The Air Force X group paper (Science Subjects) has 70 questions in 60 minutes, with Physics 25, Mathematics 25 and English 20. The Y group paper (Other than Science Subjects) has 50 questions in 45 minutes, with English 20 and Reasoning and General Awareness 30. Each correct answer earns one mark, a wrong answer loses 0.25, and the syllabus for Physics, Mathematics and English is the CBSE Class 12 syllabus.
What is the Agniveervayu exam pattern?
| Stream | Subject | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science Subjects (X group) | Physics | 25 | 20 minutes |
| Mathematics | 25 | 20 minutes | |
| English | 20 | 20 minutes | |
| Total | 70 | 60 minutes | |
| Other than Science Subjects (Y group) | English | 20 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning and General Awareness (RAGA) | 30 | 25 minutes | |
| Total | 50 | 45 minutes | |
| Both streams | Physics 25, Mathematics 25, English 20, RAGA 30 | 100 | 85 minutes |
These counts come from the candidate instructions on the Air Force’s recruitment portal, and the durations match the advertisements for Intake 01/2027 and 02/2027. Some websites give 50 questions for the Y group and others 70; the portal’s instructions show 70 for the science stream and 50 for the other stream. The Air Force reserves the right to change the pattern, so check the advertisement of your intake.
How is the paper marked?
- One mark for every correct answer, nothing for an unattempted question, and 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
- Candidates must qualify in each paper individually, with normalised marks.
- Each subject has its own time, and the sections appear in sequence. You cannot go back to a subject once its time has ended or you have submitted it, and the submit button stays disabled for the first 5 minutes of each section.
- The question paper is bilingual (English and Hindi) except for the English paper.
Marks are normalised across sessions because the exam is held in several shifts. The Air Force’s scheme uses a standard-deviation model, and cut-offs for Phase II and the final merit are applied on normalised marks, not on the marks you actually scored. A subject score can become higher or lower after normalisation. Shortlisting for Phase II is state-wise, so the cut-off can differ from state to state.
What is the syllabus?
The advertisement says Physics, Mathematics and English are “as per 10+2 CBSE syllabus”, and that the Other than Science stream tests English as per the 10+2 CBSE syllabus and Reasoning and General Awareness. The portal lists a mock test and an e-book. We do not copy chapter lists, because CBSE revises its syllabus; check the current one on the CBSE website and use these areas as your outline.
| Subject | Areas to cover (at Class 11 and 12 level) | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Physics (25 questions) | Mechanics, heat and thermodynamics, oscillations and waves, electricity and magnetism, optics and modern physics. | Formulae and units first, then numericals. 25 questions in 20 minutes is under a minute each. |
| Mathematics (25 questions) | Algebra, trigonometry, coordinate geometry, calculus, vectors and probability. | Accuracy before speed, because wrong answers cost 0.25. |
| English (20 questions) | Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension and usage. | Daily reading and short timed sets. |
| RAGA (30 questions) | General reasoning and general awareness. Read the mock test on the portal for the style. | Awareness is mostly reading, so start early and keep notes. |
Call or WhatsApp +91 70170 31757 for free counselling if you want help deciding between the science and other streams, or planning the weeks to your intake’s exam.
Which pattern belongs to which intake?
Dates, age caps and windows change between intakes, but the 60, 45 and 85 minute durations are the same in the advertisements for Intake 01/2027 (online exam on 30 and 31 March 2026) and Intake 02/2027 (22 and 23 September 2026). After each exam the Air Force opens an objection portal, for example from 26 to 28 September 2026 for Intake 02/2027, where candidates can see the question paper and provisional answer key and raise objections. Always read the advertisement of the intake you apply for.
How much time do you get per question?
| Subject | Questions | Time | Seconds per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 25 | 20 minutes | 48 |
| Mathematics | 25 | 20 minutes | 48 |
| English | 20 | 20 minutes | 60 |
| RAGA | 30 | 25 minutes | 50 |
With four options and a penalty of 0.25, a blind guess is worth a little above zero on average: one chance in four of +1 and three in four of -0.25 comes to +0.0625. If you can remove even one option, guessing pays more. Leave a question only when you have no idea at all, and keep careless errors to a minimum.
What does a 12-week plan look like?
| Weeks | Science stream | Other than Science stream |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | Class 11 Physics and Mathematics, chapter by chapter, with short tests. | English grammar and comprehension, reasoning basics, daily reading. |
| 5 to 8 | Class 12 topics, numerical practice and the portal’s mock test. | Reasoning sets, general awareness notes, mock test. |
| 9 to 12 | Full 70-question papers in 60 minutes, one review day per test. | Full 50-question papers in 45 minutes, one review day per test. |
Do not forget the next phase. The Air Force’s Physical Fitness Test follows the online test, so keep your running going alongside your books.
What mistakes lose marks in this paper?
- Spending the whole Physics time on two hard numericals. Each subject has fixed time, so move on.
- Assuming you can return to a subject. Once a subject’s time ends or you submit it, it is closed.
- Ignoring English because the stream is science. English carries 20 questions in both streams.
- Practising only on paper. The Air Force test is computer-based, so take timed tests on a screen and get used to scrolling and the question grid.
- Forgetting the Physical Fitness Test. Qualifying in Phase I is only the first step.
The portal’s candidate instructions also say that you must write the four-digit session ID shown on the screen on the attendance sheet, that mobile phones and smart watches are not allowed in the exam hall, and that an A4 sheet is given for rough work and must be returned. Reading these instructions before the day removes avoidable stress.
Airforce X and Y group syllabus: common questions
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppWhat is the Airforce X group syllabus?
Physics, Mathematics and English as per the CBSE Class 12 syllabus, in 70 questions over 60 minutes.
What is the Airforce Y group syllabus?
English as per the CBSE Class 12 syllabus, plus Reasoning and General Awareness, in 50 questions over 45 minutes.
Is there negative marking in the Air Force exam?
Yes. 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions score zero.
Where is the official Airforce X group syllabus?
The advertisement on the Air Force recruitment portal says Physics, Mathematics and English follow the CBSE Class 12 syllabus. The portal also has a mock test.
How many questions are there for Y group?
The candidate instructions on the portal list 50: English 20 and Reasoning and General Awareness 30.
What is normalisation of marks?
Marks are adjusted statistically across exam shifts so that harder or easier papers do not favour candidates. Cut-offs use normalised marks.
Sources
Our Agniveer, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard coaching in Dehradun page describes the batch. See also the X and Y group eligibility guide and the Navy SSR guide.
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