their child is completed. The school will provide help in coordinating with Medical Authorities if parents face any difficulty.
What If Your Child Is Declared Unfit? The Appeal Process
An unfit verdict is not always final. There is a formal appeal mechanism.
If a candidate is declared medically unfit, the parents can request a re-examination by a Review Medical Board. If the Review Medical Board finds the candidate medically fit, the school will restore the candidate's name to the admission list according to their merit position. In such cases, the medical review fee will be refunded.
If the Board again declares the candidate medically unfit, the decision is treated as final and no further appeal will be considered by the school. While the appeal is under process, the Principal has the authority to place the admission on hold - ensuring the candidate's seat remains reserved until the final medical decision is made.
All expenses related to travel, accommodation, and any other costs incurred during the medical review process must be borne by the parents.
Don't hide medical history during the examination. If a condition exists - corrected or managed - disclose it. Hiding something that gets discovered later creates far more serious problems.
How to Prepare Your Child Before Medical Day
Preparation starts months before medical day, not the week before. Physical fitness must be maintained throughout the exam preparation period.
Practically, this means your child should not spend six months completely sedentary during exam prep. Some daily physical activity - running, outdoor play, basic exercise - keeps weight proportionate and fitness levels acceptable.
Get a full eye test done. If your child's eye power is near the acceptable boundary, consult an ophthalmologist well in advance. There are no corrections possible on medical day.
If your child has a known medical condition - allergies, asthma, a resolved bone issue - carry any existing medical reports. Relevant documentation of treated conditions can help the examining doctor assess context rather than reflexively flagging something.
Arrive rested. The examination is physical and systematic. A tired, anxious child doesn't present as well as one who slept properly the night before.
The written exam tests your child's mind. The medical test checks whether they're ready for residential, physically active school life. Both matter equally in the AISSEE 2026 selection process. One without the other doesn't get you a confirmed seat.
