AFCAT Preparation

When selecting books for AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) preparation, it is important to focus on resources that cover the required syllabus thoroughly and are aligned with the exam pattern. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing books for AFCAT preparation:

1. Exam Syllabus Alignment

• Ensure that the book strictly follows the AFCAT syllabus, which includes topics in:
  • General Awareness (current affairs, history, geography, polity, science, etc.)
  • Verbal Ability in English (grammar, vocabulary, comprehension)
  • Numerical Ability (mathematical problems, arithmetic, algebra, etc.)
  • Reasoning and Military Aptitude (logical reasoning, pattern recognition, etc.)
• Check the table of contents and sample pages to see if all topics are covered comprehensively.

2. Clear and Concise Explanations

• The books should offer clear explanations for concepts, especially in subjects like mathematics and reasoning, which are key to AFCAT.
• Avoid overly complex explanations that may confuse you, and opt for books that break down topics into manageable sections with examples.

3. Previous Year's Question Papers and Practice Sets

• Choose books that include previous years' AFCAT papers and practice sets. Practicing real exam papers will give you insight into the exam's difficulty level, question patterns, and important topics.
• Books with mock tests or online practice tests are also helpful for simulating exam conditions.

4. Author Reputation and Reviews

• Opt for books authored by reputed authors or published by well-known educational publishers like Arihant, Upkar Prakashan, Pearson, R.S. Aggarwal, etc.
• Check online reviews or feedback from other AFCAT aspirants to ensure the book is useful and effective for preparation.

5. Updated Content

• Ensure that the book is updated for the current year, particularly for sections like General Awareness, where current affairs are frequently tested.
• Publishers often release new editions that reflect the most recent trends in the AFCAT exam, including recent advancements in technology, defense affairs, and world events.

6. Practice Problems and Solution Explanations

• Choose books that offer a wide range of practice problems with detailed solutions. This will help you improve your problem-solving skills and understand where you are making mistakes.
• The book should have problems of varying difficulty to help you gradually increase your skill level.

7. Concise and Well-Organized Layout

• Look for books with an easy-to-navigate layout, well-structured chapters, and an index for quick reference.
• A cluttered or poorly organized book can be overwhelming and hard to follow.

8. Focus on Speed and Accuracy

• AFCAT has a time constraint, so select books that offer practice on time management and techniques to improve speed and accuracy.
• Books with tips on how to approach questions efficiently will help you during the actual exam.

9. Affordable and Accessible

• Make sure the book is within your budget. There are several affordable options that provide excellent quality content.
• Also, consider if the book is available in physical form or if there's an e-book version that you can access on the go.

Recommended Books for AFCAT Preparation:

• General Awareness:
  • "General Knowledge 2023" by Manohar Pandey (Arihant)
  • "Lucent's General Knowledge" by Dr. Binay Karna (Lucent)
• Numerical Ability:
  • "Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations" by R.S. Aggarwal
• Reasoning Ability:
  • "A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning" by R.S. Aggarwal
• English:
  • "Objective General English" by S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)
  • "English for AFCAT" by S.C. Gupta
• Previous Year Papers:
  • "AFCAT Previous Year Papers" by Arihant Experts
  • "Previous Years' AFCAT Solved Papers" by R.K. Gupta

By considering these factors, you can select books that will maximize your preparation and help you perform well in the AFCAT exam.

Indian Air Force conducts the AFCAT exam in order to select candidates for admission to the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. A large number of candidates apply for AFCAT exam, therefore, candidates need to follow a good preparation strategy to crack the exam. Candidates should refer to the previous years' question papers and practice mock tests. Besides, they should check the exam pattern and syllabus to know about the exam structure and important topics. Candidates are advised to practice more and more questions to score well in the exam. Candidates need to have a strategy to complete all the questions in the available time. 

Quant is the most scoring section and very basic questions are asked. With just practice, candidates will be able to score good marks. Questions are asked from  Profit and loss, Time and Work, Time Speed and Distance, Percentage, Simplification, Average, Mixtures, SI and CI, etc. For English, candidates must practice RCs, Vocab and Idioms. Candidates must solve five question papers as this will help them to know their strengths and weaknesses in the given subjects or topics. Candidates need to work on their weaknesses. Candidates must revise everything in the last 30 to 31 days leading to the exam. Also focus on taking the mock tests.

To prepare for the Reasoning Ability section of AFCAT candidates must practice topics such as Venn Diagram, Blood Relation, Missing Figures, Embedded Figures, Sequencing, etc. Practice questions on figures (3D and 2D) to get a better understanding of the Spatial Ability Test. Solve previous years' question papers as much as possible. This will give candidates a better insight into the types of questions that are asked. The tips and tricks to prepare AFCAT Reasoning section are given below: The Reasoning Section of the AFCAT consists of questions related to verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Candidates need to understand the format of the test. It is important to familiarise themselves with the types of questions that will be asked in the exam Practice makes man perfect. Practising will help candidates to become acquainted with the type of questions that are asked in the exam. It is important to practice AFCAT Reasoning section within the defined time frame. This is to ensure that candidates have enough time to complete all the questions Candidates should stay focused during the test.