Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT II) 2023 FAQs

Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is a national level competitive exam conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to select officers for all its branches, except for the medical and dental branches. It is for the recruitment of Commissioned Officer vacancies for Grant of Short Service Commission (SSC) in Flying & Permanent Commission (PC)/Short Service Commission (SSC) in Ground Duty (Technical) and Ground Duty (Non-technical) Branches. See AFCAT (II) 2023 Notification. See AFCAT (II) 2023 Notification

Indian Air Force invites application from the Indian citizens (Men and Women) to be part of this elite force as Group A Gazetted Officers in Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches twice in a year

Candidates, who want to join Indian Air Force Services, can find the answer to their queries on the page below.

Q 1. What is AFCAT?

Answer: AFCAT stands for Air Force Common Admission Test and is also referred to as the Indian Air Force Exam. AFCAT is a national level competitive exam conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to select officers for all its branches, except for the medical and dental branches. It is for the recruitment of Commissioned Officer vacancies for Grant of Short Service Commission (SSC) in Flying & Permanent Commission (PC)/Short Service Commission (SSC) in Ground Duty (Technical) and Ground Duty (Non-technical) Branches.

Q 2. How many times a year is AFCAT?

Answer: AFCAT is conducted twice in a year. Once in the month of February and another one in the month of August. The advertisement for the same is published in the months of December and June respectively.

Q 3. What is EKT in relation to AFCAT?

Answer: EKT stands for Engineering Knowledge Test. It was started in the year 2014 conducted by Indian Air Force along with AFCAT-II (Air Force Common Admission Test). It aims at testing the basic knowledge of an engineering graduate applying for technical entry through AFCAT.

Q 4. What is the time duration for AFCAT?

Answer: The AFCAT will be of two hours duration and will contain multiple choice questions on verbal ability, numerical ability, reasoning general awareness and military aptitude. EKT would be for 45 minutes and conducted immediately after AFCAT.

Q 5. What is the Age Criteria for AFCAT?

For Flying Branch through AFCAT & NCC Special Entry: 20 to 24 years as on 01st January 2022 i.e. born between 02nd January 1998 to 01st January 2002 (both dates inclusive). Upper age limit for applicants holding valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 years i.e. born between 02nd January 1996 to 01st January 2002 (both dates inclusive).

For Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch: 20 to 26 years as on 01st July 2019 i.e. born between 02nd July 1993 to 01st July 1999 (both date inclusive).

Q 6. How many Candidates appear for AFCAT?

Answer: About two lakh appear for AFCAT for all branches put together. Out of it a maximum of ten thousand get called for AFSB procedures. Of these, nearly 7000 people get sent out on the first day itself at AFSB after the initial screening test, which is almost on the lines of AFCAT which they have already written.  Then, finally about 350 or so get recommended for various branches. Maybe, about 20-30 of these finally turn out to be medically unfit. Out of the left over, about 250 or so get called based on their merit/performance in the AFSB selection procedures.

Q7. What are the options you can apply for after AFCAT?

Answer: Through AFCAT you can apply for all the three branches of the IAF which are Flying Branch, Technical Branch and Ground Duty Branches. The eligibility criteria for different branches vary. Both men and women can apply for all the three branches. While for women there is a short service commission only in all the three branches, for men there is Permanent as well as Short Service Commission for men. However for the Flying Branch only the Short Service Commission is there through AFCAT. Thus if you clear the written exam and then clear the AFSB also then you have a chance of joining the Air Force Academy.

Q 8. What are AFCAT Exam Details?

Answer: The written exam is an exam of 2 hour duration. It consists of 100 questions and each question carries 3 marks. So for every correct answer a candidate gets 3 marks, for every wrong answer one mark is deducted and there is no marking for any question left blank.

The paper consists of a mix of a variety of fields. There are questions from Current Affairs, Math, Reasoning, English, History, Geography, Science, Polity, Economics etc. After the written exam the results are declared and a cut off is fixed.

Candidates scoring above the cut off are called for AFSB interview. This interview is a personality test conducted for a duration of 6 days. This personality test is conducted in two stages and consists of tests like Intelligence test, Psychological Tests, Group Tasks and personal interview. The written exam is followed by an Air Force Selection Board Interview for shortlisted candidates.

Q 9. What is the eligibility Criteria for appearing for AFCAT?

Flying Branch –Age should lay between to 23 years at the time of course commencement. The candidate must be a Graduate (Minimum three year degree course) in any discipline from a recognized University who have attained minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together and have passed Maths and Physics at 10+2 level OR BE / B Tech degree (Four year course) from a recognized University with minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together.

Technical Branch– The age must lay between 18 to 28 years at the time of course commencement. For details on education candidates can refer to the advertisement.

Ground Duty Branch-The age must lie between 20-23 years for Graduates, 20-25 years for Post Graduates, 20-26 years for LLB (Three year course after graduation) and 20-27 years for M.Ed/PhD/CA/ICWA. For details on education qualification you can refer to the official advertisement.

Q 10. How difficult is AFCAT?

Answer: It is considered a moderate level paper.  Analysing the question paper and then preparing according to the syllabus will sail you through the exam. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, arithmetic, static general knowledge and English Grammar are the arenas to be considered while in the entrance exam stage.

1. English-(20–25 questions) – Antonyms/Synonyms, Cloze Test, Idioms, and passage. Tip- Install some GRE words apps like MAGOOSH and prepare it thoroughly.
2. General Studies (covers Current Affairs, Science everything) (20–25 questions) –  No amount of preparation is enough for getting a cent percent score in GS part. Tip- cover last six months of current affairs from some GK capsule
3. Quantitative Aptitude (15–20 questions) – This is the most easiest part and you can have 100% accuracy in this part. Just go through quantitative aptitude books
4. Logical reasoning and Military Aptitude (25–30 questions)

Q11. How many attempts for AFCAT?

Answer: One can make all the attempts, if he/she is in the age group of 20 – 24 years. AFCAT is held twice in a year. So one can have maximum of 16 attempts  – 2 attempts per year for AFCAT written (total 8 attempts) and 2 attempts per year through “fast track selection entry” (8 attempts)

Q12. Is there negative marking in AFCAT?

Answer: Yes there is a negative marking in AFCAT. One mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer.

Q13. What is the AFCAT Syllabus and Exam pattern?

Answer: See Complete AFCAT Syllabus – AFCAT is an objective test held in online mode i.e. computer Based Test. The exam is of two hours duration and consists of 100 questions. Three marks will be awarded for every correct answer; one mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer and no marks for unattempted questions.

The scheme of syllabus contains General Awareness, English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning & Military Aptitude

Each Question Paper will have questions from the following topics:-

• English Comprehension –  Error Detection, Sentence Completion/Filling in of correct word, Synonyms, Antonyms and Testing of Vocabulary, Idioms and Phrases
• General Awareness – History, Geography, Civics, Politics, Current Affairs, Environment, Basic Science, Defence, Art, Culture, Sports, etc
• Numerical Ability –  Decimal Fraction, Time & Work, Average, Profit & Loss, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion and Simple Interest, Time & Distance (Trains/Boats & Streams)
• Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test –  Verbal Skills and Spatial Ability

Q14. What are the steps for applying online for AFCAT?

Answer: See AFCAT (II)  2023 APPLICATION Candidates are required to apply online only. Online applications will be accepted through the official recruitment websites ‘https://careerindianairforce.cdac.in or https://afcat.cdac.in’. Detailed instructions for filling in the online application form, is available on the website. While filling an online application, candidates are advised to keep the relevant documents readily available, as details are to be filled as per matriculation and other educational certificates.

Q15. Can Girls apply for AFCAT?

Answer: Yes, Girls are also eligible to apply for AFCAT provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria set by the Indian Air Force. Women candidates are selected only for Short Service commission, and not for Permanent Commission.

Q16. What is the salary of Flying officers on grant of commission?

Answer: Even before you are commissioned as an Air Force Officer you start earning a monthly stipend of Rs. 56,100/- during the last one year of your training period at any of the Air Force Training Institutions.

The following Pay / Allowances would be applicable on grant of Commission to Flying Officers:-

• Pay in Pay Band ( Common to all Branches ) – Rs 56,100 Per Month ( The officer will be placed in Level 10 in the Pay Matrix of VIIth CPC – 56,100-1,10,700)
• Military Service Pay :- Rs 15,500 Per Month
• Other allowances such as Transport allowance, Children Education Allowance, HRA etc. are also admissible to Officers.

In addition the following allowances are admissible to the newly Commissioned Officers in Flying and Technical Branches

• Flying Allowance to Flying Branch Officers.
• Technical Allowance to Technical Branch Officers.

Q17. What all documents are required to be uploaded in an AFCAT Application?

Answer: The following items are to be uploaded

• Scanned copies of the Qualification certificates from class X onwards
• Aadhaar card
• Scanned copies of photograph, signature, and thumb impression

Q18. What all should be carried along on the AFCAT Examination day?

Answer: The following items are to be carried to the exam centre:-

• e-Admit Card for AFCAT 01/ 2021.
• Candidate’s Aadhaar Card.
• Another valid photo identity card such as PAN card/ passport/ driving licence/ voter identity card/ college identity card or any other valid photo identity proof, with details of name, father’s name, date of birth and a clear photograph.
• Two passport size colour photographs- same as the photo uploaded during online application (to be pasted, not stapled on Admit Card next to the printed photo and on attendance sheet at the exam centre).
• Ballpoint Pen (Blue or Black) for signing on the attendance sheet and rough work.

Note: Candidates are not allowed to carry any textual material, calculators, docupen, slide rulers, log tables, electronic watches with facilities of calculator, mobile phones, bluetooth, pager or any other digital device