There's one thing most blogs about AISSAC counselling get wrong.
They write about "choice filling" as if every candidate is the same. As if a Class 6 boy from Rajasthan and a Class 9 girl from Tamil Nadu should approach their school preferences in exactly the same way.
They shouldn't. The game is the same - but the rules shift depending on which class your child qualified for.
Here's what you actually need to know.
Why Class 6 and Class 9 Counselling Is Different
The AISSAC portal looks identical for both. Same 10-slot preference list. Same lock button. Same process.
But underneath, the numbers are very different.
AISSEE ↗ 2026 covers admission to both Class 6 and Class 9 across 33 Old Sainik Schools and 38 approved New Sainik Schools.However, Class 9 seats at most schools are significantly fewer than Class 6. Some schools don't offer Class 9 entry at all in a given year - they had no vacancies. Some schools for academic year 2026-27 do not have Class 9 entry through AISSEE at all.
This changes everything. Fewer seats means tighter competition. It means your choice list needs to be wider, more realistic, and better researched.
For Class 6 Parents: What to Focus On
Class 6 is where most seats exist. Around 3.5 lakh students appeared in AISSEE 2025, and a similar number appeared in 2026- all competing for a limited pool. But Class 6 still offers the highest volume of seats across both Old and New Sainik Schools.
Your biggest advantage is the 67% home state quota. As per the reservation policy, 67% of seats are allocated for candidates from their home state, while 33% are reserved for students from other states.For a Class 6 candidate, this home state advantage is powerful. If your state has multiple Sainik Schools - and many do - your chances are meaningfully higher within that quota.
So for Class 6 choice filling, here's the approach that works:
Fill your home state schools first in slots 1 through 5 or 6, ranked by genuine preference. Don't put a school first just because it's famous - put the one you'd actually say yes to at the top.
Then use the remaining slots - 6 through 10 - for schools from neighbouring states or states with more open seats. These become your backup net. A weaker rank gets a seat here if home-state schools are full in your category.
Also include New Sainik Schools. Many Class 6 parents ignore them. That's a real mistake. New Sainik Schools follow the same AISSEE-based admission process and are run in partnership with the Ministry of Defence.Standards vary, yes - but for a candidate on the borderline, a New Sainik School seat beats no seat at all.
For Class 9 Parents: The Strategy Is Tighter
Class 9 is harder. Not just at the exam stage - at counselling too.
Due to limited seats across Sainik Schools, competition remains high every year.At the Class 9 level, this pressure is more acute. Many schools that accept dozens of Class 6 students take only a handful - sometimes just 5 to 10 - at Class 9. A few schools in a given year take none at all.
This means one thing practically: you cannot afford to be picky. A Class 9 candidate with a good rank who fills only 4 or 5 choices is taking a serious risk. If those schools are full, there's nothing left to fall back on.
The expected cut-off for Class 9 in 2026 was approximately 250-270+ marks out of 400.At those scores, competition among qualified candidates is intense. Everyone near that range is trying for the same seats.
For Class 9 choice filling:
Use all 10 slots without exception. This isn't optional - it's essential. Include every school where Class 9 seats exist in your category, even schools you'd only consider as a last option.
Check the seat matrix carefully before finalising. The school-wise seat matrix is published on the AISSAC portal before choice filling begins.Some schools have zero Class 9 seats in your category this year. Adding them wastes a slot. Others may have surprisingly more seats than you'd expect - and lower competition because fewer people know.
Prioritise schools where your rank is realistically competitive. A high-demand school at slot 1 is fine - but if your rank is on the edge, don't fill slots 2 through 5 with similarly competitive schools. Mix in realistic options early in the list so you don't burn through all your chances on schools unlikely to allot you.
What Both Classes Share: The Non-Negotiables
Regardless of whether your child qualified for Class 6 or Class 9, a few things don't change.
Seats are allotted based on rank, category, domicile, and gender - in that order. The system allots based on a candidate's rank, gender, category, and domicile and the school preferences filled during counselling.Your list only matters within those filters. A General category boy and a Defence category girl in the same state are competing in different pools, even at the same school.
The choice filling window is short. Don't treat it as a casual task for a free afternoon. Sit with the seat matrix, study category-wise vacancies, and think about your family's genuine situation - distance, boarding readiness, school reputation, and backup comfort level.
Lock your choices only when you're sure. If you wish to edit your choices after locking but before the choice filling deadline, you can do so by clicking EDIT CHOICES on the portal.So take the time. Review the list twice. Then lock.
A Word on the Reconsider Option
Both Class 6 and Class 9 candidates can opt for Reconsider after Round 1 allotment - meaning you give up your allotted seat and try for a better school in Round 2.
For Class 9 especially, think very hard before doing this. Once you opt for Reconsider, the allotted seat is cancelled automatically and no further claim is admissible for that school.With fewer Class 9 seats in the pool, the school you let go may simply not come back. A confirmed seat - even at your 7th choice - is worth more than a gamble on Round 2.
For Class 6 candidates with more schools and more seats in the pool, reconsidering is slightly less risky. But even then, it's not a decision to take lightly.
The One-Line Summary for Each Class
Class 6: Use your home state quota advantage, fill all 10 slots, include New Sainik Schools as safety options.
Class 9: Seats are fewer and competition is tighter - cast the widest possible net, check the seat matrix school by school, and think twice before reconsidering any allotment.
Your child's exam result opened the door. How you fill this form decides whether they walk through it.
For school-wise seat matrices, category-based cut-off analysis, and personalised AISSAC guidance for both Class 6 and Class 9, visit SainikGuru.com.
