AFCAT Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern in Detail

By vandana | Exams Syllabus | Dec 09, 2025

The AFCAT Exam is one of India’s most prestigious pathways for joining the Indian Air Force. Many aspirants preparing for AFCAT 2026 aim to understand every detail of the test before starting their journey. The  selection process requires consistent preparation, clarity of pattern and conceptual knowledge. Before candidates begin their study plan, understanding the AFCAT Syllabus is the most important step. With competition increasing each year, especially for 2026, aspirants must stay updated with the latest syllabus structure, important topics and weightage. This guide provides a complete breakdown covering exam pattern, subject-wise topics and smart preparation strategies to help you score higher. Whether you’re starting fresh or revising, this article ensures a clear and simple understanding of everything essential for cracking the exam.

  AFCAT Exam Overview Table

The  Exam is conducted by the Indian Air Force to select candidates for various branches. The AFCAT 2026 overview table highlights key details like exam mode, duration, subjects, and marking scheme. It helps aspirants quickly understand the structure of the AFCAT syllabus exam for better preparation.

Details

Information

Exam Name

AFCAT

Conducting Authority

Indian Air Force

Mode of Exam

Online

Frequency

Twice a year

Posts Offered

Various branches in Air Force

Syllabus Structure

Four sections

Exam Pattern

Objective online test

Official Portal

AFCAT official website

Notification for AFCAT 2025

Expected soon

 

AFCAT Exam Pattern

The  Exam consists of a single online paper with objective-type questions. Four main sections are included: General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning & Military Aptitude. The total duration is 2 hours with 100 questions carrying 300 marks.

Section

No. of Questions

Marks

General Awareness

25

75

Verbal Ability in English

25

75

Numerical Ability

18

54

Reasoning & Military Aptitude

32

96

Total

100

300

 

Subject-Wise AFCAT Syllabus

1. General Awareness

The Syllabus for General Awareness includes History, Polity, Geography, Sports, Science, Defence, Environment, Current Affairs and Art & Culture.

Topic

Details Covered

History

Ancient, Medieval, Modern India, Freedom Movement

Geography

Indian & World Geography, Physical Geography, Climate, Soil, Rivers

Polity

Constitution, Political System, Rights, Duties, Important Articles

Economy

Basics of Indian Economy, Budget, Economic Terms

Science

Basic Physics, Chemistry, Biology concepts

Environment

Ecology, Pollution, Conservation, Climate Change

Current Affairs

National & International Events, Government Schemes

Defence

Ranks, Commands, Defence Exercises, Weapons, Missiles

Sports

Tournaments, Awards, Important Sports Personalities

Art & Culture

Dance, Music, Festivals, Monuments

Books & Authors

Famous Books, Authors, Awards

 
2. Reasoning & Military Aptitude

This section in the AFCAT Syllabus covers verbal reasoning, spatial ability, classification, coding-decoding, figure series, and logical conclusions.

Topic

Details Covered

Verbal Reasoning

Coding, decoding, blood relations, direction sense

Non-Verbal Reasoning

Patterns, figures, folding, mirror images

Spatial Ability

Shapes, rotation, arrangement

Figure Classification

Odd figure out, similarities

Analogy

Number, alphabet, figure analogies

Series

Alphabet series, number series

Pattern Completion

Completing missing patterns

Venn Diagrams

Relation-based questions

Embedded Figures

Hidden shapes inside figures

Military Aptitude

Situational reasoning, logic, perceptual skills

 
3. Numerical Ability

Key topics include arithmetic, percentages, profit-loss, time-distance, ratio-proportion, simple and compound interest, and basic algebra.

Topic

Details Covered

Simplification

BODMAS, fraction/decimal simplification

Ratio & Proportion

Direct, inverse, partnership problems

Percentage

Increase/decrease, comparisons

Profit & Loss

Basic calculations, discount, marked price

Interest

Simple Interest, Compound Interest

Time & Work

Work efficiency, combined work

Time–Speed–Distance

Trains, boats, relative speed

Average

Weighted & simple averages

Number System

LCM, HCF, divisibility, integers

Mixture & Allegation

Concentration & mixture ratio problems

Algebra

Basic equations, identities

Geometry

Lines, angles, triangles, basic mensuration

 

4. English (Verbal Ability)

The Syllabus for English includes comprehension, synonyms, antonyms, error spotting, idioms, vocabulary and sentence completion.

Topic

Details Covered

Comprehension

Passage understanding, inference, vocabulary

Error Detection

Grammar errors, sentence structure

Sentence Completion

Predicting correct sentence endings

Fill in the Blanks

Grammar-based & vocabulary-based blanks

Synonyms & Antonyms

Word meanings, opposite meanings

Idioms & Phrases

Common & advanced English expressions

Cloze Test

Paragraph with missing words

Spotting Errors

Identifying incorrect grammar usage

Vocabulary

Word usage, meanings, spellings

Para Jumbles

Arranging sentences in correct order

Voice (Active/Passive)

Transforming sentences between voices

 

Important Topics & Weightage

The AFCAT Exam focuses on high-weightage areas like reasoning, vocabulary, arithmetic, and current affairs. Knowing the AFCAT syllabus helps candidates target scoring topics.  These sections remain key for strong performance in the AFCAT.

1. General Awareness 

Topic

Weightage

Current Affairs

4–5

Defence (Missiles, Exercises, Ranks)

2–3

History (Freedom Movement)

2

Geography (India + World)

2

Science (Physics/Chem/Bio basics)

2–3

Polity (Constitution basics)

1–2

 

2. English 

Topic

Weightage

Reading Comprehension

5–6

Vocabulary (Synonyms/Antonyms)

3–4

Error Spotting

2–3

Cloze Test

2–3

Para Jumbles

2

Fill in the Blanks

1–2

 

 3. Numerical Ability 

Topic

Weightage

Simplification

2–3

Percentage

1–2

Profit & Loss

2

Time–Speed–Distance

1–2

Time & Work

1–2

Ratio & Proportion

1–2

 

4. Reasoning & Military Aptitude 

Topic

Weightage

Non-Verbal Series

3–4

Analogy

3

Figure Classification

2

Odd One Out

2

Coding–Decoding

2–3

Pattern Completion

1–2

 

Conclusion

Understanding the AFCAT syllabus and exam structure is the first key step toward effective preparation. When candidates know what to study and how the AFCAT Exam is designed, they can plan better and prepare with more focus. Regular practice, revision, and a smart study strategy help improve accuracy, speed, and confidence throughout the preparation journey.Staying updated with syllabus changes, exam trends, and previous years’ questions also gives aspirants a strong advantage. As competition for AFCAT 2026 continues to increase, staying disciplined and motivated becomes essential for scoring well.

Frequently Asked Question

1. What is the AFCAT Exam?
The  Exam is a national-level entrance test conducted by the Indian Air Force to select candidates for Flying, Technical, and Ground Duty branches.

2. Who can apply for AFCAT 2026?
Any Indian citizen meeting the age, education, and physical standards set by the IAF can apply for AFCAT.

3. What is the AFCAT Syllabus for the written exam?
The AFCAT Syllabus includes English, General Awareness, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning & Military Aptitude.

4. How many times is the Exam conducted in a year?
The  Exam is conducted twice every year — usually in February and August.

5. What is the age limit for AFCAT ?
For Flying Branch: 20–24 years.
For Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical): 20–26 years.

6. Is there any negative marking in the Exam?
Yes, each wrong answer carries a penalty of 1 mark, while correct answers give 3 marks.

7. What is the exam pattern for AFCAT 2026 ?
The Exam consists of 100 questions for 300 marks with a duration of 2 hours. EKT is required only for technical candidates.

8. What is included in the AFCAT Syllabus for English?
The AFCAT Syllabus for English includes comprehension, vocabulary, error detection, synonyms, antonyms, and idioms.

9. How should I prepare for the  Exam effectively?
Focus on high-weightage topics, solve previous papers, give mock tests, and revise the  syllabus regularly.

10. Can final-year students apply for AFCAT 2026?
Yes, final-year students can apply for the exam if they meet the eligibility criteria at the time of training.

11. What is the selection process after the AFCAT Exam?
After clearing the Exam, candidates attend the AFSB interview, followed by medical tests and final merit.

12. What is the difficulty level of the Exam?
The  Exam is considered moderate, with English and Reasoning being relatively scoring sections.

13. Does the AFCAT Syllabus change every year?
No, the Syllabus remains mostly the same, but current affairs and defence updates change annually.

14. Is the Exam going to be conducted online or offline?
Exams will be conducted online (CBT mode) across various exam centers in India.

15. What is the minimum educational qualification for an Exam?
A minimum graduation degree with 60% marks is required, with specific subjects needed for technical branches.

For more details, you can visit Education Masters

 

 

 

 

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