Understand the exam
Exam overview
Indian Air Force selection examination for eligible notified branches and entries.
AFCAT
Recruitment
Professional
National
Air Force Common Admission Test
Last updated · Confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official website before you apply.
Indian Air Force selection examination for eligible notified branches and entries.
Who can appear
Eligibility to appear
Graduation
A recognised degree and branch-specific Class 12 or graduation subjects as notified. Age, marital status, nationality, marks, degree discipline, physical and medical standards differ by Flying, Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical branches.
Eligibility to appear is not the same as eligibility to be admitted. Individual institutions add their own criteria on top of the exam's rules.
Overview
What this exam is
The Indian Air Force's selection test for the flying branch and for ground duty in technical and non-technical roles. Candidates for technical branches also sit an Engineering Knowledge Test. Clearing AFCAT leads to the Air Force Selection Board, which is where the real selection happens.
Subjects
What the paper tests
General awareness, verbal ability in English, numerical ability and reasoning with military aptitude. The Engineering Knowledge Test for technical branches covers core engineering subjects from your discipline. The Selection Board that follows includes a pilot aptitude battery for flying branch candidates, which can only be attempted once in a lifetime.
PreparationPlan
How to prepare
The written paper is broad rather than difficult and speed decides the score, so timed practice matters more than depth. Be aware that the pilot aptitude test at the Board is a single lifetime attempt - failing it closes the flying branch permanently, so do not sit it unprepared. Medical standards for flying are strict, particularly on vision, and are worth verifying before investing years in this route.
AdmissionProcess
Who can take it, and how it runs
Who can appear. Graduation; PCM at 12th for flying and technical branches.
How often. Twice a year.
Format. Computer-based plus AFSB.
Conducted by. Indian Air Force.
Dates, eligibility and the paper pattern change from year to year. Check the current official notification before you plan around any of this.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an engineering degree to apply?
Only for the technical branches, which also require the Engineering Knowledge Test. Flying and ground duty non-technical branches accept graduates from other disciplines, subject to the Mathematics and Physics requirements stated in the notification.
What is the pilot aptitude test and why does it matter?
It is a machine-based aptitude battery at the Selection Board, and it can only ever be attempted once in your lifetime. Failing it closes the flying branch permanently, so do not sit it unprepared or casually.
Are the medical standards strict?
Yes, particularly for the flying branch and particularly on vision. Many candidates invest years before discovering they were never medically eligible. Establish this before you build a plan around flying.
Is AFCAT easier than CDS?
The written paper is generally considered more approachable and it is held more than once a year, but selection still turns on the Air Force Selection Board. Treat the written stage as the qualifying step rather than the difficult one.
What is Air Force Common Admission Test used for?
Flying and ground duty officer entry to the Indian Air Force.
Who is eligible to appear for Air Force Common Admission Test?
Graduation; PCM at 12th for flying and technical branches. Confirm this against the current official notification, because eligibility rules are revised between sessions.
How often is Air Force Common Admission Test held, and in what format?
Twice a year. Computer-based plus AFSB.
Who conducts Air Force Common Admission Test?
Indian Air Force.