AFCAT 2026: Detailed Preparation Guide

AFCAT 2026

AFCAT 2026 Exam Pattern, Cut-off, Preparation Strategy and General Tips & Exam-Day Strategy for Reasoning & Military Aptitude, Numerical Ability (Maths), English and General Awareness (GK + Current Affairs).

AFCAT 2026 Exam Pattern & Key Facts

Total sections: 4 sections — Reasoning & Military Aptitude, Numerical Ability, Verbal Ability in
English, General Awareness.

Total questions: 100; Total marks: 300; Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours).

Marking scheme: +3 for each correct answer, –1 for each wrong answer, 0 for unattempted.

Sections roughly carry: Reasoning & Military Aptitude (25 Qs), English (25 Qs), GK (25 Qs), Maths/Numerical Ability (25 Qs).

Given this, a smart preparation strategy emphasises mastering Reasoning and English early, while building speed in Maths, and doing consistent GK/current affairs preparation.

AFCAT Cut-off Trend (Last 5 Attempts)

When you study for AFCAT, it’s important to remember that you do NOT need to complete every topic or master the entire syllabus to clear the exam. AFCAT is a scoring exam, not a completion exam — your goal is smart preparation, strong sections, accuracy, and consistent practice. Even toppers never study 100% of the syllabus; they master 60–70% and practice it deeply.

To understand what actually matters, look at the AFCAT cut-off trend for the last 3 years:

These numbers clearly show that you don’t need to attempt all 100 questions. Even scoring around 55–60 questions correct (165–180 marks) can take you comfortably above the cut-off in the toughest years. Therefore, instead of trying to cover the entire wide syllabus, focus on your strongest sections first, aim for high accuracy, and build a preparation strategy that lets you score consistently above the cut-off rather than trying to study “everything.”

1. Reasoning & Military Aptitude — First Focus

Why first: AFCAT 2026 Reasoning & Military Aptitude section often has the highest number of questions. Logical reasoning & aptitude are high-scoring because they don’t rely on rote knowledge — just practice and sharpness.

Topics to Cover (Verbal & Non-verbal Reasoning + Aptitude)

Series completion, pattern series (alphabetic / numeric / mixed)

Coding-decoding (letter/number substitution, etc.)

Analogy, classification, odd-one-out / pair/ group testing

Blood relations, directions & sequences, ranking / ordering / time-sequence tests

Logical puzzles, syllogisms, data sufficiency, inference-based reasoning

Non-verbal & spatial reasoning: mirror images, water images, embedded figures, paper folding / cutting, figure classification, pattern recognition, figure matrices.

Preparation Strategy

• Daily practice: Solve at least 25–30 reasoning questions daily; alternate between verbal
  and non-verbal.
• Mock + time practice: Use timed “reasoning-only” mock tests twice a week.
• Mistake log: Maintain a small register of tricky reasoning problems you got wrong — re- solve weekly.
• Shortcut tricks & logic templates: Learn standard tricks — e.g. for coding-decoding, pattern series — to solve faster without overthinking.
• Balance speed & accuracy: Avoid guesswork — only attempt questions you feel confident about; skip ambiguous ones rather than guess blindly.

Goal for exam day: Attempt 20+ questions with ~90%+ accuracy. This can give you a strong foundation for total score.

2. Numerical Ability (Maths) — Build Speed & Accuracy

Why second priority: AFCAT 2026 Maths is usually easy-to-medium difficulty; questions are from basic school-
level maths (up to Class 10), but speed often makes/breaks performance.

Topics to Master (as per 2026 syllabus)

Decimal & Fractions, Number System & Number Series

Time & Work, Time, Speed & Distance (including trains/boats & streams)

Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Average

Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest

Mixture & Allegation, Basic Algebra / Simplification, HCF & LCM, Square & Square Root / Cube & Cube Root

Basic Geometry / Mensuration / Area-Perimeter / Elementary Mensuration / Heights & Distance /
Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode) for some questions.

Preparation Strategy.

• • Fundamentals first: Make sure basics like percent-profit-loss, ratio, speed-time, interest, number system are crystal clear.
  • Formula sheet: Maintain a clean formula sheet for quick revision. (1-2 pages)

Timed drills: Solve mini-sets of 10–15 questions under 15 minutes, repeatedly.

• Speed over complexity: Skip very lengthy problems in exam if time-cost > reward; focus on more straightforward questions first.
• Accuracy check: Since negative marking exists, avoid wild guesses; only attempt when reasonably sure.

Goal for exam day: Attempt 15–18 questions with 85–90% accuracy. Good maths performance often ensures 45–55 marks — a solid cushion.

3. English (Verbal Ability) — Consistent Practice for High Score

Why third priority: AFCAT 2026 English plays a key role; combined weight of grammar, vocabulary, comprehension — scoring high here boosts overall marks and reduces pressure on other sections.

Topics to Focus On

Reading Comprehension (passages + inference-based Qs)

Error detection/correction (grammar, sentence structure, usage)

Sentence completion / fill in the blanks / cloze test / gap-filling in paragraphs

Synonyms & Antonyms, One-word substitution, Homonyms & Homophones

Idioms & Phrases, Phrasal verbs, Collocations, Common phrases

Sentence rearrangement / order / correct paragraph sequencing

Basic grammar rules: tenses, subject–verb agreement, voice, modals, prepositions (as relevant for
error detection)

Preparation Strategy

• Daily reading: Spend at least 20–30 minutes daily reading English editorials or articles (newspapers, defence-related content, general interest). Helps build vocabulary and comprehension.
• Vocabulary building: Maintain a “vocab notebook” — note 5–10 new words daily with meaning + synonyms + usage.
• Grammar drills and sentence correction exercises: Focus especially on common error patterns (prepositions, verb forms, agreement).
• Regular MCQ practice: Solve at least 15–20 English questions daily (mix of comprehension, cloze, grammar, vocab).
• Mock tests + review: Do full-section English mock once a week; analyse mistakes thoroughly.

Goal for exam day: Attempt 20+ questions with ~88–92% accuracy. English can be a game- changer if you maintain consistency.

General Awareness (GK + Current Affairs) — Smart, Strategic Preparation

Why fourth: AFCAT 2026 GK section is broad and unpredictable. But because it overlaps with general knowledge + current affairs + defence awareness, a well-planned strategy can save time and yield marks.

Topics to Cover (Static + Current Affairs)

• History: Ancient, Medieval, Modern India; Freedom Struggle; Important events & dates.
• Geography: Physical geography (rivers, mountains, climate), Indian geography + world geography basics (continents, oceans, important places).
• Polity & Constitution: Indian Constitution basics, Government structure, Fundamental Rights & Duties, Administrative divisions.
• Economy & Basic Economics: Basic national economy, important schemes, Indian economy fundamentals, current budget/economic affairs.
• Science & Technology / Basic Science: Important scientific developments, recent inventions, defence tech, environmental science, basic science facts.
• Environment & Ecology: Ecology, environmental issues, global climate updates, Indian environment policies.
• Defence & Armed Forces: India’s defence news, recent military operations/exercises, key aircraft/missiles, Air Force updates — very important for AFCAT.
• Sports, Awards, International Organisations, Important Days & Personalities: For trivia-based questions.

Preparation Strategy

• Daily current affairs & static revision: Read defence news, national/global headlines, environment, science & economy updates (15–20 min daily).
• Weekly review sessions: At end of week, revise all new facts and static GK.
• Monthly revision: Create monthly GK compilations (history, geography, polity, defence, science).
• Mock GK quizzes: 20–30 questions weekly to test retention.
• Focus on recent developments: For 2026 exam cycle — keep track of major global & Indian events of last 5 – 6 months (defence events, major budgets, environment accords, sports events, international summits).

Goal for exam day: Attempt 15–18 GK questions with 80% accuracy. GK can be tricky — but even scoring 40+ marks can significantly boost your total.

4. General Tips & Exam-Day Strategy

Start with Reasoning, then English, followed by Maths, and do GK last — this ensures maximum use of your strengths and avoids time pressure on tricky GK.

Always read instructions carefully — negative marking punishes wild guesses.

Maintain time discipline: ~1.2 minutes per question on average. Skip very time-consuming questions.

Revision + mocks are more important than simply finishing textbooks. Mock tests build speed, confidence, and exam temperament — aim for 5–6 full mocks per month in last 2 months before exam.

Use short notes / flashcards / formula sheets / GK cards — helps in last-minute revision during travel/trains/waiting times.

Stay updated on defence news, global events, and Indian current affairs — these often find their way into GK section.

Final Words — Mindset & Consistency Matter

AFCAT isn’t about being brilliant in all subjects — it’s about being efficient, consistent, and smart.

If you follow this section-wise priority plan diligently:

Master Reasoning & English early (your strong weapons),

Build Maths speed and accuracy,

And maintain steady GK + current affairs awareness, … then you maximize your chances of hitting the cut-off — and maybe exceed it by a good margin.

Stay disciplined, keep a steady study tempo, revise regularly — and approach AFCAT like a mission, not a race.