• Updated on 17 Sept, 2025 by Amrita Das
AFCAT 2025: The Indian Air Force has released AFCAT 2 Result 2025 on September 17, 2025. Candidates can check their AFCAT 2 Scores by using their email ID, password and captcha code on the official website at afcat.cdac.in. Qualified candidates will be called for the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) interview, which includes three stages. The AFCAT 2 Cutoff marks will be announced soon.
AFCAT 1 2025 exam pattern includes multiple-choice questions about General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning, and Military Aptitude. The syllabus is based on high school and graduation levels, and candidates who prepare thoroughly can achieve high grades.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) issued the AFCAT 1 admit card on February 7, 2025, and the adjustment window ran from February 7 to 9, 2025. Candidates can download their admission card by logging in using their credentials. The AFCAT test is an important stage for those who want to join the Indian Air Force as commissioned officers in the Flying and Ground Duty branches. The selection procedure begins with an online test, which is followed by an AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) interview and medical exam. Read on for more information on the AFCAT 2025 exam.
Table of Contents
- What is AFCAT Exam?
- AFCAT 2025 Exam Overview
- AFCAT 2025 dates
- AFCAT 2025 Eligibility criteria
- AFCAT Examination Pattern 2025
- AFCAT 2025 Syllabus
- AFCAT Prep Tips 2025
- AFCAT Mock Test
- AFCAT Admit Card 2025
- AFCAT 2025 Answer Key
- AFCAT Result 2025
- AFCAT Cut-Off 2025
- AFCAT 2025 Counselling Process (AFSB Interviews)
- AFCAT 2025 FAQs
What is AFCAT Exam?
The IAF conducts the Air Force Common Admission Test, or AFCAT, to select Class-I Gazetted Officers for Flying and Ground Duties (Technical and Non-Technical). The exam is administered twice a year, in February and August/September. AFCAT is one of the most competitive defence exams, with lakhs of candidates vying for admission to the Air Force Academy. To ace the AFCAT exam, candidates should thoroughly study by reviewing the exam pattern, curriculum, previous year's question papers, and practice tests.
AFCAT is a pathway for both male and female candidates seeking to join the Indian Air Force for both Short Service Commission in the Flying Branch and Permanent Commission/Short Service Commission in Ground Duties for Technical and Non-Technical positions.
Candidates are chosen based on their performance in both the online exam and the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) interview. Candidates for Ground Duty (Technical) branches must take both the AFCAT and the Engineering Knowledge Test.
AFCAT 2025 Exam Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) |
| Conducting Body | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
| Frequency | Twice a year |
| Application Fee | ₹250 for all candidates |
| Courses Offered | Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) |
| Mode of Counseling | Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview |
AFCAT 2025 dates
Check out the table below for the full schedule of the AFCAT 2025 exam.
| Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
| 22 Feb '25 - 23 Feb '25 | AFCAT 1 Exam Date 2025 |
| March' 25 | AFCAT 1 2025 Result Declaration |
| May '25 | AFCAT 2 Notification 2025 |
AFCAT 2025 Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the AFCAT exam, candidates must meet the IAF's criteria for nationality, age, educational level, and physical standards. The AFCAT eligibility criteria are listed below:
AFCAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria: Nationality
Candidates must be a citizen of India under the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955.
AFCAT 2025 Age Limit
The age limitations specified for the AFCAT exam vary by branch. The age limits for several branches are shown in the table below.
| Branches | Age Limit |
| Flying Branch | Candidates should be between 20 and 24 years old. The upper age limit for candidates having a Commercial Pilot License is relaxed up to 26 years |
| Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch | The age of candidates should be between 20 and 26 years |
AFCAT 2025 Marital Status
- Candidates under 25 years of age must be unmarried at the start of the course.
- Widows, widowers, and divorcees under the age of 25 are also not eligible.
- Married applicants over the age of 25 are entitled to apply; but, throughout their training period, they are neither supplied with married accommodation nor allowed to live with family.
AFCAT 2025 Eligibility: Educational Qualifications
The educational qualifications required for various branches are listed below.
| Branch | Educational Qualification |
| Flying Branch | Candidates must have passed Class 12 with 60 per cent in Maths and Physics. They must also hold a graduation degree in any discipline/BE/BTech/cleared section A and B exam of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised University with 60 per cent |
| Ground Duty Technical Branch | Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) Passed Class 12 with 60 per cent each in Physics and Mathematics and four years degree in Engineering/Technology Or, Cleared Sections A and B of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India or Graduate membership examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers by actual studies with 60 per cent in disciplines specified by the examination authority Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) Candidates must have passed Class 12 with 60 per cent in Physics and Mathematics and degree/integrated post-graduation in Engineering/Technology Or, Cleared sections A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India by actual studies with minimum 60 per cent or equivalent in certain disciplines specified by IAF |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches | Administration & Logistics Graduation in any discipline with a minimum of 60 per cent Or, Cleared section A&B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university with 60 per cent Weapon Systems (WS) Branch Candidates should have mandatorily passed with a minimum of 50 per cent each in Maths and Physics at 10+2 level and 1) Graduation with a minimum three years degree course in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60 per cent or equivalent. Or 2) BE/B Tech degree (Four years course) from a recognised University with a minimum of 60 per cent or equivalent. Accounts Branch Candidates must have passed Class 12 and completed graduation in any of the following streams with 60 per cent or equivalent from a recognized university: 1) B Com Degree (Min three years course). 2) Bachelor of Business Administration (with specialization in Finance)/Bachelor of Management Studies (with specialization in Finance)/ Bachelor of Business Studies (with specialization in Finance) 3) Qualified CA/ CMA/ CS/ CFA 4) B Sc with specialization in Finance Education Passed Class 12 and Post-Graduation with 50 per cent in any discipline including integrated courses offering PG (Single degree without permission to exit and lateral entry) and with 60 per cent in Graduation in any discipline Meteorology Passed Class 12 and B Sc with Physics and Mathematics with a minimum of 60 per cent or equivalent or four-year Graduation in Engineering/Technology discipline with a minimum of 60 per cent marks or equivalent in the following streams: Communication Engineering Computer Engineering/Technology Computer Engineering and Application Computer Science and Engineering/Technology Electrical and Computer Engineering Electrical and Electronics Engineering Electronics Engineering/Technology Electronics Science and Engineering Electronics Electronics and Communication Engineering Electronics and Computer Science Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (Microwave) Electronics Communication and Instrumentation Engineering. Information Technology Mechanical Engineering |
AFCAT's Physical and Medical Standards
Candidates must be medically and physically fit to carry out their jobs and obligations effectively.
AFCAT Examination Pattern 2025
The AFCAT Exam Pattern is separated into online and AFSB examinations. All enrolled candidates are obliged to take the online test. The test includes questions from General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning, and the Military Aptitude Test. The EKT, which is held for Technical branch candidates, includes questions from Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical & Electronics.
The maximum mark for AFCAT is 300. The EKT test paper carries a total of 150 marks. The AFSB test is conducted in three stages. The first stage contains an officer intelligence rating test, a picture perception test, and a discussion test, while the second stage includes a psychological test, group tests, and an interview. Candidates applying for the flying branch must participate in the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS).
The final merit list is based on the results of the online exam and the AFSB interview. All candidates are ranked in order of merit based on the total marks earned in the online test and the AFSB interview. The structure of the AFCAT exam pattern is shown below.
| Subject | Exam Duration | No of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| General Awareness | 02 hours | 100 | 300 |
| Verbal Ability in English | |||
| Numerical Ability | |||
| Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
AFCAT 2025 Marking Scheme
The IAF determines the marking scheme for the AFCAT exam. Candidates' marks are calculated according to the marking scheme. The marking scheme for the AFCAT exam is given below:
- Candidates receive three marks for each right answer.
- For wrong answers, one mark is deducted.
- No scores are deducted for unattempted questions.
- Marks are normalised to calculate candidate scores.
Normalisation of Marks
The AFCAT exam is administered on several days and shifts. Normalisation of marks is used to modify the difficulty level of the question paper. This procedure aids in keeping transparency in the calculation of scores. The normalisation technique is being implemented in accordance with the formula to objectively rationalise the marks achieved by candidates appearing in different shifts using a statistical method.
AFCAT 2025 Syllabus
The AFCAT curriculum outlines the topics and sub-topics that applicants should study for the exam. Candidates can learn about the exam's main themes by reviewing the syllabus. The AFCAT 2025 syllabus is divided into sections as shown below.
| 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 Fraction, Profit and Loss, Percentage, etc. |
AFCAT Prep Tips 2025
Candidates should begin their preparations for the AFCAT exam early due to the high level of competition. To ace the exam, candidates must have a well-planned strategy. Candidates must review past years' exam papers and complete practice tests. Furthermore, they should review the curriculum and exam pattern to learn more about the exam structure and content.
Tips & Tricks to Prepare for the AFCAT Exam 2025
The ideas and strategies to prepare for the AFCAT exam are mentioned below.
- As part of their AFCAT preparation, students should familiarise themselves with the exam pattern and syllabus. Knowing the syllabus allows applicants to determine which topics are more and less relevant for the exam. The exam pattern helps candidates comprehend the overall framework of the exam.
- After finishing the course, candidates should solve previous years' AFCAT question papers to better understand the kind of problems asked in the exam.
- Candidates must take mock tests to improve their speed and accuracy when solving problems.
- Candidates must read newspapers daily for current events.
AFCAT Mock Test
The IAF has released the AFCAT practice test. To take the AFCAT practice test, aspirants must submit their hall ticket number and email address. Candidates can familiarise themselves with the exam design and structure by taking AFCAT sample tests.
AFCAT Books
Reading the correct AFCAT books is critical for understanding the ideas covered in the syllabus. With so many books on the market, it is difficult to select the finest books depending on the curriculum. The best books for AFCAT in Numerical Ability, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, and Military Aptitude will help candidates study well for the exam. The list of AFCAT books is provided below.
| Sections | Books |
| General Awareness | Lucent’s General Knowledge Manorama Yearbook |
| English Verbal Ability | Objective General English by Dr. RS. Aggarwal Verbal Reasoning by Bhupendra Kumar Singh |
| Numerical Ability | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal Objective Arithmetic by S Chand |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams by McGraw Hill Education Quantitative Aptitude by S Chand |
AFCAT Admit Card 2025
The AFCAT admit card for 2025 was made available online. To download the AFCAT admission card, registered applicants must check in with their email address, password, and captcha code. Candidates do not receive a hard copy of their admission card in the mail.
Details printed on the AFCAT admit card.
The following information is shown on the AFCAT admit card.
| Candidates' name | Date of birth |
| Gender | Aadhaar number |
| Email ID | Mobile number |
| Exam timings | Address of exam centre |
| Exam day guidelines | - |
How to Download the AFCAT Admit Card 2025?
The ways to download AFCAT admission card are as follows:
- Visit the official website of the IAF.
- Click 'AFCAT Admit Card Download Link'.
- Enter your email address, password, and captcha code in the login page.
- The admit card is displayed on the screen.
- Download the admit card and print it out.
AFCAT Admit Card: Required Photo ID Proof
Candidates must have one of the following photo-identity proofs with them in addition to their admission card. They must carry both the Xerox copy and the original photo-identity evidence.
- Required documents: PAN card, passport, and driving licence.
- Voter Identity Card College Identity Card (or other valid picture ID with name, father's name, date of birth, and clear photograph).
AFCAT 2025 Answer Key
- The AFCAT 2025 Answer Key will be available within a week of the exam.
- Candidates can view it on the AFCAT official website.
- To raise objections, candidates can submit them online for a processing charge of 500 per question.
AFCAT Result 2025
The AFCAT result 2025 will be available online. Candidates must log into their account by entering their email address, password, and captcha code. The AFCAT result shows the qualifying status, sectional marks, overall marks, and cutoff marks. Candidates are invited to AFSB interviews based on their AFCAT results. To disclose the results, candidates' marks are normalised. The final AFCAT merit list is generated using the scores obtained in the online test and the AFSB interview.
How to Check the AFCAT Result?
The steps for checking AFCAT results are mentioned below:
- Visit the official website of the IAF.
- Click the 'AFCAT result' link on the home page.
- Enter the required credentials.
- AFCAT results flash on the screen.
- Download the result and take its printout
AFCAT Cut-Off 2025
IAF will declare the AFCAT cut off 2025, along with the results. The AFCAT cut off is calculated after normalisation. Candidates who achieve equal to or higher than the cutoff marks are chosen for the AFSB interview. Steps for checking the cut-off marks:
- Visit the official website of the IAF.
- On the home page, click the link provided to view the results.
- Enter the required credentials.
- The AFCAT cutoff is listed in the scorecard.
AFCAT Previous Years' Cut Off
Candidates can see the AFCAT cut off points from past years below.
AFCAT 1 Cut-Off
| AFCAT | AFCAT Cut Off | EKT Cut Off |
| AFCAT 1 2023 | 155 | - |
| AFCAT 1 2022 | 157 | 18 |
| AFCAT (1) 2021 | 165 | 30 |
| AFCAT (1) 2019 | 133 | 50 |
| AFCAT (1) 2018 | 155 | 60 |
| AFCAT (1) 2017 | 150 | 60 |
| AFCAT (1) 2016 | 132 | 52 |
| AFCAT (1) 2015 | 126 | 55 |
AFCAT 2 Cut-Off
| AFCAT | AFCAT Cut Off | EKT Cut Off |
| AFCAT 2 Cut off 2022 | 157 | - |
| AFCAT (2) 2021 | 157 | 18 |
| AFCAT (2) 2020 | 155 | 40 |
| AFCAT (2) 2018 | 140 | 55 |
| AFCAT (2) 2017 | 160 | 60 |
| AFCAT (2) 2016 | 148 | 60 |
| AFCAT (2) 2015 | 144 | 52 |
| AFCAT (2) 2014 | 123 | 45 |
AFCAT 2025 Counselling Process (AFSB Interviews)
Shortlisting: Candidates who pass AFCAT will be invited to an Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) interview.
AFSB Interview Centres:
- Dehradun Mysore
- Gandhinagar Varanasi
Required Documents:
- AFCAT Scorecard
- 10th & 12th Marksheet
- Graduation Certificates
- Identity Proof
- Seat Allotment: Candidates will be allotted branches based on performance and preference.
AFCAT 2025 FAQs
When will AFCAT 2025 be conducted?
AFCAT 1 2025 is scheduled for February 22 and 23, 2025.
What is the AFCAT 2025 application fee?
The application fee is ₹250 for all candidates.
How can candidates apply for AFCAT 2025?
Candidates can apply online through afcat.cdac.in.
What is the age limit for AFCAT 2025?
Flying Branch: 20-24 years, Ground Duty: 20-26 years
What is the AFCAT 2025 exam pattern?
AFCAT consists of 100 questions, each carrying 3 marks. The total duration is 2 hours.
Is there a negative marking in AFCAT 2025?
Yes, 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.
What is the AFCAT 2025 cut-off?
The expected cut-off is around 160-165 marks for the General category.
How can candidates download the AFCAT 2025 admit card?
Candidates can download the admit card from afcat.cdac.in by entering login details.
When will AFCAT 2025 results be declared?
The results are expected to be announced in March 2025.
What happens after clearing AFCAT 2025?
Candidates are called for the AFSB Interview, followed by medical tests and final merit list preparation.