AFCAT Syllabus: The Indian Air Force conducts the Air Force Common Admission Test or AFCAT twice a year for recruitment of candidates into the Flying (Short Service Commission only), Technical (Permanent and Short Service Commission) and Ground Duty (Permanent and Short Service Commission) Branches. The exam is used to assess the understanding level of concepts and intelligence of the eligible candidate. All the aspirants can check this article, the AFCAT Syllabus and exam pattern to boost their preparation in the proper direction.
Also Read: Assam SLET Syllabus & Exam Pattern: Boost your preparation with complete details about SLET
Selection Process
IAF will conduct the examination in the following three stages i.e. Written Test, the AFSB Interview, and lastly, the Medical Examination.
Step 1 (AFCAT)
- For all entries other than NDA and CDSE and for all branches, candidates have to undergo the AFCAT exam.
- The test is conducted twice a year, in February and August.
- Advertisements for AFCAT are usually released in June and December.
- The test, as per AFCAT Syllabus is conducted all across India by the Indian Air Force.
Step 2 (AFSB Testing)
Candidates who have successfully cleared Step 1, will receive a call letter to report to any one of the Air Force Selection Boards located at Dehradun, Varanasi, Gandhinagar, Guwahati and Mysuru. At the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) centres, the candidates will have to undergo the following tests to get selected as an officer in the Indian Air Force.
(a) STAGE I: It is a screening test, which includes Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception & Discussion Test. Those who qualify for STAGE-I are eligible to undergo STAGE-II testing. STAGE-I disqualified candidates are routed back after the announcement of results.
(b) STAGE II: All the candidates, who have qualified for the STAGE-I of AFCAT 1 2025 will need to undergo another set of tests in the next four to five days. The fifth day is for CPSS testing (Flying branch).
- Psychological Tests: It is a written test conducted by a Psychologist.
- Group Tests: It is a combination of mental and physical work that includes interactive indoor and outdoor activities.
- Interview: It will involve a one-to-one conversation session with an Interviewing Officer.
- Lastly, the candidates who have selected flying branches and are recommended will have a Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test.
Step 3 (Medical Exam)
Once the candidate is recommended by the Selection Board, they will be asked to undergo the necessary medical examinations. Candidates will have the choice to take this test at the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), New Delhi, or the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengaluru.
Step 4 (Declaration of Merit List)
After completing previous steps, authorities will summarize the candidates’ performances in the written test and AFSB interview, considering if the candidate is medically fit. Then, based on the vacancies available and candidates’ choices, they will be called to join any one of the training institutes.
Exam Pattern
The online examination will consist of objective-type questions and will be in English only.
Number of Questions | 100 |
Marks for the correct answer | 3 marks |
Marks for wrong answer | 1 mark |
Exam Duration | 2 hours |
Total Marks | 300 marks |
Syllabus
- Candidates should note that the AFCAT Syllabus for the Numerical Ability Questions will be of the 10th level.
- The standard of questions in other subjects will be of graduation level (Indian University).
AFCAT Syllabus for English |
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Comprehension, Detect Error in Sentence, Sentence Completion/ Filling in of correct word, Synonym/ Antonym, Cloze Test or Fill in the Gaps in a paragraph, Idioms and Phrases, Analogy, Sentence Rearranging, Substitution in a Sentence/ One Word Substitution |
AFCAT Syllabus for General Awareness |
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History, Geography, Sports, National & International Organizations, Art & Culture, Personalities, Environment & Ecology, Indian Polity, Economy, Basic Science Based Knowledge, Science and Technology, Current Affairs (National and International), Defence |
AFCAT Syllabus for Numerical Ability |
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Decimal Fraction, Time and Work, Average/ Percentage, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest, Time & Distance and Races (Trains/ Boats & Streams), Area and Perimeter, Probability, Number System & Number Series, Mixture & Allegation Rules, Clocks |
AFCAT Syllabus for Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
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Verbal and Non-Verbal, Reasoning |
Important Links
Recommended Books
English | Objective General English by SP Bakshi |
General Awareness | Lucent’s General Knowledge, Manorama Yearbook |
Numerical Ability and Reasoning | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams by RS Aggarwal |
Military Aptitude | Test of Reasoning & Military Aptitude for AFCAT |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AFCAT?
AFCAT is the entry-level examination conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to recruit officers in Flying Branch, Technical Branch (Engineering), Ground Duty Branches (Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology).
Can Final-Year students apply?
Yes but the candidates must submit their degree certificate before the SSB interview.
What is the eligibility criteria?
The age limit is between 20 to 26 years old.
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