Updated: August 2026 — AFCAT 1 2027 notification not yet released. Dates and DOB windows are expected (based on the AFCAT 1 2026 cycle) and will be confirmed on afcat.cdac.in.
Quick Answer
The AFCAT 1 2027 exam is a 2-hour online test of 100 questions and 300 marks, covering General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning & Military Aptitude. Each correct answer earns +3 and each wrong answer loses 1 mark. Technical-branch candidates additionally take the EKT — 50 questions, 150 marks, 45 minutes.
Understanding the AFCAT 1 2027 exam pattern and syllabus is what turns study hours into marks. This guide details the section split, marking scheme, EKT and topic-wise syllabus so you can build a focused plan. For the timeline see the AFCAT 1 2027 notification, and to target a score read the cut off analysis.
AFCAT 1 2027 Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | ~25 | 75 |
| Verbal Ability in English | ~25 | 75 |
| Numerical Ability | ~18 | 54 |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude | ~32 | 96 |
| Total | 100 | 300 |
Duration is 2 hours (120 minutes). Marking: +3 per correct answer, −1 per wrong answer, 0 for unattempted. Because of negative marking, accuracy matters as much as speed.
EKT (Engineering Knowledge Test)
Candidates opting for Ground Duty (Technical) sit the EKT immediately after AFCAT: 50 questions, 150 marks, 45 minutes, covering the fundamental engineering, allied and specialised topics of Mechanical, Computer Science and Electrical & Electronics streams. See our dedicated AFCAT EKT guide.
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Explore AFCAT CoachingTalk to a MentorAFCAT 1 2027 Syllabus (Subject-wise)
General Awareness: History, Geography, Civics, Polity, Current Affairs, Defence & Sports, Art & Culture, Environment, Basic Science.
Verbal Ability in English: Comprehension, error detection, sentence completion, synonyms/antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases.
Numerical Ability: Decimals, fractions, simplification, average, profit & loss, percentage, ratio & proportion, simple interest, time-speed-distance, number system (Class 10 level).
Reasoning & Military Aptitude: Verbal and spatial reasoning, analogy, series, coding-decoding, rotated blocks, hidden figures, embedded figures.
Build your topic plan around these weights, then benchmark against the AFCAT 1 2027 cut off and follow the preparation plan. For deeper reference, the evergreen AFCAT syllabus guide lists every topic.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AFCAT 1 2027 exam pattern?
100 questions for 300 marks in 2 hours, across General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning & Military Aptitude, with +3 for correct and −1 for wrong answers.
Is there negative marking in AFCAT 1 2027?
Yes. One mark is deducted for every wrong answer; there is no deduction for unattempted questions.
What is the EKT in AFCAT?
The Engineering Knowledge Test is an additional 50-question, 150-mark, 45-minute paper for Ground Duty (Technical) candidates, covering core engineering subjects.
How many questions are there in AFCAT?
AFCAT has 100 questions worth 300 marks; the EKT (for technical branches) has an additional 50 questions worth 150 marks.
What is the difficulty level of AFCAT?
AFCAT is moderate; numerical and reasoning are around Class 10 level, while General Awareness and English require consistent current-affairs and vocabulary practice.
Written by
Capt. Dhaliwal · Director, New Careers Academy
Ex-Indian Army officer and SSB mentor at NCA Academy, Chandigarh (est. 1967), coaching NDA, CDS, AFCAT and SSB aspirants since the 1980s. About the author →
Reviewed by Hartaj Dhaliwal — SSB Strategist, NCA · third-generation officer · recommended by the SSB three times.
