AFCAT Cutoff 2026 (Out): Course-wise Passing Marks, Result, Previous Year Cutoff, Next Stages

The AFCAT 2 Cutoff 2026 has been released on September 9, 2026, along with the AFCAT 2 result 2026. The IAF has set the cutoff at 135 marks for all courses, while the cutoff for the technical courses is 115 marks for AE(L) and 85 marks for AE(M). The AFCAT 2 written exam 2026 was conducted on August 8, 2026, for a maximum of 300 marks, with 3 marks for every correct answer and a deduction of 1 mark for each incorrect answer. Unattempted questions in the AFCAT 2 written exam 2026 carried no marks. Candidates who meet the applicable AFCAT 2 written cutoff 2026 are shortlisted for the AFSB testing, subject to eligibility and other selection criteria. The AFCAT 1 2026 cutoff was 110 marks.

The IAF does not provide a fixed cutoff for every AFCAT cycle, as the qualifying marks vary depending on factors such as the difficulty level of the exam, number of candidates appearing, available vacancies, and the normalisation process. The Indian Air Force can also apply additional branch-specific cutoffs based on recruitment requirements. Candidates meeting the applicable cutoff are considered for the respective branch, subject to vacancies and merit. However, clearing the AFCAT 2 written cutoff 2026 alone does not guarantee final selection, as candidates must subsequently qualify the AFSB testing and medical exam. NCC Special Entry candidates are exempt from the AFCAT 2 written exam 2026 and will be directly called for AFSB testing, subject to the applicable eligibility conditions

AFCAT Cutoff 2026: Highlights

The AFCAT Cut Off 2026 is the qualifying criteria used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to shortlist candidates for the next stage of the selection process. The AFCAT 2 2026 exam was conducted on August 8, 2026, and the AFCAT 2 Cutoff 2026 was declared on September 9, 2026, along with the result. The AFCAT 2 Cutoff 2026 is 135 marks for all courses, with separate technical cutoffs of 115 marks for AE(L) and 85 marks for AE(M). The AFCAT 1 2026 exam was conducted on January 31, 2026, and the AFCAT 1 Cutoff 2026 was 110 marks. The AFCAT written examination carries 300 marks, and the cutoff varies across examination cycles, depending on the overall performance of the candidates, vacancies, and other requirements of the IAF. The important details regarding the AFCAT cutoff 2026 are provided below.

AFCAT Cutoff 2026

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the AFCAT 2 Cutoff 2026, which is 135 marks for all courses. The cutoff is 115 marks for AE(L) and 85 marks for AE(M) technical courses. The AFCAT 2 exam 2026 was conducted on August 8, 2026, and the cutoff was released along with the result on September 9, 2026.

How to Check the AFCAT Cutoff 2026?

The AFCAT Cutoff 2026 is published along with the respective exam result, indicating the minimum marks required to qualify for the next stage. Candidates can view the cutoff marks by accessing their AFCAT candidate login on the official portal. Candidates can check the AFCAT Cutoff 2026 online through the official AFCAT candidate login portal after the declaration of the AFCAT Result 2026. Below is the step-by-step process for checking the AFCAT Cutoff 2026:

Step 1: Visit the official AFCAT website at https://afcat.edcil.co.in/

Step 2: Click on Candidate Login.

Step 3: Select the AFCAT 1 2026 cycle.

Step 4: Enter your registered email ID and password.

Step 5: The AFCAT scorecard and cutoff marks will appear on the screen.

Step 6: Download the scorecard for future reference.

AFCAT Cutoff 2026: Marks Calculation

AFCAT Cutoff 2026 is calculated by awarding 3 marks for each correct answer and deducting 1 mark for each wrong response, based on the total correct and incorrect answers. The AFCAT scores are calculated in the following way:

• Candidates receive three marks for the correct answers.
• According to the AFCAT Exam Pattern, one score is deducted for each wrong response.
• Candidates' scores are computed using the number of correct and wrong answers.

Check: AFCAT Exam Pattern 2026

AFCAT Normalisation 2026

The AFCAT 2026 normalisation process is applied when the examination is conducted in more than one shift to ensure that candidates' scores are compared fairly despite possible differences in the difficulty level of question papers. For AFCAT 2 2026, which was conducted in multiple shifts, the IAF normalised candidates' marks through a statistical formula before declaring the result.

• The AFCAT normalisation process takes into account the actual marks obtained by a candidate, the mean and standard deviation of marks, and the average marks of the top 0.1% candidates.
• The calculation considers these values both across all shifts and separately for the candidate's respective shift.
• The number of candidates considered for the top 0.1% calculation is rounded up.
• The normalised score, rather than simply the raw score, is considered for determining the candidate's performance and qualifying status.
• The calculation also accounts for the shift with the maximum mean and standard deviation.
• Normalisation does not mean that a fixed number of marks will be added to or deducted from every candidate. The adjustment is calculated statistically based on the prescribed formula and shift-wise performance.

Factors Affecting the AFCAT Cutoff 2026

AFCAT Cutoff 2026 is decided by comparing the paper difficulty, the overall marks level, the number of available vacancies, and the total number of candidates appearing. Changes in any of these factors directly impact the final qualifying cutoff score.

• Difficulty level of the written examination: A tougher paper generally results in a lower cutoff.
• Total number of vacancies announced: Fewer vacancies lead to a higher cutoff.
• Number of candidates appearing: A larger candidate pool increases competition and affects the cutoff.
• Overall candidate performance and normalisation of marks across shifts.

What’s Next After AFCAT Cutoff 2026?

After the AFCAT Cutoff 2026 was released on September 9, 2026, candidates who secure the required qualifying marks have now become eligible for the next stage of the selection process. For AFCAT 2 2026, candidates meeting the cutoff will be shortlisted for the Air Force Selection Board testing, where their aptitude, leadership qualities, communication skills, and suitability for a career as an officer in the Indian Air Force will be assessed. Candidates who are recommended by the AFSB will subsequently undergo a medical examination.

1. AFSB Call Letter and Date Selection: Candidates who have qualified the AFCAT 2 2026 written exam will be called for AFSB testing. They will receive further instructions regarding the AFSB centre and interview schedule through the candidate portal. The IAF has confirmed that candidates who obtained the required AFCAT qualifying marks in 2026 will be called to the Air Force Selection Board.
2. AFSB Testing: The AFSB stage evaluates candidates for their suitability for an officer role through various psychological, group, and interview-based assessments. Candidates must clear the AFSB stage to proceed further.
3. Medical Examination: Candidates recommended by the AFSB have to undergo the prescribed medical examination. Medical fitness is mandatory for further consideration in the recruitment process.
4. Final Merit List: The IAF prepares the All India Merit List based on candidates' performance in the AFCAT written exam 2026 and AFSB interview, subject to medical fitness and the availability of vacancies in the respective branches.
5. Joining and Training: Candidates included in the final merit list are issued joining instructions for the relevant training establishment, subject to the applicable selection and vacancy conditions.

Note: For AFCAT 02/2026, the previous cycle indicates that the AFSB process is expected to take place between October and December 2026, followed by the medical stage during November 2026 to January 2027.

AFCAT Previous Year Cutoff Trends

The AFCAT previous year cutoff trends provide a useful reference for understanding how the qualifying marks have moved across different exam cycles. The cutoff is not fixed and can change from one session to another based on factors such as the difficulty level of the paper, number of candidates appearing, available vacancies, and overall performance. Recent data shows noticeable variation, which means that the AFCAT 1 cutoff is falling from 165 marks in 2021 to 121 marks in 2025. This highlights the reason why candidates should consider multiple years of cutoff data rather than relying on a single cycle.

AFCAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs