AFCAT Exam Pattern 2025: Negative Marking & Total Marks
Air Force Common Admission Test 2026 ( AFCAT )
Registration - 17 Nov '25 - 14 Dec '25
Indian Air Force (IAF) releases the AFCAT exam pattern. The online test carries four sections. The total marks allotted to the test are 300. There are also negative marking for wrong answers in the exam. Candidates qualifying the online test are called for AFSB Interview. The final merit list is prepared based on the performance in both the stages. Read below for more details on the 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.
Yes, there is a negative marking in AFCAT exam. For each wrong answer, one mark is deducted.
The marking schemen comprises the marks for correct and incorrect answers. The test carries 300 marks.
- AFCAT Exam Pattern 2026
- AFCAT Exam Pattern: Normalisation Process
- AFSB SSB Exam Pattern
- AFCAT Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
AFCAT Exam Pattern 2026
The structure of AFCAT exam pattern is given below.
| Subject | Exam Duration | No of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 02 hours | 100 | 300 |
| Verbal Ability in English | |||
| Numerical Ability | |||
| Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
Commonly asked questions
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.
AFCAT Exam Pattern: Normalisation Process
The formula for normalisation is given below.
AFCAT Normalisation Process
Also Read:
AFCAT Exam Time
The online test of AFCAT is conducted for two hours. AFCAT exam timings are given below:
| Activity | Shift 1 | Shift 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting time | 7.30 am | 12.30 pm |
| Verification of admit card & ID Proof, Biometrics, Photo/ Thumb Impression/ Sign on Attendance Sheet & candidate seating in exam hall | 7.30 am to 9.30 am | 12.30 am to 2 pm |
| Reading of instructions by candidates | 9.30 am to 9.45 am |
2 pm to 2.15 pm |
| AFCAT exam | 9.45 am to 11.45 am | 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm |
AFCAT Marking Scheme
The marking scheme of the AFCAT exam is given below:
- For correct answers, candidates score three marks. The score of candidates is calculated after deducting AFCAT negative marking
- There is AFCAT negative marking. One mark is deducted for every incorrect answer
- No marks are allotted to unattempted questions
Commonly asked questions
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.
The preparation tips for the AFCAT exam are mentioned below:
- Know the exam syllabus and pattern.
- Solve the previous year question paper to know the exam difficulty level. Focus on the weak topics. Read more about these topics, solve related problems, and take online quizzes.
- AFCAT exam GA section will assess the knowledge of current affairs.
AFSB SSB Exam Pattern
Candidates qualifying the online test of AFCAT are called for AFSB interview. 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 inorder to ascertain their suitability and gauge your potential as an Officer in the Indian Air Force.
Stage-I
Officer Intelligence Rating Test, along with Picture Perception and discussion test, is conducted on the first day. Stage-I test is a screening test and only those who qualify are called for subsequent testing. All Stage-I qualified candidates are subjected to document check to ascertain their eligibility for the branches applied for. Candidates who either do not qualify in Stage-I or do not meet the required eligibility criteria are sent back on the first day itself.
Stage-II
All Stage 1 qualified candidates need to undergo tests as part of their Stage 2 testing during four to five days. Fifth day is for CPSS testing (Flying branch). The following tests are conducted in Stage 2:
- Psychological Tests are written tests that are conducted by a Psychologist
- Group Tests are interactive indoor and outdoor activities which are a combination of mental and physical work
- Interview involves a personal conversation with an Interviewing Officer
- Candidates who have applied for flying branch and have been recommended, will also have to undergo Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test
For Flying branch
Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) will be administered to recommended candidates only. This is once in a lifetime test. Candidates who failed the CPSS/ PABT in an earlier attempt or a Flight Cadet suspended from flying training at Air Force Academy are not eligible.
Medical Test
Candidates recommended by the Selection Board, are sent for the medical examination either at Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), New Delhi or Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengaluru.
Expert Tips to Prepare for AFCAT ASFB Interview
Commonly asked questions
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.
AFCAT Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
Candidates can check below AFCAT Exam Pattern FAQs to know regarding the marking scheme, normalisation of marks, number of sections, etc.
Commonly asked questions
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. Candidates can prepare this section only through practice. They should also learn the shortcut tricks of solving questions.
Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test is one of the important sections of AFCAT exam. This section assess a candidate's ability to think logically. This section carries maximum questions in the exam. Candidates need to prepare well for the exam.
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.
The important topics for the AFCAT English Language section consists of the following:
Comprehension
Error
Sentence Completion
Synonyms & Antonyms
Vocabulary
Idioms and Phrases
AFCAT Exam
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