Updated By Aarushi Jain on 16 Feb, 2024 02:18
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) releases the AFCAT exam format and pattern to help students in understanding the exam's structure. Familiarizing oneself with the AFCAT 2024 exam pattern allows students to identify the sections from which questions are posed. This understanding also sheds light on total marks, the marking scheme, time duration, and the question paper format. As per the AFCAT exam pattern 2024, candidates need to tackle 100 questions, depending on their preference for a technical or non-technical branch. Candidates need to check the AFCAT 2024 exam pattern to understand the type of questions that will be asked in the exam. You can also practice with AFCAT mock tests and AFCAT previous year's question papers to understand the detailed marking scheme and exam pattern. For further insights into the AFCAT 2024 exam pattern, continue reading.
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AFCAT and EKT exams are computer-based. EKT is for candidates opting for Ground Duty (Technical). The exams are in English, the AFCAT has 100 questions, and the EKT has 50. AFCAT has a two-hour duration, and EKT is 45 minutes. AFCAT includes General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude. EKT covers Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical & Electronics. AFCAT syllabus 2024 is at the graduation level. AFCAT is for 300 marks, and EKT is for 150 marks. The exam pattern outlines sections, topic weightage, duration, total marks, and marking scheme, aiding candidates in preparation.
Check the major highlights of the AFCAT exam pattern 2024 provided below:
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
Mode of exam | Online |
Number of sections |
|
Number of questions |
|
Maximum marks |
|
Type of questions | Objective type |
AFCAT Paper Duration | Two hours |
Language of paper | English |
Here is the simplified AFCAT exam pattern for the online test:
The detailed structure of the AFCAT exam pattern is outlined below:
Subject | Exam Duration | No of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
General Awareness | 2 Hours | 100 | 300 |
Verbal Ability in English | |||
Numerical Ability | |||
Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
The EKT exam lasts for 45 minutes and covers subjects like Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, and Electrical & Electronics Engineering. The test paper comprises 50 questions, with a maximum of 150 marks allotted for the EKT exam. The EKT exam pattern structure is outlined below:
Subject | Time | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
Mechanical | 45 minutes | 50 | 150 |
Computer Science | |||
Electrical & Electronics |
Below is a breakdown of the AFCAT 2024 exam pattern for the Technical Branch:
Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test | 35 | 105 | 2 Hours |
Verbal Ability in English | 30 | 90 | |
Numerical Ability | 15 | 45 | |
General Awareness | 20 | 60 | |
Mechanics/ Computer Science/ Electrical and Electronics | 50 | 150 | 45 Minutes |
Candidates applying for Non-Technical ground duty positions should be familiar with the AFCAT exam format. The AFCAT 2024 exam pattern for Non-Technical Branch is provided below.
Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test | 35 | 105 | 2 Hours |
Verbal Ability in English | 30 | 90 | |
Numerical Ability | 15 | 45 | |
General Awareness | 20 | 60 |
This section will explain the significance of candidates being well-informed about the AFCAT 2024 exam pattern:
The AFSB, or Air Force Selection Board, conducts interviews for candidates who have successfully cleared the online AFCAT exam. To participate in the AFSB interview, candidates need to visit the websites careerindianairforce.cdac.in or afcat.cdac.in. Here, they can select a date and venue for the AFSB interview. The AFSB exam centres are located in Dehradun, Mysore, Varanasi, and Gandhinagar. Once preferences are submitted, a call letter will be generated for the AFSB interview.
The AFSB interview in the AFCAT exam 2024 consists of three stages:
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The AFCAT online test lasts for two hours. The EKT lasts 45 minutes. Below are the times for the AFCAT exam:
Activity | Shift 1 | Shift 2 |
|---|---|---|
Reporting time | 7.30 am | 12.30 pm |
Verification of admit card and ID Proof, Biometrics, Photo/ Thumb Impression/ Sign on Attendance Sheet and candidate seating in the exam hall | 7.30 am to 9.30 am | 12.30 am to 2 pm |
Reading of instructions by candidates | 9.30 am to 9.45 am | 2 pm to 2.15 pm |
AFCAT exam | 9.45 am to 11.45 am | 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm |
Knowing about the exam pattern as well as marking scheme will help the candidates to avoid negative marking in the final exam. Details regarding the AFCAT marking scheme are mentioned below:
For every correct question answered the candidates would be given three marks each.
For all the questions in the exam that are left unattempted by the candidate no marks would be provided.
For every incorrect answer, one mark will be deducted.
Exam | Total No. of Questions | Marks for Each Correct Answer | Marks Deducted for Each Wrong Answer | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AFCAT | 100 | 3 | 1 | 300 |
EKT (only for technical) | 50 | 3 | 1 | 150 |
Note: Candidates are advised to leave the question unattempted if they are not confident while answering it.
Normalization is the method used to fairly adjust or balance the scores of candidates who took the exam in different shifts. It ensures that their scores are evaluated on a common scale. In simpler terms, normalization means distributing the average score evenly among all candidates who appeared for the exam. This process relies on the concept of Standard Deviation, and even candidates with basic knowledge of Statistics can grasp the idea easily. The IAF's formula for the AFCAT normalization scheme is provided below.
To illustrate the normalization process, consider this example: If a candidate's raw score is 70, the top 0.1% of candidates in all shifts have an average score of 80, and the sum of the mean and standard deviation of all candidates in all shifts is 60, along with the average marks of the top 0.1% of candidates in the specific shift being 70, and the sum of the mean marks and standard deviation of that shift being 60, then the normalised score is calculated as follows:
[(80-60) / (70-60)] X (70-60) + 60 = (20/10) X 10 + 60 = 80
Thus, the normalised score will be 80, whereas the raw score will be 70. It's important to note that this example is only for explanatory purposes, and candidates should be assured that their scores will be calculated systematically by the IAF.
Candidates who clear the AFCAT online test proceed to the AFSB interview, held in three stages at various centres including Dehradun, Varanasi, Gandhinagar, and Mysuru. During the AFSB interview, candidates undergo several tests to evaluate their suitability and potential as officers in the Indian Air Force.
On the first day, candidates go through the Officer Intelligence Rating Test along with the Picture Perception and Discussion test. Stage I is a screening process, and only those who qualify move on to subsequent testing. Eligibility for the applied branches is checked through a document verification process. Candidates not meeting the criteria are sent back on the first day.
Candidates who pass Stage I undergo testing over four to five days in Stage II. The fifth day includes CPSS testing for the Flying branch. Stage II comprises of:
Candidates recommended by the Selection Board undergo a medical examination at either the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), New Delhi, or the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengaluru.
We've organized the AFCAT syllabus 2024 in alignment with the AFCAT exam pattern. This will help candidates the AFCAT 1 2024 preparation. A thorough understanding of the exam pattern will make it easier for candidates to score well in the upcoming AFCAT exam.
Subjects | Topics |
|---|---|
English | Comprehension, Error Detection, Antonyms and Testing of Vocabulary, Idioms and Phrases, Synonyms |
General Knowledge | History, Civics, Geography, Politics, Art, Culture, Sports, Defence, Basic Science, Environment, Current Affairs |
Reasoning and Military Aptitude | Spatial Ability, Verbal Ability, Simple Interest Time and Distance, Ratio and Proportion, etc. |
Numerical Ability | Time and Work, Decimal Fractions, Profit and Loss, Percentage, etc. |
Applicants who are aiming to apply for the ground duty (technical) branch will have to appear for an additional online test - Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT). In AFCAT exam pattern 2023, aspirants will be asked challenging core syllabus questions to determine candidates’ skillset and understanding of the overall syllabus: Here is the AFCAT EKT syllabus for reference:
Syllabus | Topics |
|---|---|
Fundamental Engineering Syllabus | Engineering Physics, Engineering Drawing, and Engineering Mathematics |
Electrical & Electronics Engineering Syllabus | Microwave Engineering, Electronic Devices, Analog, and Digital Electronics, Telecommunication Systems, Electrical Engineering, Microwave Engineering, and Control Engineering, |
Mechanical Engineering Syllabus | Thermodynamics, Engineering Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics/Hydraulic Machines, Materials Science, Manufacturing Science, Thermodynamics, and Machine Drawing |
Allied Engineering Topics Syllabus | Control Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunication Systems, Radar Theory, Instrumentation, Microwave Engineering, Antenna, and Wave Propagation, |
Computer Science Engineering Syllabus | Network Theory Design, Information Technology, Analog, and Digital Electronics, Switching Theory, Computer Networks, and Electronic Devices |
Want to know more about AFCAT
A total of 100 questions will be asked in the AFCAT exam.
There are four sections in AFCAT namely Numerical Ability, Verbal Ability, General Awareness and Reasoning and Military aptitude.
AFCAT will be conducted in the online mode.
Maximum marks for AFCAT are 300 while the maximum marks for EKT are 150.
Yes, marking scheme of both EKT and AFCAT is same. 3 mark will be granted for each correct answer while one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
No, there will not be any negative marking for unattempted questions in AFCAT.
No, AFCAT will only be conducted in the English language.
The duration of AFCAT exam is 2 hours. Candidates will have to complete the exam within the time allotted.
The AFCAT exam covers a wide range of topics, including:
- English: Grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills
- General Awareness: Current affairs, history, geography, science, and technology
- Numerical Ability: Basic math operations, arithmetic, and algebra
- Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, problem-solving, and logical thinking
Candidates will receive three marks for each correct answer while one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
The AFCAT 2024 exam will consist of four papers as per the AFCAT Exam Pattern. These papers cover General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning, along with the Military Aptitude Test. The duration of the AFCAT paper is 150 minutes, equivalent to two hours. To qualify in the AFCAT exam, candidates should aim to score between 140 to 190 marks out of the total 300 marks.
As mentioned, the online test of AFCAT 2023 is conducted for two hours. EKT is held for 45 minutes. The exam timings for AFCAT 2023 is mentioned as per the table given below:
Activity | Shift 1 | Shift 2 |
Reporting time of the Candidate | 7.30 am | 12.30 pm |
Verification of admit card & ID Proof, Biometrics, Photo/ Thumb Impression/ Sign on Attendance Sheet & candidate seating in exam hall | 7.30 am to 9.30 am | 12.30 am to 2 pm |
Reading of instructions by candidates | 9.30 am to 9.45 am | 2 pm to 2.15 pm |
AFCAT exam | 9.45 am to 11.45 am | 2.15 pm to 4.15 pm |
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