AFCAT exam pattern comprises information on the mode of exam, test language, type of questions, marks allotted to each question or section, negative marking, etc. This year, IAF (Indian Air Force) will conduct the AFCAT exam on 20th and 21st February 2021.
This exam will be held in the CBT or Computer Based Test mode in more than 100 cities in India. As per the AFCAT exam pattern, the question paper in the exam is divided into two sections – AFCAT and EKT (Engineering Knowledge Test). EKT exam is conducted only for Ground Duty (Technical) posts in online mode. This year, IAF has allocated 105 vacancies only for Ground Duty technical positions.
Candidates will have to attempt 100 questions of 300 marks within 120 minutes (2 hours) for AFCAT examination and 50 questions of 150 marks within 45 minutes for the online EKT exam.
AFCAT is a national level recruitment exam, which is held twice a year. This year, this exam will be conducted to fill 241 Commissioned Officers (Group A Gazetted Officers) vacancies in the Indian Air Force.
In this article, Buddy4Study has compiled all the information related to the AFCAT exam pattern that will benefit all the aspiring candidates waiting for the upcoming exam.
Table of Contents
- AFCAT Exam Pattern – Key Highlights
- AFCAT Exam Pattern – Section-wise Distribution of Questions
- AFCAT Exam Pattern – Interview Round
- AFCAT Exam Pattern – Syllabus in Brief
- AFCAT Exam Pattern – Marking Scheme
- AFCAT Exam Pattern – Previous Years’ Question Papers
- AFCAT Exam Pattern – General Instructions for Online Test
- AFCAT Exam Pattern – Mandatory COVID-19 Guidelines
- AFCAT Exam Pattern – Recommended Books
- AFCAT Exam Pattern – FAQs
AFCAT Exam Pattern – Key Highlights
Candidates who have registered and applied for the AFCAT exam should go through the exam pattern thoroughly before attempting the exam. Here are a few key points that they should keep in mind:
AFCAT Key Highlights
| Name of Examination | AIR FORCE COMMON ADMISSION TEST (AFCAT- 01/2021) |
| Exam Conducting body | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| AFCAT Recruitment Official Website | https://afcat.cdac.in/AFCAT |
| Exam frequency | Twice a year |
| AFCAT Total Vacancies | 241 |
| AFCAT (1) Exam Date | 20th and 21st February 2021 |
| AFCAT (2) Exam Date | September or October 2021* |
| Mode of Exam | Online (computer-based test) |
| Number of sections | AFCAT: 4 EKT: 3 |
| Language of paper | English |
| Credentials required to download AFCAT Admit Card | Registration Number Password |
| Compulsory documents to carry on exam day | Colour Print of the Admit card Valid Photo ID Proof Two passport photographs Aadhar Card of the candidate |
| Duration of AFCAT Exam | AFCAT – 2 hours (120 minutes) EKT (Engineering Knowledge Test) – 45 Minutes |
| Maximum Questions | AFCAT – 100 EKT – 50 |
| Maximum Marks | AFCAT – 300 Marks EKT (Engineering Knowledge Test) – 150 Marks |
| Marking System | Correct answer: 3 marks Incorrect Answer: (-1) mark Unattempted Answer: NIL |
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AFCAT Exam Pattern – Section-wise Distribution of Questions
As per IAF’s official announcement and official AFCAT exam pattern, there will be 3 stages of the AFCAT exam. All candidates will receive common questions in the AFCAT exam. In the case of the EKT exam, the questions will be based on technical knowledge and asked from the Mechanical, Computer Science and Electrical & Electronics section. The base questions asked in the AFCAT exam will be of 10+2 level.
The AFCAT paper will have 100 questions, and EKT will have 50 questions. Candidates will have the freedom to attempt or move onto the next question anytime they want.
The questions asked in the AFCAT exam will be presented to candidates as objective-type questions (MCQ). Each question will have 4 options. Among the 4, candidates will have to select one option that they consider as the most appropriate answer.
Candidates can know more about the AFCAT exam pattern in the table below, and check the sectional distribution of questions and marks for both AFCAT and EKT.
| Stages | Sections covered | Questions Asked | Maximum Marks | Time limit |
| AFCAT | General Awareness Verbal Ability in English Numerical Ability Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test | 100 questions | 300 marks | 120 minutes |
| EKT | Mechanical Computer Science Electrical & Electronics | 50 Questions | 150 marks | 45 minutes |
- Candidates will be awarded 3 marks for every correct answer.
- They will lose 1 mark for each incorrect answer.
- No marks will be awarded or deducted for questions that are left unattempted.
- Questions will be based on the metric system of Weights and Measures (wherever applicable).
Exam Pattern for AFCAT 2021
| Sections | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| Verbal Ability in English | 30 | 90 |
| Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test | 35 | 105 |
| Numerical Ability | 15 | 45 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 60 |
Exam Pattern for Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) 2021
| Sections | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| Computer Science/ Electrical & Electronics/Mechanical | 50 | 150 |
AFCAT Exam Pattern – Interview Round
Shortlisted candidates in the AFCAT exam under the latest AFCAT exam pattern will be called for the AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) Interview round. The AFSB interview round is divided into three stages:
Stage 1 – In this stage, candidates have to go through 2 tests:
- OIR (Officer Intelligence Rating)
- PPDT (Picture Perception and Discussion Test)
Candidates qualifying the Stage I screening test shall be subjected to eligibility check and document verification for the branches they have applied to.
Stage 2 – It comprises Psychological test, Group Test and Interview.
Stage 3 – This test is mainly for Flying Branch. The test is known as the CPSS or Computerised Pilot Selection System. This is once in a lifetime test. Those who fail in this test are not eligible for Flying Training at all.
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AFCAT Exam Pattern – Syllabus in Brief
IAF has released the AFCAT syllabus 2021 along with the AFCAT notification. Candidates can find the syllabus by visiting the official website.
As per the AFCAT notification, AFCAT (1) syllabus is divided into 4 sections:
- Verbal Ability in English
- Numerical Ability
- General Awareness
- Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test
Candidates are required to study the topics highlighted below to crack the first part of the exam.
AFCAT (1) Syllabus
| Verbal Ability in English | Numerical Ability | General Awareness | Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
| Comprehension Error Detection Sentence Completion/Filling in of the correct word Synonyms Antonyms Testing of Vocabulary Idioms Phrases | Decimal Fraction Time and Work Average Profit & Loss Percentage Ratio & Proportion and Simple Interest Time & Distance (Trains/Boats & Streams) | History Geography Civics Politics Current Affairs Environment Basic Science Defence Art Culture Sports, etc. | Verbal skills and Spatial abilities Data interpretation Rotated blocks Analogy Sets based on arrangements Missing Character Hidden figures Embedded Figure |
EKT Syllabus
The EKT syllabus is divided into 3 sections:
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering
- Computer Science Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
For Electrical and Electronics Engineering
| Fundamental Engineering | Allied Engineering | Specialised Branch |
| Engineering Physics Engineering Mathematics Engineering Drawing | Switching Theory Computer Networks Radar Theory Network Theory Design Instrumentation Information Technology | Microwave Engineering Analog and Digital Electronics Electronic Devices Telecommunication Systems Microwave Engineering Control Engineering Electrical Engineering |
For Computer Science Engineering
| Fundamental Engineering | Allied Engineering | Specialised Branch |
| Engineering Physics Engineering Mathematics Engineering Drawing | Control Engineering Telecommunication Systems Electrical Engineering Radar Theory Instrumentation Antenna and Wave Propagation Microwave Engineering | Information Technology Network Theory Design Analog and Digital Electronics Computer Networks Switching Theory Electronic Devices |
For Mechanical Engineering
| Fundamental Engineering | Allied Engineering | Specialised Branch |
| Engineering Physics Engineering Mathematics Engineering Drawing/ Engineering Graphics | Aerodynamics Flight Mechanics Aircraft Structures Power Plant Engineering. Industrial Engineering Automotive Engineering | Thermodynamics Fluid Mechanics/Hydraulic Machines Engineering Mechanics Materials Science Thermodynamics Manufacturing Science Machine Drawing |
AFCAT Exam Pattern – Marking Scheme
Candidates will get 4 options for every question. For every correct answer, they will be awarded 3 marks. However, 1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.
AFCAT Marking Scheme
| Type of Answers | Marks Allotted |
| Correct Answer | 3 |
| Wrong Answer | -1 |
| Unattempted | NIL |
AFCAT Exam Pattern – Previous Years’ Question Papers
Buddy4Study has compiled previous years’ question papers alongside the model question papers in the below table. Candidates can download these to understand the AFCAT exam pattern thoroughly and prepare for the upcoming examination accordingly.
AFCAT Previous Year Question Papers
EKT Previous Year Question Papers
| EKT Sample Paper – (Mechanical) | EKT Sample Paper – (Electrical & Electronics) | EKT Sample Paper – (Computer Science) |
AFCAT Model Question Papers
AFCAT Answer Key to Model Question Papers
| Answer Keys AFCAT | Answer Keys EKT |
AFCAT Exam Pattern – General Instructions for Online Test
Candidates must follow the online test instructions and guidelines set by IAF. The test instructions will help the candidates to attempt the computer-based exam without any hassles. Given below is a list of online test instructions set by the IAF panel:
- Download a colour print of the AFCAT (1) Admit Card.
- Report to the examination hall at least an hour before the examination starts.
- Candidates reporting after the reporting time mentioned in the hall ticket, will not be allowed to enter the examination hall.
- Carry the AFCAT admit card without fail.
- Paste a self-attested photograph on the admit card similar to the one submitted in the online application form.
- Do not carry valuable items or electronic devices to the exam hall.
- Try to reach the exam centre at least an hour before the designated reporting time.
- Bring along a valid photo identity (ID of College, Passport, Driving License, Aadhaar Card, Pan Card, Voters ID Card).
- Bring blue/black ballpoint pen and clipboard.
- Do not bring xeroxed admit cards as examination authority will scan the admit card through the barcode present in the original admit card.
- Duplicate AFCAT admit cards would not be issued at the examination centres if the original admit card is torn or lost by a candidate.
- Tampering of the admit card automatically disqualifies the candidate from sitting for the exam.
- The admit card has to be presented to the invigilator on the day of the entrance exam.
- Read the instructions in the admit card before starting the online examination or computer-based test.
- Preserve the admit card until the final admission.
- Remove any unwanted things from your pocket before entering the examination hall.
- Candidates should not have any markings in any of their visible body parts.
- Original Admit Card that has been duly signed by SIO/ IO of the exam centre at the day of examination is to be preserved carefully for future use.
- Adoption of any unfair means or violation of any instructions during the exam will render a candidate liable for cancellation of his/her script and forfeit his/her claims for admission.
- Requests for change of the exam centre will not be entertained.
- Candidates are to make their own arrangements for conveyance. They won’t be provided with any travel or dearness allowance for appearing in the test.
AFCAT Exam Pattern – Mandatory COVID-19 Guidelines
Candidates must check out these general COVID-19 related guidelines and follow them at all the AFCAT exam centres:
- Social distancing would be maintained strictly at the exam centres. Candidates have to maintain at least 6 feet or 2-metre distance from other candidates.
- All candidates will be checked for temperature with thermo guns at the entry point.
- The Arogya Setu App must be installed on the candidate’s mobile phone.
- After the Aarogya Setu status display at the entry gate, candidates need to switch off their mobile phones and deposit them at the designated location. The same has to be collected while exiting.
- Exam authority will ensure that monitor, keyboard, mouse, webcam, desk, chair, etc. are thoroughly sanitised.
- A significant gap has to be present between two seats inside the exam hall.
- Besides the admit card and photo ID card, gloves, a personal transparent water bottle, personal hand sanitizer (50 ml), and a pen will also be allowed in the exam hall.
- Invigilators will distribute rough sheets to candidates wearing gloves.
- To avoid crowding, exam room numbers would not be displayed outside the centre.
- Candidates violating COVID-19 directives/advisories would not be allowed to sit for the exam
- Candidates would be allowed to leave the test centre one at a time to avoid the rush and maintain social distancing.
AFCAT Exam Pattern – Recommended Books
Candidates need to prepare well from the topics highlighted as per the AFCAT syllabus to score well in the upcoming test.
Buddy4Study advises candidates to prepare well for their upcoming exam with the help of the below-mentioned books that are recommended by candidates who cracked the exam successfully in the previous years.
| Book | Author |
| AFCAT for Flying, Technical & Ground Duty Branch with Solved Papers (English, Paperback) | Arihant Experts |
| SSB Interview: The Complete Guide | Dr N.K. Natarajan |
| AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) | Arihant Experts |
| Manorama Yearbook 2019 | Philip Mathew |
| Let’s Crack AFCAT – Air Force Common Admission Test | SSBCrack |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R. S. Aggarwal |
| AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) Self Study Guide-cum-Practice Work Book – 1810 | Kiran Prakashan |
| AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) Exam Guide: For Flying and Technical Branch (Popular Master Guide) | R. Gupta |
| AFCAT Solved Papers and Practice Sets | Arihant Experts |
AFCAT Exam Pattern – FAQs
In which format are the questions asked in the AFCAT 2021 exam?
As per the AFCAT exam pattern, candidates will have to attempt the paper as per the Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ) format.
What is the duration of the AFCAT exam?
According to the AFCAT exam pattern, the duration of the AFCAT exam is 2 hours. For the EKT exam, candidates will be given 45 minutes.
Is there any negative marking in the AFCAT exam?
Yes. For every incorrect answer in both AFCAT and EKT exam of AFCAT 2021, 1 mark will be deducted.
What is the age limit for AFCAT?
The age limit for the flying branch is between 20 and 24 years, whereas the age limit for Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch is between 20 and 26 years.
How many times is AFCAT conducted in a year?
The AFCAT recruitment test is conducted twice every year.
