Which are the important topics for AFCAT Reasoning Ability and Military Aptitude?

Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test is one of the important sections of AFCAT exam. This section assess a candidate's ability to apply logic and military skills in practical situations. The important topics for this section are: Verbal Reasoning: The Verbal Reasoning section comprises the following topics: Series Completion Coding-Decoding Analogy, Classification Blood Relations Puzzle Test Logical Venn Diagrams Alphabet Test Ranking Time Sequence Test. Non-Verbal Reasoning: This section comprises the following topics: Series Analogy Classification Mirror Images Water Images Embedded Figures Completion of Incomplete Pattern Figure Matrix Paper Folding

What is the difference between NDA and AFCAT?

The full form of AFCAT is Air Force Common Admission Test whereas the full form of NDA is National Defence Academy. Both exams are the sought-after defence entrance exams in the country. NDA exam is conducted by Union Public Service Commission to select candidates for admission to the Army, Navy and Air wings of NDA and Indian Naval Academy Courses. AFCAT exam is conducted to select candidates as Class 1 gazetted Officers in the flying branch and ground duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. NDA exam is conducted after Class 12 whereas AFCAT is conducted after graduation. The selection process of AFCAT comprises online test and AFSB interview. NDA selection process comprises written exam and SSB interview. Candidates after clearing NDA exam are required to first undergo training at the National Defence Academy after which they are sent to the respective defence academies as per their preferences for further training. Through AFCAT exam candidates are directly inducted into the Indian Air Force. There is also a difference in the exam pattern and syllabus of NDA and AFCAT. NDA exam pattern is such that it is divided into two papers-Maths and GAT. NDA exam is conducted offline and carries 900 marks. AFCAT exam pattern is such that it comprises several sections such as General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. Additionally, candidates who opt for the technical branch in AFCAT are required to appear for Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT). The total marks allotted to the AFCAT test are 300 whereas EKT 150 marks.

What are the important topics for the English Language section in the AFCAT exam?

The important topics for the English Language section of the AFCAT exam are Comprehension, Error, Sentence Completion, Synonyms, Antonyms and Vocabulary, Idioms, and Phrases.

What are the important topics for Numerical Ability in AFCAT exam?

The important topics for the AFCAT Numerical Ability section are Decimal Fraction, Time and Work, Average, Profit & Loss, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion and Simple Interest, Time and Distance (Trains/Boats & Streams). Candidates can prepare for the Numerical Ability section only through practice. They should also learn the shortcut tricks of solving questions in this section. Solving questions with the shortcut tricks will help candidates to attempt more questions in less possible time. The tips and tricks to prepare the Maths section of AFCAT are given below: Review the math concepts that will be covered on the test. This includes topics such as Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry Make sure to understand the formulas and concepts Practice Maths as much as possible Make sure to practice Maths questions in the time allotted for the test Take online mock tests

What is the full form of AFCAT?

AFCAT full form is Air Force Common Admission Test. The exam is conducted twice a year to pick up Class-1 Officers in Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. Career in Air Force is loaded with opportunities. Candidates starting their career as Flying Officer can reach to the position of Air Marshal/Chief of Air Staff based on their experience and performance.

I am taking the AFCAT for the first time. How should I prepare for it to crack it in my first attempt?

AFCAT is a competitive exam that assesses the knowledge and abilities of candidates who are interested in joining the Indian Air Force. To prepare for the exam, candidates should start by familiarising themselves with the exam pattern and syllabus. Here are some tips to help you prepare for the AFCAT exam: Understand the exam pattern and syllabus: The first step in preparing for the AFCAT exam is to understand the exam pattern and syllabus. Practice with sample papers and mock tests that will help candidates get familiar with the question types and the level of difficulty of the exam. This will also help you identify areas where you need to improve. Focus on your weak areas: Once you have identified your weak areas, focus on improving them. You can do this by reading more about these topics, solving related problems, and taking online quizzes. Stay updated with Current Affairs The GA section of the AFCAT exam assesses your knowledge of Current Affairs.

What is the pattern of AFCAT AFSB?

AFSB or Air Force Selection Board is held for candidates qualifying the online test of AFCAT. The AFSB interview is conducted in three stages at different centres-Dehradun, Varanasi, Gandhinagar and Mysuru. At AFSB, candidates need to undergo the following tests: Stage-I: This stage comprises Officer Intelligence Rating Test along with Picture Perception and discussion test on the first day. This is the screening stage and qualifying the test are called for subsequent rounds of AFSB. In the first stage, the documents of candidates are verified to ascertain their eligibility for the branch they have applied for. Stage 2: This stage is conducted for five days. The tests that are conducted in this stage are Psychological Tests, Group Tests, Interview and Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS). The CPSS is conducted for Flying Branch and it is a once in a lifetime test.

What is AFCAT normalisation of marks?

AFCAT exam is conducted to get into the Indian Air Force. To adjust the level of difficulty, normalisation of marks are done in AFCAT. It is the process to mark and rank candidates based on the difficulty level of the shifts. It is a process to equalize scores of students appearing for the same exam but in different shifts having different Sets of question papers. Candidates are marked based on the difficulty level of the shifts. Each shift has a different difficulty level. The normalisation process is introduced to adjust the difficulty level of each set and is used to fill the gap of disparity.

How many papers are there in the AFCAT exam?

There are only four papers in the AFCAT exam-General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English Numerical Ability and Reasoning, and Military Aptitude Test. AFCAT technical syllabus comprises topics from Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical & Electronics. Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Drawing & Physics are some of the common topics which are covered in AFCAT EKT syllabus. The standard of Numerical Ability questions is of Matriculation level. The standard of questions in other subjects is of graduation level (Indian University). The exam paper is in English only. The test paper carries a total of 100 questions whereas EKT carries a total of 50 questions. All the questions asked in the exam are objective-type. Total marks allotted to the AFCAT test are 300 whereas EKT carries a total of 150 marks.

AFCAT Exam Pattern 2025: Negative Marking & Total Marks

Q: What is section-wise weightage in AFCAT exam?

AFCAT exam comprises sections such as General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. Total marks allotted to the test are 300.

Q: What is the difference between AFCAT and EKT?

AFCAT exam or Air Force Common Admission Test is conducted by Indian Air Force to select candidates as Class 1 gazetted officers in the Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. EKT or Engineering Knowledge Test is conducted for the candidates who apply for the technical branches. AFCAT exam carries a total of 100 questions from General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. The total marks allotted to the AFCAT exam are 300. The duration of the test is two hours. EKT carries 50 questions that are Engineering subject-specific. Questions are asked from Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical & Electronics. The total marks allotted to the test are 150 and is held for 45 minutes.

561 Students Q&A

Registration - 1 Dec '25

Updated on Oct 16, 2025 18:52 IST

By Anangsha Patra, Deputy Manager – Editorial

Indian Air Force (IAF) prescribes the AFCAT exam pattern along with the notification. The online test of AFCAT comprises sections such as General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. The total marks allotted to the test are 300. Read below for more details on the AFCAT exam pattern.

Q: What is AFCAT Exam Pattern?

AFCAT exam pattern highlights the overall structure of the exam such as number of sections, weightage of topics, time duration, total marks, marking scheme, etc. AFCAT exam is divided into online test and AFSB interview. Besides AFCAT candidates who applies for the technical branch are required to appear for the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT). AFCAT test comprises different sections such as General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English . Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. EKT carries questions from Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical & Electronics. AFCAT carries a total of 100 questions whereas, EKT carries 50 questions. The total marks allotted to AFCAT are 300 whereas, EKT carries 150 marks. The duration of AFCAT exam is two hours whereas EKT is held for 45 minutes. Both AFCAT and EKT is held in online mode and the language of the question paper is English.

Q: What is AFCAT marking scheme?

The marking schemen comprises the marks for correct and incorrect answers. The test carries 300 marks.

Q: Is there any negative marking in AFCAT exam?

Yes, there is a negative marking in AFCAT exam. For each wrong answer, one mark is deducted.

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