AFCAT coaching for the Air Force officer entry
The Air Force Common Admission Test, better known as AFCAT, is the Indian Air Force’s own route for graduates who want to become commissioned officers. It is conducted twice a year, and it opens the Flying Branch and the Ground Duty branches, technical and non-technical. A candidate who clears the online test is called to the Air Force Selection Board, where a different set of qualities is tested, and then to a medical examination.
Our AFCAT coaching in Dehradun is built for that full journey. Classes are held in person at Street 1, Subharti Road, Nanda Ki Chowki, Lower Kolhupani, Dehradun, and we do not run online batches. The online test is only the first gate, so the course moves from aptitude practice to AFSB preparation without a pause. Many candidates put most of their effort into the test alone. We think the second stage deserves equal time.
This course suits:
- final-year students and graduates who want the Flying Branch, where pilot selection is a separate and demanding test
- engineering graduates aiming at the Ground Duty (Technical) branch
- graduates in any discipline who want the Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branch, which includes administration and logistics
- students who have already appeared once and want a tighter, more structured second attempt
A graduate who is also considering the Army or Navy can combine the AFCAT with our CDS coaching, since the SSB preparation overlaps heavily. Those who hold a call letter can also join the stand-alone SSB interview coaching course.
AFCAT eligibility by branch
Eligibility is set by the Indian Air Force and published on the official AFCAT portal, which is run by EdCIL. The conditions below are taken from the portal’s branch and qualification pages and from the AFCAT 02/2026 notification, which counts age as on 1 July 2027. Because each advertisement carries its own dates and details, read the current advertisement for the cycle you are applying to; the Air Force releases AFCAT advertisements twice a year, in June and December.
| Branch | Age | Education |
|---|---|---|
| Flying Branch (Short Service Commission) | 20 to 24 years as on 1 July 2027 (born 2 July 2003 to 1 July 2007); relaxed up to 26 for holders of a valid DGCA commercial pilot licence | A pass in Mathematics and Physics at the 10+2 stage, and a graduation of at least three years in any discipline or a BE/B Tech degree, with a minimum of passing marks. Final-year students can apply if they have no present backlog, and must produce proof of passing by 30 May 2027 |
| Ground Duty (Technical) | 20 to 26 years as on 1 July 2027 (born 2 July 2001 to 1 July 2007) | Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 stage, and a four-year engineering or technology degree in a discipline listed for the sub-branch, with a minimum of passing marks |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | 20 to 26 years as on 1 July 2027 (born 2 July 2001 to 1 July 2007) | Depends on the sub-branch. Weapon Systems needs Mathematics and Physics at 10+2 and a degree in any discipline; Administration and Logistics needs a graduate degree of at least three years in any discipline; Accounts, Education and Meteorology have their own stream requirements |
On marital status, the portal lists the Flying Branch as “Single”, and the notification says that candidates for every branch must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course, with marriage not permitted during training. The official portal also notes that selection depends on written tests, interviews, a medical fitness test and an all-India merit list. Since the age is counted at the start of the course and the education conditions are specific, it is worth sitting down with the advertisement before filling the form. Our eligibility checker is a quick first look, and our counsellors can explain the details.
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AFCAT selection stages and how we prepare
The selection path is a sequence, not a single test, and each stage has its own character. The official portal describes the sequence as follows: the Air Force prepares a list of candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in the online AFCAT, as fixed by the IAF, and those candidates go to an Air Force Selection Board, followed by a medical fitness test and the final merit list. For the Flying Branch, the Computerised Pilot Selection System is a once-in-a-lifetime test.
| Stage | What it is | How our course supports it |
|---|---|---|
| Online AFCAT | A computer-based aptitude test; the qualifying marks are fixed by the Air Force | English, numerical ability, reasoning and general awareness practice in timed tests |
| AFSB | Interviews and tests at an Air Force Selection Board | Psychology writing, group tasks and mock interviews, built on the same lines as the SSB |
| Pilot aptitude (Flying) | A computerised pilot selection test, taken once | Orientation on what the test measures and how to stay calm in a one-time assessment |
| Medical | Fitness examination under the Air Force’s standards | Early guidance on eyesight, height and general fitness |
The AFCAT 02/2026 notification (para 8.1) describes the online test as a two-hour objective paper of 100 questions carrying 300 marks, covering General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude. Three marks are awarded for every correct answer and one mark is deducted for every incorrect one; unattempted questions carry no marks. The Air Force fixes the qualifying marks.
The official guidelines page also carries a downloadable document titled Syllabus and Schemes of AFCAT. We keep our mock tests aligned with the latest version, and we encourage every student to read it directly. Where a particular detail matters to you, such as the weightage of a section, rely on the official documents rather than on any coaching summary, including ours.
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The Air Force Selection Board
The AFSB is the stage where the AFCAT candidate is judged as a future officer. It involves interviews and tests that look at intelligence, personality and officer-like qualities, with group tasks carried out on a ground. Candidates who have prepared only for the online test often find the AFSB unfamiliar, because there is no question paper to revise from.
In our batch, AFSB preparation starts early. Students practise picture-based stories, word association and situation-reaction tests under time limits, take part in group discussions and planning exercises, and complete outdoor tasks as a team. Mock interviews rehearse answers about family, studies, current affairs and the reason for choosing the Air Force, so that they sound natural. For a fuller picture of how a board works, see our SSB interview coaching page.
How the AFCAT batch is organised
The batch mixes aptitude work, test practice and selection-board preparation.
- English: grammar, vocabulary, comprehension and sentence correction, with timed sets
- Numerical ability: arithmetic, percentages, ratio, time and work, speed and distance, with an emphasis on speed after concepts are clear
- Reasoning: verbal and non-verbal reasoning, including spatial questions that matter for the military aptitude part of selection
- General awareness: current affairs, defence news, history, geography, polity and science
- AFSB sessions: psychology writing, group tasks and interview practice
- Mock tests: online-style tests in the exam format, with analysis after each paper
- Fitness: physical training, since fitness is checked at the medical stage
Students who are still in their final year of college can ask the counsellor about batch timings that suit their schedule. All sessions are classroom-based.
Fees for the AFCAT course
The AFCAT course shares its fee structure with the CDS course, and the fee table further down this page shows the batch durations on offer. For registration, hostel charges and any refundable deposit, see the fee structure page. A counselling call is the quickest way to compare durations.
Hostel and mess for outstation candidates
Graduates from other cities often prefer to live in the academy’s hostel during the batch, which keeps the day simple: class, training, study and rest. The academy has separate hostels for boys and girls and a mess, and day scholars from Dehradun are equally welcome. For more on rooms, meals and monthly charges, read the hostel and mess page, and use the contact page for directions to the academy.
AFCAT coaching: common questions
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppWho can apply for AFCAT?
Graduates who meet the age and education conditions for a branch can apply. The Flying Branch and Ground Duty branches have different age limits and qualification requirements, listed on the official AFCAT portal.
How often is AFCAT held?
The Air Force releases AFCAT advertisements twice a year, in June and December, according to the official portal. Read the current advertisement for dates and details.
Does the course cover the AFSB?
Yes. AFSB preparation, including psychology tests, group tasks and mock interviews, runs alongside aptitude practice. The stand-alone SSB course is also available for call-letter holders.
Is the pilot aptitude test covered?
For Flying Branch candidates we explain what the computerised pilot selection test measures and how to prepare. The official portal describes it as a once-in-a-lifetime test, so calm preparation matters.
Do you offer online AFCAT classes?
No. Our coaching is classroom-based in Dehradun, although the AFCAT itself is an online test.
Can final-year students join?
Yes. The official portal allows final-year students to apply under stated conditions, and our counsellor can suggest batch timings that work around college.
Related courses
- CDS coaching in Dehradun for the Army, Navy and Air Force academies through UPSC
- SSB interview coaching for call-letter holders
- Army TES and Navy 10+2 B.Tech entry for Class 12 students
- Agniveer, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard coaching for airmen and sailors entries
- NDA coaching for students still in Class 12
