AISSEE 2026 Stray Vacancy Expected Cutoff: Class 6 and 9 Category-Wise

The AISSEE 2026 Stray Vacancy expected cutoff for Class 6 is likely to range from 130 to 215 marks (out of 300) and for Class 9 from 165 to 265 marks (out of 400), varying by category and individual Sainik School.

After the main merit list is processed, seats left unfilled — due to students declining allotments, failing medical tests, or not reporting for joining — are offered through the stray vacancy round to the next eligible students on the waiting list. NTA conducts this round on behalf of the Sainik School Society. Based on previous year trends, stray vacancy cutoffs are generally 5 to 15 marks lower than main round cutoffs, giving borderline scorers a genuine second chance at admission.

• Class 6 total marks: 300 (Mathematics, Language, Intelligence, General Knowledge).
• Class 9 total marks: 400 (Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, English, Intelligence).
• Stray vacancy cutoffs are school-wise and category-wise — they differ across individual Sainik Schools.
• Defence category students (wards of serving or ex-servicemen) are evaluated on a separate merit list with distinct cutoffs.
• SC and ST categories carry relaxed cutoffs as per central government reservation norms.
• All cutoff figures in this article are expected estimates based on 2024 and 2025 trends; official cutoffs will be released on the NTA portal.

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What is AISSEE 2026 Stray Vacancy Round?

The AISSEE stray vacancy round is an additional admission cycle held by the Sainik School Society after the main merit list is finalised. When students who received seats in the first allotment decline admission, do not clear the medical fitness test, or fail to report on the joining date, those seats are pooled and offered to the next eligible students on the waiting list through this round.

To participate in the AISSEE 2026 Stray Vacancy round, students must hold a valid rank from AISSEE 2026 and must not have already accepted a seat in any earlier round. The round is conducted school-wise, meaning the cutoff and available seats are announced separately for each Sainik School. The official schedule and instructions are published on the NTA Sainik School portal once the main round closes.

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AISSEE 2026 Expected Stray Vacancy Cutoff for Class 6 (Category-Wise)

The AISSEE 2026 Class 6 exam is conducted for a total of 300 marks. Based on 2025 trends, the expected stray vacancy cutoff for Class 6 ranges from approximately 130 marks for ST students to 215 marks for General (Civilian) students. The table below provides a category-wise breakdown of expected cutoffs compared with approximate main round figures from 2025.

The ranges above reflect variation across all 33 operational Sainik Schools. Schools in high-demand states such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu tend to set cutoffs toward the upper end of the range, while newly established schools and those in the North-East typically see cutoffs toward the lower end. Students should target a score at or above the lower bound for their category.

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AISSEE 2026 Expected Stray Vacancy Cutoff for Class 9 (Category-Wise)

The AISSEE Class 9 exam is conducted for a total of 400 marks. Based on 2025 trends, the expected stray vacancy cutoff for Class 9 ranges from approximately 165 marks for ST students to 265 marks for General (Civilian) students. The Class 9 stray vacancy round is typically more competitive than Class 6 because fewer seats are released in the second round.

Students who narrowly missed the Class 9 main round cutoff should monitor the NTA Sainik School portal regularly for stray vacancy notifications and keep their documents ready for quick submission once the round opens.

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Previous Year AISSEE Stray Vacancy Cutoff Trends

The table below shows approximate stray vacancy cutoff ranges from the 2024 and 2025 cycles. These figures form the primary basis for the 2026 expected cutoffs shown above and are based on reported trends — school-wise figures may vary.

Year-on-year data shows a gradual upward trend in cutoffs, driven by rising student registrations and increasingly competitive preparation. For 2026, a similar upward movement of 3 to 5 marks over 2025 figures is anticipated across most categories, though the final cutoff depends on actual paper difficulty and seat availability.

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Factors Affecting AISSEE 2026 Stray Vacancy Cutoff

Several variables determine where the final stray vacancy cutoff lands for each school and category:

• Number of vacant seats: Fewer stray vacancy seats in a given school push the cutoff higher even in the second round.
• Total student registrations: Higher overall participation across the country raises the competitive bar for all categories.
• Paper difficulty level: An easier AISSEE 2026 paper produces higher raw scores and lifts cutoffs across the board.
• School-specific demand: Sainik Schools in states with historically high enrolment demand set cutoffs toward the upper end of the range.
• Category-wise reservation: SC and ST cutoffs are lower per central government reservation norms; the Defence category operates on a separate merit list with its own cutoff.
• Tie-breaking criteria: NTA resolves ties at the cutoff mark using subject-wise marks and age; this can alter borderline outcomes without changing the published cutoff score.