The AFCAT is one online paper of 100 questions for 300 marks in two hours, in English only. Each correct answer earns 3 marks and each wrong one costs 1. It covers General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude. Clear it and you go to an Air Force Selection Board (AFSB). So plan in two parts: a section-wise plan for the paper, and AFSB preparation that starts before the result.
Facts here come from the Indian Air Force’s AFCAT 02/2026 notification and its AFCAT portal, read on 12 October 2026. The IAF’s portal is now afcat.edcil.co.in.
The AFCAT paper in the 02/2026 notification
| Item | What the notification says |
|---|---|
| Paper | One paper: General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
| Questions and marks | 100 questions, 300 marks |
| Time | 2 hours |
| Marking | 3 marks for a correct answer, 1 mark deducted for a wrong answer, none for unattempted |
| Language | Objective, in English only |
| Standard | Numerical Ability at Matriculation level; other sections at graduation level |
| Cycles | Twice a year; AFCAT 02/2026 was held on 8 August 2026, and the portal says AFCAT 01/2026 was held on 31 January 2026 |
Both the 01/2026 and 02/2026 notifications describe this single paper for all branches. We did not find a separate technical knowledge test in them. Technical candidates can also apply through GATE score entry, and NCC Air Wing ‘C’ certificate holders through the NCC special entry, which skips the written test.
Because a wrong answer costs one mark against three for a right one, a guess pays off only when your chance of being right is better than one in four. Guess when you can remove options, not at random.
What each section covers
- English: comprehension, detecting errors in sentences, sentence completion, synonyms and antonyms, cloze test, idioms and phrases, analogy, sentence rearranging, one-word substitution, transformation of sentences and homonyms.
- General Awareness: history, geography, sports, national and international organisations, art and culture, personalities, environment and ecology, polity, economy, basic science, science and technology, current affairs and defence.
- Numerical Ability: decimal fractions, time and work, average and percentage, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, simple and compound interest, time and distance, area and perimeter, probability, number series, mixtures, HCF and LCM, mensuration, heights and distances, statistics and powers.
- Reasoning and Military Aptitude: verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
A plan by section
This is our own suggestion, not an official schedule.
- Week 1: take one official model paper cold. Note the time each section took and your wrong answers.
- Weeks 2 to 6: Numerical Ability first, because it rewards practice. Then reasoning drills every day.
- Alongside: 30 minutes of English every day and a short current affairs and defence read.
- Weeks 7 to 10: sectional timed tests, then full timed papers weekly.
- Final weeks: error log revision and AFSB preparation.
Preparing without coaching is possible if you can hold yourself to a schedule. If you want structure and a mock board, call or WhatsApp +91 70170 31757 for free counselling.
Books by section
These are real, widely available titles, and we make no claim that any is better than another.
| Section | Titles |
|---|---|
| English | High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin; Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi; Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis |
| Numerical Ability | NCERT Mathematics up to Class 10; Objective Arithmetic and Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal |
| Reasoning | A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal |
| General Awareness | NCERT History, Geography and Science; Manorama Year Book; a daily newspaper; the Air Force and defence ministry websites for defence news |
Use the official model papers, not pirated PDFs
The search results for AFCAT books are crowded with “free PDF” mirrors of copyrighted books. They are pirated, often out of date, and unsafe to open. The Indian Air Force offers free, legal material on its own portal: AFCAT Model Question Paper I and II with an answer key on its Download Question Paper page, and an online practice test.
After the paper: the AFSB
- Where: the AFSB centres are Dehradun (1 AFSB), Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Varanasi and Guwahati. Qualified candidates choose their date and venue on the portal.
- Day 1: the Officer Intelligence Rating test, the Picture Perception and Discussion Test, a document check, PIQ filling and psychological tests.
- Days 2 to 5: group tests and interview, with the board conference on day 5 for non-flying candidates.
- Day 6: the Computerised Pilot Selection System for flying candidates, once in a lifetime.
- Cost and fitness: boarding and lodging are free during testing. The IAF advises being able to run a mile in 10 minutes, with 10 push-ups and 3 chin-ups.
- Medical and merit: recommended candidates go for a medical at the Air Force Central Medical Establishment in New Delhi or the Institute of Aviation Medicine in Bengaluru, and an all-India merit list uses the written and AFSB performance.
See our 1 AFSB Dehradun guide and SSB conference guide. For eligibility, see AFCAT eligibility, and for dates, AFCAT notification and exam dates.
Eligibility snapshot from the 02/2026 notification
- Age: flying branch 20 to 24 years as on 1 July 2027 (up to 26 for holders of a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence); ground duty branches 20 to 26 years.
- Flying branch education: Mathematics and Physics at 10+2 and either a three-year degree in any discipline or a BE or BTech.
- Ground duty (technical): an engineering degree in the notified disciplines, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, through AFCAT or GATE score entry.
- Marital status: unmarried at the start of the course.
The notification lists many more conditions, including branch-wise qualifications, so read it before applying. Our AFCAT eligibility guide goes through them.
Managing the two hours
A hundred questions in two hours is 72 seconds a question on average. That is generous for English and General Awareness, tight for Numerical Ability, and different for each person. In practice papers, record the time spent on each section. Most candidates find they need to bank time on the sections they know well and spend it on numerical problems. Do not leave easy marks for the end. A first pass that answers what you are sure of, and a second pass that returns to doubtful items, works better than going in strict order.
Reasoning and military aptitude
The notification lists this section as verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Practise series, analogies, classification, coding and decoding, direction sense, blood relations, and figure-based questions. Because the section is learnable by practice, it is where steady daily work pays most quickly.
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppWhat is the AFCAT exam pattern?
One online paper of 100 questions, 300 marks, 2 hours, in English, with 3 marks for a correct answer and 1 mark deducted for a wrong one.
Which sections are in the AFCAT?
General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test.
Where can I get official AFCAT practice papers?
On the IAF's AFCAT portal: two model papers with an answer key, and an online practice test.
Is AFSB stay free?
Yes. The IAF's guidelines say free boarding and lodging are provided during testing.
Where are the AFSB centres?
Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Varanasi and Guwahati.
Can I prepare for AFCAT without coaching?
Yes, if you can keep to a plan. Use the model papers and keep an error log.
Sources
Aiming for the Air Force? GS India Defence Academy runs classroom AFCAT coaching in Dehradun, with SSB-focused preparation and separate hostels and a mess for boys and girls. See the fee structure page for current options.
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