Pattern of AFCAT:

The examination(s) and the final selection into Indian Air Force takes place in 3 stages.

Stage I – The online AFCAT /EKT exam

Stage II – The AFSB interview

Stage III – The medical examination

After Stage III (medical examination), The Final merit list of eligible candidates is decided based on the scores of the online exam and AFSB interview.

Syllabus. The subjects, the time allowed and the maximum marks allotted to each subject will be as follows:-

Exam	Subject	Duration	No. of Questions	Max Marks
AFCAT	General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test	02 Hours	100	300
EKT [For Candidates with one of the choices as (Technical) Branch]	Mechanical, Computer Science and Electrical & Electronics	45 Minutes	50	150

The Online examination will consist of objective type questions and will be in English only for both AFCAT and EKT.

• Marking Scheme is as follows:-
  • Three marks (3) will be awarded for every correct answer.
  • One (1) mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
  • No marks for unattempted questions.
• Questions will be based on the metric system of Weights & Measures wherever applicable.
• Candidates are required to appear for the Online AFCAT in person. Under no circumstance will any scribe or another candidate be allowed to appear/ assist in the exam.
• Air Force has the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all the subjects of the examination.

Standard and Syllabus of the Examination

Syllabus

English	Comprehension, Error Detection, Sentence Completion/ Filling in of correct word, Synonyms, Antonyms and Testing of Vocabulary, Idioms and Phrases.
General Awareness.	History, Geography, Civics, Politics, Current Affairs, Environment, Basic Science, Defense, Art, Culture, Sports, etc.
Numerical Ability.	Decimal Fraction, Time and Work, Average, Profit & Loss, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion and Simple Interest, Time & Distance (Trains/Boats & Streams).
Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test.	Verbal Skills and Spatial Ability.

• Standard:  The standard of Numerical Ability Questions will be of Matriculation level. The standard of questions in other subjects will be of graduation level (Indian University).

Practice Test. An online Practice Test (for AFCAT & EKT) is available on the IAF website https://careerindianairforce.cdac.in or https://afcat.cdac.in.

Stage II – Air Force Selection Board (AFSB)

• For AFCAT entry, IAF shall prepare a list of candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in the Online AFCAT as fixed by the IAF in their discretion. Candidates who are declared successful in the Online AFCAT will be called at one of the Air Force Selection Boards.

Candidates who have applied for NCC Special Entry/Meteorology will be directly called for AFSB testing at one of the AFSB centres. The AFSB centres are at Dehradun (1 AFSB), Mysuru (2 AFSB), Gandhinagar (3 AFSB) and Varanasi (4 AFSB).

Candidates who opt for flying branch can only opt for Dehradun, Mysore and Varanasi. Candidates who have qualified in the written exam are required to choose AFSB date and venue by themselves on the website https://careerindianairforce.cdac.in or https://afcat.cdac.in in order to generate call- up letter for AFSB interview.

• Physical Fitness. Candidates are advised to be physically fit when you report for SSB in order to be able to undergo various tests at AFSB. You should aim to achieve an ability to run 01 mile (1.6 kms) in 10 minutes, 10 pushups and 3 chin ups.
• Tattoos. Permanent body tattoos are only permitted on inner face of forearm (from inside of elbow to the wrist) and on the reverse side of palm/ back (dorsal) side of hand. Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are not acceptable. Tribes with tattoo marks on the face or body as per their existing customs and traditions will be permitted on a case to case basis.
• Narcotics. Use/possession of narcotics is banned. Candidate may be tested for presence of drugs in the body during Medicals and subsequently during training/ service career as an officer. If candidate is found to be using/ in possession of narcotics during any time of training/service career, candidate would be debarred from joining the Indian Air Force or be removed from service if already joined.

The testing at AFSB (interview) would consist of three stages as given below:-

• Stage-I. Officer Intelligence Rating Test along with Picture Perception and discussion test will be conducted on the first day. Stage-I test is a screening test and only those who qualify would undergo subsequent testing. All Stage-I qualified candidates would be 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 would be sent back on the first day itself.
• Stage-II. Psychological test will be conducted on Day 1(Afternoon) and the Group Tests and Interview would commence after document check for the next five days.
• For Flying Branch. Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) would be administered to recommended candidates only.

This is once in a lifetime test. Candidates who have failed the CPSS/ PABT in an earlier attempt or a Flight Cadet suspended from flying training at Air Force Academy will not be eligible

Stage III – The medical Examination (hyperlink for next article)

The form and manner of communication of the result of the examination to individual candidates shall be decided by the IAF in their discretion. N.B: 10% of the vacancies are reserved for NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate holders in Ground Duty (Technical and Nontechnical) Branches. Allotment of PC/ SSC in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-technical) Branches would be based on number of vacancies, performance in the selection process and the choice given by the candidates.