HIGHLIGHTS
Know the Best Way to Prepare For AFCAT 2022 with a detailed timetable plan
How To Prepare For AFCAT Exam 2022 with exam pattern, subjects, and more.
Best Book for AFCAT Preparation and strategies
Examination date 12, 13, 14 February 2022
AirForce Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is one of the most popular tests among graduates who aspire to join the Indian Airforce as an officer.
This article will give you an overview of how to prepare for AFCAT 2022 exam including the best way to prepare for AFCAT Exam and the strategy to pass with flying colours.
Indian Air Force (IAF) is one of the finest organizations of the defence force to secure Indian Airspace and conduct aerial warfare against enemy countries.
The three distinct branches are presently consisting of IAF to carry out their daily operational and administrative responsibilities.
Table of Contents
3 Departments of the Indian Airforce
Flying Branch
The flying Branch officers are responsible for conducting various airspace operations.
- Flying
Technical Branch
Ground Technical Branch officers are entrusted to carry out 100% mission reliability at all times.
- Engineering
Ground Branch
Ground Non-technical officers are the back borne of the IAF to look after all kinds of administrative and support(including logistics) systems in action to a functional group of people under the chain of command.
- Logistics
- Administration
- Accounts
- Education
- Medical & Dental
- Meteorological
To join IAF as an officer, the defense aspirant should clear the Air Force Common Admission Test(AFCAT).
Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is being conducted online mode by Air Force. The next AFCAT examination will be scheduled for 12-14 February 2022 at the National level.
The final year graduate/graduate/post-graduate or Engineers can apply for the AFCAT examination to qualify for an SSB interview.
After successful SSB and military basic and technical training at Air Force Academy Dundigal(Hyderabad), the defense aspirants will be permanent or short service commissioned officers in the rank of flight officer/flight lieutenant of the Indian Air Force.
AFCAT Exam Dates and Apply Online
The online application can be submitted between 01 December 2021 to 30 December 2021, and a written online examination will be conducted from 12 to 14 February 2022.
You can visit our article for more information related to applying AFCAT Online.
AFCAT Exam Pattern
The examination pattern will be:
- 100 questions consisting of 25 questions from English & General Science, 18 questions from Numerical Ability, and 32 questions from Reasoning and Military Aptitude.
- The ground technical officer aspirants should write an Engineering Knowledge Test( EKT) for 50 questions from the basics of Mechanical, computer science, and Electrical & Electronics& Electronics.
- The total time allotted for the examination is two hours for AFCAT in the general category and 45 minutes extra for the Engineering Knowledge Test(EKT).
- The valuation is based on three marks for each correct answer and one minus mark for each wrong answer.
- The maximum marks for the general category are 300 marks, and EKT candidates are 450 marks.
- The cut-off marks for getting an interview call from the Selection Centre, Air Force is above 50 % of the total marks.
- However, the candidate should aim to get more marks during the test as it also helps in the SSB and training in the Academies.
How to Prepare for AFCAT Syllabus 2021
Smart candidates can obtain adequate marks to get through the AFCAT exam successfully by understanding the pattern of the syllabus 2021 as per the details given below:
English
- Total questions: 25
- Comprehension, Error Finding, vocabulary, antonyms, jumbled sentences, fill in the blanks, rearrangement of sentences, etc.
- Weightage of idioms and phrases is very high
- Reference books
– Word Power Made Easy
– Wren & Martin High School English Grammar and Composition Book
Mathematics (Numerical ability)
- Total questions: 18
- Number series, average, simplifications, Ratio, Profit & loss, simple & compound interest, decimal fraction, percentage, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Mixture & allegation, Area and Perimeter, etc.
No separate study material is required. The CDS reference book, i.e., Pathfinder CDS book, may be sufficient
General Awareness
- Total questions: 25
- Current affairs, sports, art, culture, environment, History, Geography, politics, basic science, civics, .etc.
- Best Reference Book – Lucent’s General Knowledge
Other books you can refer could be the last six-month Competition Success Review, Manorma Yearbook 2021, and one Newspaper (The Hindu or Indian Express)
These are sufficient for obtaining Maximum marks.
No need to thoroughly study and read all these printed materials daily, till examination.
You should give more attention to this than any other subjects, especially if you are unware of the basic concept of General awareness
Reasoning & Military Aptitude
Total questions: 32
- Verbal skills and spatial ability, series, coding & decoding, clock and calendar, statement and conclusions, figure series, dot situation, etc.
For this topic, you only need to go through a number of questions and practice. The more you practice, the more chances for you choose the right answer during the exam
Based on the previous ten years of questions analyzed in various eminent academics, it is revealed that most of the questions are repeated methods, direct single line MCQ questions.
The answering of the AFCAT examination is so easy when we compare it with the CDS examination.
Those appearing CDS examination on 07 February 2021 should apply for AFCAT if they have passed Mathematics and physics with a minimum of 60% marks in 12th Std.
The advantage is you have the option to become a pilot or ground duty officer in case you missed out on an opportunity to join IMA or OTA due to a higher cut-off in IMA/OTA or any temporary medical reasons.
There is no special practice needed from CDS preparation to AFCAT preparation other than the Reasoning & military aptitude test.
You can Go through the below video where Tanya Singh (Cleared AFCAT 2020(2)) shares her Top Tips to Prepare for AFCAT Exam
Best Way To Prepare For AFCAT (60 Days Time Table)
Prepare a time plan for the next two months based on your available time.
A daily wise timetable should be prepared the way you studied for the CDS examination.
A sample timetable is provided below for your AFACT Exam Preparation reference
| Sr. No. | Subject/ Date | General Awareness | Verbal Ability in English | Numerical Ability | Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
| 1 | Day-1 | History of India | Reading Comprehension | Number System | Analogy, Classification |
| 2 | Day-2 | History of India | Reading Comprehension | Fraction and Simplification | Series, Coding and Decoding |
| 3 | Day-3 | Geography | Error Detection | HCF and LCM | Direction Sense Test, Clock and Calendar |
| 4 | Day-4 | Geography | Error Detection | Percentage | Logical Venn Diagrams, Syllogism |
| 5 | Day-5 | Indian Polity | Sentence Completion / Filling of Correct Words | Profit and Loss | Statement and Conclusions/Inferences |
| 6 | Day-6 | Indian Polity | Sentence Completion / Filling of Correct Words | Average | Statement and Assumptions |
| 7 | Day-7 | Defence | Synonyms and Antonyms | Ratio and Proportion | Figure Analogy |
| 8 | Day-8 | Defence | Synonyms and Antonyms | Simple and Compound Interest | Figure Classification |
| 9 | Day-9 | Sports | Idioms and Phrases | Simple and Compound Interest | Figure Series |
| 10 | Sports | Idioms and Phrases | Time and Work | Figure Completion | |
| 11 | General Knowledge | Test of Vocabulary | Time and Distance | Embedded Figures | |
| 12 | General Knowledge | Test of Vocabulary | Mixture and Alligation | Dot Situation | |
| 13 | General Science | Cloze Passage | Area and Perimeter | Cube and Dice | |
| 14 | General Science | Cloze Passage | Algebra | Figure Coding | |
| 15 | Test (Ser No 1 to 14) | Test (Ser No 1 to 14) | Test (Ser No 1 to 14) | Test (Ser No 1 to 14) | |
| 16 | History of India | Reading Comprehension | Number System | Analogy, Classification | |
| 17 | History of India | Reading Comprehension | Fraction and Simplification | Series, Coding and Decoding | |
| 18 | Geography | Error Detection | HCF and LCM | Direction Sense Test, Clock and Calendar | |
| 19 | Geography | Error Detection | Percentage | Logical Venn Diagrams, Syllogism | |
| 20 | Indian Polity | Sentence Completion / Filling of Correct Words | Profit and Loss | Statement and Conclusions/Inferences | |
| 21 | Indian Polity | Sentence Completion / Filling of Correct Words | Average | Statement and Assumptions | |
| 22 | Defence | Synonyms and Antonyms | Ratio and Proportion | Figure Analogy | |
| 23 | Defence | Synonyms and Antonyms | Simple and Compound Interest | Figure Classification | |
| 24 | Sports | Idioms and Phrases | Simple and Compound Interest | Figure Series | |
| 25 | Sports | Idioms and Phrases | Time and Work | Figure Completion | |
| 26 | General Knowledge | Test of Vocabulary | Time and Distance | Embedded Figures | |
| 27 | General Knowledge | Test of Vocabulary | Mixture and Alligation | Dot Situation | |
| 28 | 27-Jul-21 | General Science | Cloze Passage | Area and Perimeter | Cube and Dice |
| 29 | General Science | Cloze Passage | Algebra | Figure Coding | |
| 30 | Test (Ser No 16 to 30) | Test (Ser No 16 to 30) | Test (Ser No 16 to 30) | Test (Ser No 16 to 30) | |
| 31 | 28-Jul-21 | History of India | Reading Comprehension | Number System | Analogy, Classification |
| 32 | History of India | Reading Comprehension | Fraction and Simplification | Series, Coding and Decoding | |
| 33 | Geography | Error Detection | HCF and LCM | Direction Sense Test, Clock and Calendar | |
| 34 | Geography | Error Detection | Percentage | Logical Venn Diagrams, Syllogism | |
| 35 | Indian Polity | Sentence Completion / Filling of Correct Words | Profit and Loss | Statement and Conclusions/Inferences | |
| 36 | Indian Polity | Sentence Completion / Filling of Correct Words | Average | Statement and Assumptions | |
| 37 | Defence | Synonyms and Antonyms | Ratio and Proportion | Figure Analogy | |
| 38 | Defence | Synonyms and Antonyms | Simple and Compound Interest | Figure Classification | |
| 39 | Sports | Idioms and Phrases | Simple and Compound Interest | Figure Series | |
| 40 | Sports | Idioms and Phrases | Time and Work | Figure Completion | |
| 41 | General Knowledge | Test of Vocabulary | Time and Distance | Embedded Figures | |
| 42 | General Knowledge | Test of Vocabulary | Mixture and Alligation | Dot Situation | |
| 43 | General Science | Cloze Passage | Area and Perimeter | Cube and Dice | |
| 44 | General Science | Cloze Passage | Algebra | Figure Coding | |
| 45 | Test (Ser No 31 to 44) | Test (Ser No 31 to 44) | Test (Ser No 31 to 44) | Test (Ser No 31 to 44) | |
| 46 | History of India | Reading Comprehension | Number System | Analogy, Classification | |
| 47 | History of India | Error Detection | Fraction and Simplification | Series, Coding, and Decoding | |
| 48 | Geography | Error Detection | HCF and LCM, Percentage | Direction Sense Test, Clock, and Calendar | |
| 49 | Geography | Sentence Completion / Filling of Correct Words | Profit and Loss | Logical Venn Diagrams, Syllogism | |
| 50 | Indian Polity | Sentence Completion / Filling of Correct Words | Average, Mixture and Alligation | Statement and Conclusions/Inferences | |
| 51 | Defence | Synonyms and Antonyms | Ratio and Proportion | Statement and Assumptions | |
| 52 | Sports | Idioms and Phrases | Simple and Compound Interest | Figure Analogy, Figure Classification | |
| 53 | General Knowledge | Idioms and Phrases | Simple and Compound Interest | Figure Series, Figure Completion | |
| 54 | General Knowledge | Test of Vocabulary | Time and Work, Time and Distance | Embeded Figures, Cube and Dice | |
| 55 | General Science | Cloze Passage | Area and Perimeter, Algebra | Dot Situation, Figure Coding | |
| 56 | Revision | Revision | Revision | Revision | |
| 57 | Revision | Revision | Revision | Revision | |
| 58 | Revision | Revision | Revision | Revision | |
| 59 | Revision | Revision | Revision | Revision | |
| 60 | Revision | Revision | Revision | Revision | |
| 61 | Practice Paper Test | Practice Paper Test | Practice Paper Test | Practice Paper Test | |
| 62 | Practice Paper Test | Practice Paper Test | Practice Paper Test | Practice Paper Test | |
| 63 | Exam | Exam | Exam | Exam | |
| 64 | Exam | Exam | Exam | Exam |
If you are an applicant of both CDS and AFCAT, you should concentrate your studies till CDS, and the remaining 15 days should concentrate on the reasoning test for AFCAT
Mock examination, revaluation, and reassessment are the smart and intelligent methods to secure maximum marks in the AFCAT examination.
This method of preparation is mandatory every 15 days.
Basic Tips and Smart Strategies to Get Maximum Marks
- Accept your strength and weakness, including academics.
- Adapt/reorganize/focus with a time plan for the exam
- Strictly Develop a positive outlook on the examination pattern.
- Act with daily routine studies.
- Do Combined/joint discussion with friends.
- Practice for improving English and basic grammar & vocabulary.
- Revise the formulas for maths.
- Solve sample questions of the last 6-7 years.
It is a simple and elementary knowledge test. So basics are important.
Which is the Best Book for AFCAT Preparation?
While you are looking to join the Indian Air force through the Airforce Common Admission Test (AFCAT), it is necessary for you to have the best book to crack AFCAT exam.
AFCAT (Flying technical & ground duty branch) by Arihant Experts is the best book to help you prepare for your entrance exam
Conclusion
The Airforce Common Admission Test (AFCAT) brings thousands of applicants across the country with dreams and aspirations of joining the Indian Airforce as an officer.
the above article gives you an overview of different branches to join the Indian Airforce.
The given syllabus and tips should be well implemented with the everyday practice for your exam.
More importantly, you should visualize yourself as an Air Force officer. Rest will always follow you.
Because AFCAT examination is one easiest and simplest examination where you are guaranteed to become in a uniformed force within a year time.
Hence, your little hard works will definitely give you dividends.
Other Articles You Should Read
- Take your next step to apply for AFCAT, Know How to Apply for AFCAT Online | Eligibility, Vacancy and More
- Becoming an Officer needs investment and focused action. Here are the Best Books for Your Personal Development
- An SSB candidate should have a thorough knowledge of Current Affairs, Here is an Updated Set of Best Books for General Knowledge