The full form of AFCAT is Air Force Common Admission Test. The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducts the AFCAT exam twice a year in February and August to recruit candidates for various posts in the Flying branch as well as Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) in the Indian Air Force. Candidates looking to get enrolled in Ground Duty (Technical) branches have to appear in both the AFCAT as well as the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT). The AFCAT exam is one of India's most popular yet competitive recruitment exams, as a vast number of candidates attempt it yearly.
This Story also Contains
What is the AFCAT Full Form?
AFCAT Selection Process
AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
AFCAT Exam Pattern
AFCAT Syllabus
AFCAT Full Form - What is AFCAT Exam Full Form?
There are two stages in the AFCAT exam - the written test and the AFSB (Air Force Selection Board). Candidates who qualify in the written test of the AFCAT 2025 are then called to appear in the AFSB which is a 5-day process. After the AFSB, aspirants then have to qualify for the medical test, post which they get commissioned into the AFCAT course.
The AFCAT full form is the Air Force Common Admission Test. The full form of EKT is Engineering Knowledge Test, while that of IAF is Indian Air Force. AFSB stands for Air Force Selection Board.
AFCAT Selection Process
As mentioned in the AFCAT notification, the selection process consists of three stages -
Before filling the AFCAT application form, candidates are required to check the eligibility criteria as mentioned in the official notification. The AFCAT eligibility criteria consist of the nationality, academic qualification, age limit and physical requirements needed to fill the application form.
IAF has prescribed the AFCAT eligibility criteria 2025 in the official notification. According to the AFCAT 2025 eligibility criteria, candidates must be citizens of India and those below 25 years should be unmarried. For flying branches through AFCAT and NCC, special entry candidates' age must be between 20 and 24 years old. There is upper age relaxation till 26 years for candidates having a valid and current commercial pilot licence issued by DGCA. Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch: Aspirants must be between 20 and 26 years old. The academic for flying branch candidates must be BE/B.Tech while that for non-technical branches must be graduated in a designated field.
The Indian Air Force has mentioned the exam pattern in the official AFCAT notification. As per the exam pattern of AFCAT 2025, the first stage is conducted in online mode for 100 questions from General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability and Reasoning and Aptitude Test. There are 120 minutes to complete the test. There is also negative marking in the exam. The written test is followed by the AFSB.
AFCAT Syllabus
The Indian Air Force has prescribed the syllabus of AFCAT which contains all important topics and chapters from where the questions will be asked in the exam. Candidates preparing for the AFCAT exam must follow the AFCAT syllabus along with the exam pattern. The syllabus is divided into four sections - English, General Awareness, Numerical Ability & Reasoning, and Military Aptitude Test.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1.What is the full form of AFCAT?
The AFCAT full form is Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) exam.
2.Who can apply for the AFCAT exam?
Candidates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria can apply for the AFCAT exam.
3.What is the salary of AFCAT?
The pay scale of AFCAT exam is Rs. 56,100 - 177500.
4.Is AFCAT after 12th?
No, AFCAT cannot be applied after 12th. Candidates with a minimum graduation degree can only apply for it.
5.What is AFCAT used for?
The AFCAT exam is held to recruit candidates for posts in the Flying branch as well as Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) in the Indian Air Force.
6.What is the highest rank in AFCAT?
The Highest rank attainable by someone having cleared the AFCAT is that of an Air Chief Marshal.
If your date of birth is in October two thousand two and as of twenty fifth June two thousand twenty five you are about twenty two years and eight months old then you are within the age limit for AFCAT eligibility The eligibility criteria for the flying branch through AFCAT requires candidates to be between twenty to twenty four years of age as on first July twenty twenty six Similarly those with a commercial pilot licence can apply up to twenty six years old Ground duty branches allow candidates between twenty and twenty six years of age as on the same date Since your age is within these limits you meet the age eligibility requirement for AFCAT in all branches
To choose applicants for admission to the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, the Indian Air Force administers the AFCAT exam. Given the high volume of applications for the AFCAT exam, students must adhere to a solid study plan in order to pass. The AFCAT curriculum is at the graduating level. The math curriculum is at the high school level. Candidates should read the syllabus carefully.
To know the complete preparation tips, you can visit our site through following link:
The official question paper and answer key for AFCAT twenty twenty five will be released by the Indian Air Force after the exam is conducted Until then candidates can refer to previous year question papers and sample papers for preparation The AFCAT exam includes sections such as General Awareness Verbal Ability Numerical Ability Reasoning and Military Aptitude To prepare well aim to solve mock tests regularly and revise important topics from the syllabus Once the official answer key is available it will be provided through the official AFCAT website after login using your credentials
For a B.Tech in Civil Engineering (bachelor) candidate applying for AFCAT, the correct option is Graduate
Option D
.
Explanation:
AFCAT eligibility:
AFCAT requires a Bachelor's degree in any discipline (or B.Tech) from a recognized university with a minimum of 60% marks.
Engineering Graduates:
Engineers (B.Tech) are specifically mentioned as eligible under a graduate category, which is option D according to Quora.
Civil Engineering:
Since Civil Engineering is a B.Tech degree, it falls under the engineering graduate category, thus making option D the correct choice.
Option D:
Option D is specifically designed for engineering graduates. It allows you to mention your degree and specify your engineering discipline (Civil Engineering).
If AFCAT officials have clearly said they need a
certificate
and not just your
marksheet
, they’re most likely asking for your
degree certificate
— the official proof that you’ve completed your graduation. The marksheet alone only shows your scores, but not that you've actually passed the entire course.
If you haven’t received your original degree certificate yet, you can try submitting a
provisional certificate
. Most colleges or universities provide this after the final results are out. It’s usually accepted as a temporary replacement for the actual certificate.
If even the provisional certificate isn’t available, you can ask your college to issue a
bonafide letter
or a
course completion letter
saying that you’ve successfully completed your degree and the certificate is pending. Sometimes, that’s accepted too.
But the best and safest thing to do is contact the AFCAT helpdesk and clearly explain your situation. Ask if they will accept a provisional certificate or any temporary proof for now. They usually guide you well.