The Indian Air Force (IAF) is in charge of releasing the AFCAT syllabus along with the AFCAT notification. The AFCAT syllabus is vast. However, the pattern of the exam remains the same every year.
A total of 100 questions are asked in the AFCAT examination and candidates are required to answer all of them within 2 hours. For the EKT exam, 50 questions are asked from the candidates appearing for the Ground Dutymen (Technical) exam. By qualifying the different stages of AFCAT, candidates can expect to get recruited in various posts like that of Flying (Pilot), and Ground Dutymen (Technical & Non-Technical branches along with NCC Special Entry across India.
Candidates must note that the AFCAT notification does not mention the AFCAT syllabus. Hence, in this article, the Buddy4Study Team provides you with a list of topics as per the previous years’ question papers.
AFCAT Syllabus – Sections
IAF has not set any specific syllabus for the AFCAT examination. So based on previous years’ question papers, it can be ascertained that the AFCAT question paper consists of 4 major sections and EKT comprises 3 sections.
AFCAT Syllabus – Sections
| 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 |
AFCAT Syllabus – Section-wise Topics
The AFCAT syllabus is divided into 4 segments or subjects. It comprises 100 questions on General Awareness (90 marks), English language (105 marks), Numerical Ability (45 marks) and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test (60 marks).
Candidates can find below all the important topics related to each subject covered in the prescribed syllabus of AFCAT.
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
For Electrical & 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 |
Detailed AFCAT 2022 Syllabus
To understand the AFCAT syllabus, candidates can get an understanding of the predictable number of questions that are usually asked in the exam:
General Awareness
The questions asked in this section are mainly from History, Politics, Current Affairs, Geography, Environment, Defence, Art, Culture, Civics, Basic Science, Sports, etc.
| Topic | No of Questions |
| History | 5 |
| Geography | 4 |
| Science | 5 |
| Polity | 4 |
| Current Affairs and Economics | 7 |
| Total | 25 |
English Language
The questions asked from this section are mainly related to Idioms, Testing of Vocabulary, Synonyms, Antonyms, Phrases, Sentence Completion/Filling in of correct word, Error Detection and Comprehension.
| Topic | No of Questions |
| Fill in the blacks | 4 |
| Error Detection | 3 |
| Idioms/Phrases | 3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2 |
| Antonym/ Synonym | 6 |
| Cloze test | 5 |
| Total | 23 |
Numerical Ability
The questions asked from this section are mainly related to Time and Distance (Trains/Boats & Streams), Simple Interest, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Decimal Fraction, Average and Time and Work.
| Topic | No of Questions |
| Profit/Loss and Discount | 2 |
| Ratio & Percentage | 3 |
| Mixture & allegations | 2 |
| Algebra | 2 |
| Time and Work | 2 |
| Simplification | 3 |
| Speed and Distance | 2 |
| Average | 2 |
| Total | 18 |
Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test
The questions asked from this section are mainly related to Spatial Ability and Verbal Skills.
| Topic | No of Questions |
| Non-Verbal (Image) | 10 |
| Odd one out | 5 |
| Analogy | 5 |
| Venn diagram | 4 |
| Complete the pattern | 5 |
| Miscellaneous | 5 |
| Total | 34 |
AFCAT Syllabus – Sectional Weightage
The sections in the AFCAT syllabus remain the same for the exam for IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer.
AFCAT 2021 Syllabus
| 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 |
Know About Scholarships for Postgraduate Students
AFCAT Syllabus – Recommended Books
The AFCAT syllabus is vast since the questions asked in this examination are not limited to a fixed course or curriculum, especially in the case of Current Affairs. Candidates need to prepare well from the topics highlighted above to score well in the upcoming AFCAT exam.
To get a better grip on various AFCAT subjects, candidates can find several expert-recommended books and online study resources in the tables below.
| 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
Candidates who have registered or are applying for the AFCAT exam 2022 should go through the exam pattern thoroughly and practice well with the help of online mock tests before attempting the exam. Here are a few key points that they should definitely keep in mind:
AFCAT Exam Pattern
| Name of Examination | AIR FORCE COMMON ADMISSION TEST (AFCAT- 01/2022) |
| Exam Conducting body | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| AFCAT Recruitment Official Website | https://afcat.cdac.in/AFCAT |
| Exam frequency | Twice a year |
| AFCAT Total Vacancies | 317 |
| AFCAT (1) Exam Date | 12th, 13th, 14th February 2022 |
| AFCAT (2) Exam Date | August 2022* |
| 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 |
AFCAT Syllabus – Previous Year’s Question Papers
Buddy4Study has compiled previous years’ 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
Know About Scholarships for Engineering Students
AFCAT Answer Key to Model Question Papers 2021
| Answer Keys AFCAT | Answer Keys EKT |
AFCAT Syllabus – FAQs
How many questions will be asked in the AFCAT exam 2022?
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. These questions will be asked in MCQ format.
What are the different sections of the AFCAT syllabus?
The AFCAT exam consists of subjects such as General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test. For the EKT exam, the topics are related to Mechanical, Computer Science and Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
What is the standard of questions asked in the AFCAT Exam?
The basic standard of questions asked in the AFCAT exam begins from the level of 10+2.
What is the negative marking scheme in the AFCAT exam?
For every incorrect answer in both AFCAT and EKT exam of AFCAT 2022, 1 mark will be deducted.
Is it useful to solve sample papers or previous years' question papers?
AFCAT previous years' question papers and model papers help candidates to get a better idea about the types of questions asked in the exam and prepare well for it.
