Updated By Aarushi Jain on 25 Jun, 2024 17:22
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The Indian Air Force has recently published the AFCAT 2 exam pattern 2024 through its official notification. This information is also accessible online at afcat.cdac.in. Aspiring candidates can familiarize themselves with crucial details of the exam, including subject-wise sections and the marking scheme for AFCAT 2 2024. Additionally, the exam pattern outlines the total marks allotted, section-wise marks distribution, and details about negative marking. It is advisable for candidates to thoroughly review these specifics before commencing their exam preparation. The AFCAT 2 2024 exam comprises a written test, supplemented by an Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) that technical position applicants must also undertake. Successful candidates proceed to the subsequent stages involving the ASFB interview and medical examination. Learn more about the AFCAT 2 2024 exam pattern below.
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The AFCAT and EKT exams are conducted online. The EKT is specifically for candidates who choose the Ground Duty (Technical) branch. Both exams are administered in English. The AFCAT exam consists of 100 questions and lasts for two hours, while the EKT exam has 50 questions and a duration of 45 minutes.
The AFCAT exam covers topics such as General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude. The EKT exam focuses on subjects like Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical & Electronics. The AFCAT 2 2024 syllabus is designed at the graduation level.
The AFCAT exam is scored out of 300 marks, and the EKT is scored out of 150 marks. The exam pattern includes details about sections, topic weightage, duration, total marks, and the marking scheme, all of which help candidates prepare effectively. Below are the key highlights of the AFCAT 2 exam pattern 2024:
Exam | AFCAT 2 2024 Exam Pattern | EKT (only for technical) |
|---|---|---|
Mode of Exam | Online | Online |
No. of Questions | 100 | 50 |
Maximum Marks | 300 | 150 |
Duration of Exam | 2 hours (120 minutes) | 45 minutes |
Sections in Paper | General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test | Mechanical, Computer Science and Electrical & Electronics |
Negative Marking | 1 mark | 1 mark |
Here is the simplified AFCAT 2 2024 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 2 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 2 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 |
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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This section will explain the significance of candidates being well-informed about the AFCAT 2024 exam pattern:
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 AFCAT 2 2024 exam pattern as well as the marking scheme will help the candidates 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 will 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 have organized the AFCAT syllabus 2024 in alignment with the AFCAT exam pattern. This will help candidates with the AFCAT 2 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
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 |
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.
The Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) is an essential component of the AFCAT exam for those aiming to join the technical branches of the Indian Air Force. This test employs a negative marking system. Specifically, you receive 3 marks for each correct response, but you lose 1 mark for every incorrect answer. If you choose not to answer a question, no marks are awarded or deducted. Therefore, it's often more advantageous to attempt a question, even if you are unsure, rather than skipping it entirely.
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
The AFCAT exam lasts for two hours, which is 120 minutes. During this time, you'll be assessed on several subjects such as General Awareness, English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude.
The AFCAT 2 (Air Force Common Admission Test) for 2024 will be held exclusively in English. This information is confirmed by the official syllabus and notifications issued for the exam.
No, there is no penalty for leaving questions unanswered in AFCAT 2 2024. You lose one mark for every wrong answer, but you gain three marks for each correct one. Therefore, concentrate on answering only when you are confident and skip the questions you are unsure about to avoid negative marking.
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.
The AFCAT 2 2024 exam is scored out of 300 marks. It includes 100 questions, covering topics such as General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Reasoning, and Military Aptitude.
The AFCAT 2 2024 exam will be administered exclusively online. Candidates will complete the computer-based test at specified exam centres.
The AFCAT 2 exam for 2024 does not have official sections but assesses candidates in five key areas: English, General Awareness, Numerical Ability, Reasoning, and Military Aptitude. While the exam is not formally segmented, these subjects are typically studied in clusters to prepare effectively.
A total of 100 questions will be asked in the AFCAT exam.
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