AFCAT 2 2026 syllabus covers four sections — Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability, Reasoning & Military Aptitude, and General Awareness — across 100 questions in 2 hours. Whether you are applying for the Flying Branch or Ground Duty, the written exam is the same. This guide breaks down every topic, its weightage, and what NCA Academy’s faculty recommends you prioritise to clear the cutoff comfortably.
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AFCAT 2026 Exam Structure — Quick Overview
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Online Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Marking | +3 correct | −1 wrong | 0 unattempted |
| Language | English only |
| Sections | 4 (no section-wise cutoff) |
AFCAT 2 2026 Syllabus — Section-wise Breakdown
1. Verbal Ability in English (25 Questions)
This is the section most candidates underestimate. Questions are moderate to difficult and test your command over the language, not just vocabulary.
| Topic | Approx. Questions | NCA Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 5–6 | Read passage first, answer in 90 seconds |
| Synonyms & Antonyms | 4–5 | Learn 10 root-words daily; covers 40–50 derivatives |
| Error Detection | 3–4 | Focus on subject-verb agreement and tenses |
| Sentence Completion / Fill in the Blank | 3–4 | Context-based; eliminate options methodically |
| Idioms & Phrases | 2–3 | Top 150 IAF-asked idioms — revise monthly |
| One-word Substitution | 2–3 | Commonly repeating list of 80 words suffices |
| Sentence Rearrangement (PARA Jumbles) | 2–3 | Find the opening sentence first; rest follows logically |
2. Quantitative Ability (25 Questions)
Questions are Class 10 level — no advanced mathematics. Speed and accuracy matter more than complexity here.
| Topic | Approx. Questions | NCA Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal & Fractions / Simplification | 3–4 | Master BODMAS; solve under 30 seconds each |
| Time, Speed & Distance | 3–4 | Learn relative speed formulas for trains and boats |
| Percentage, Profit & Loss | 3–4 | Most asked; learn fraction-to-% conversions cold |
| Ratio & Proportion / Averages | 3 | Use alligation for mixture problems — saves 1 minute |
| Time & Work / Pipes & Cisterns | 2–3 | LCM method — fastest approach for this section |
| Simple & Compound Interest | 2 | Formula-based; 2 minutes to master each type |
| Mensuration / Geometry | 2–3 | Memorise area/volume formulas for 6 key shapes |
| Algebra / Number System | 2 | Linear equations only; no quadratics appear |
3. Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test (25 Questions)
This is the highest-scoring section for most candidates. Military Aptitude sub-section (spatial ability, distance-direction) is unique to defence exams and not tested elsewhere — which means proper coaching gives a real edge.
| Topic | Approx. Questions | NCA Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning (Analogy, Classification) | 4–5 | Pattern recognition; attempt all — easy 12 marks |
| Spatial Ability (Mirror, Rotation, Figures) | 5–6 | Practice 20 spatial puzzles daily for 3 weeks |
| Distance & Direction | 3–4 | Always draw a compass diagram; never solve mentally |
| Coding-Decoding | 3–4 | Identify the pattern type first (letter shift / symbol) |
| Blood Relations | 2–3 | Draw a family tree for every question — no exceptions |
| Series (Number, Letter, Figure) | 3 | Check +/×/prime patterns in first 3 elements |
4. General Awareness (25 Questions)
The most unpredictable section — and the one where consistent daily reading creates the biggest lead over self-study candidates.
| Topic | Approx. Questions | Key Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Current Affairs (last 12 months) | 6–8 | The Hindu, PIB, IAF press releases |
| Defence & IAF News | 4–5 | Exercise names, aircraft inductions, ops, rankings |
| History (Medieval + Modern India) | 3–4 | NCERT Class 8–10; focus on dates and movements |
| Geography (India + World) | 3–4 | Rivers, mountains, climate zones, passes |
| Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics) | 2–3 | Laws of motion, periodic table basics, human body |
| Sports & Polity | 2 | Awards, constitutional articles, recent tournaments |
Topic-wise Weightage Summary
| Section | Questions | Max Marks | Difficulty | NCA Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability | 25 | 75 | Moderate–High | 🔴 High — most candidates score poorly here |
| Quantitative Ability | 25 | 75 | Easy–Moderate | 🟡 Medium — Class 10 level; accuracy matters |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude | 25 | 75 | Easy–Moderate | 🟢 High — easiest to score 20+/25 with practice |
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 | Moderate | 🔴 High — requires daily reading; can’t be crammed |
| Total | 100 | 300 | — | Safe score: 180+ | Good score: 200+ |
AFCAT 2 2026 Syllabus — Best Books & Resources
| Section | Recommended Resources |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability | Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis), SP Bakshi English, The Hindu Editorial (daily) |
| Quantitative Ability | RS Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude, NCERT Maths Class 8–10 |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude | RS Aggarwal Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning, Arihant AFCAT guide (Military Aptitude chapter) |
| General Awareness | PIB App, Defence Current Affairs monthly PDF (NCA provides), Lucent GK, NCERT History/Geography Class 9–12 |
| Practice Tests | AFCAT Previous Year Papers (2016–2025), NCA Academy weekly mock tests |
Frequently Asked Questions — AFCAT 2026 Syllabus
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