The Indian Air Force conducts the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) annually in February and August to select Class-I Officers for Flying and Ground Duties (both Technical and Non-Technical).
AFCAT is open to both male and female candidates aspiring to join the Indian Air Force. It offers opportunities for Short Service Commission in the Flying Branch and both Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission in Ground Duties, covering Technical and Non-Technical roles.
Frequency- half-yearly
Mode- Computerised Exam
Exam Pattern
Indian Air Force (IAF) prescribes AFCAT exam pattern along with the notification. The exam pattern of AFCAT 2024 highlights the overall structure of the exam. Going the AFCAT exam pattern, candidates can know the marking scheme, total marks, exam timing, negative marking, etc. According to the exam pattern, the online test of AFCAT comprises sections such as General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. The total marks allotted to the test are 300. Questions in the exam are framed as per the AFCAT syllabus.
According to AFCAT Exam Analysis, the difficulty level of the exam is moderate. It is advised to attempt the AFCAT mock tests to check the level of preparation for the exam. Besides, candidates must also solve AFCAT question papers. Read below for more details on the AFCAT exam pattern. AFCAT Exam Pattern 2024
AFCAT and EKT exams are conducted in computer-based mode. Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) is conducted for candidates who opt for Ground Duty (Technical) branch. The language of the exam is English. A total of 100 questions are asked in the AFCAT exam while EKT carries 50 questions. Candidates get two hours to solve AFCAT paper while 45 minutes for EKT. The test paper of AFCAT comprises questions from General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. EKT comprises questions from Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical & Electronics. The difficulty level of AFCAT syllabus is of graduation level. The total marks allotted to AFCAT are 300 while EKT carries 150 marks.
AFCAT exam pattern highlights the overall structure of the exam such as number of sections, weightage of topics, time duration, total marks, marking scheme and many more. Candidates should prepare as per the exam pattern so that they get familar with the exam process.
Eligibility Criteria
The Indian Air Force (IAF) specifies the AFCAT exam pattern in its notification. This pattern outlines the structure of the exam, including the marking scheme, total marks, exam duration, and negative marking. The AFCAT online test includes sections on General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test, totaling 300 marks. Questions are designed according to the AFCAT syllabus.
The AFCAT exam is considered moderately difficult. Candidates are encouraged to take mock tests and solve previous question papers to assess their preparation level. More details on the AFCAT exam pattern are provided below.
The AFCAT and EKT exams are conducted online. The Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) is for candidates opting for the Ground Duty (Technical) branch. The exam language is English. The AFCAT exam consists of 100 questions, while EKT has 50 questions. The AFCAT paper lasts two hours, and the EKT lasts 45 minutes. The AFCAT test includes questions from General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. The EKT covers Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical & Electronics topics. The AFCAT syllabus difficulty is at the graduation level. AFCAT has a total of 300 marks, and EKT has 150 marks.
The exam pattern provides the number of sections, topic weightage, duration, total marks, and marking scheme. Preparing according to this pattern helps candidates familiarize themselves with the exam process.
Candidates can refer to the key details of the AFCAT exam pattern below.
| Subject | Exam Duration | No of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 2 hours | 100 | 300 |
| Verbal Ability in English | |||
| Numerical Ability | |||
| Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
| Subject | Time | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | 45 minutes | 50 | 150 |
| Computer Science | |||
| Electrical & Electronics |
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test | 35 | 105 | 2 hours |
| Verbal Ability in English | 30 | 90 | |
| Numerical Ability | 15 | 45 | |
| General Awareness | 20 | 60 | |
| Mechanics/ Computer Science/ Electrical & Electronics | 50 | 150 | 45 min |
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test | 35 | 105 | 2 hours |
| Verbal Ability in English | 30 | 90 | |
| Numerical Ability | 15 | 45 | |
| General Awareness | 20 | 60 |
