AFCAT is the Indian Air Force’s route to a Short Service Commission for graduates, and it sits in an awkward spot for most aspirants: the written paper is more manageable than CDS, but the AFSB interview that follows is every bit as demanding as an SSB. Candidates who prepare only for the written stage tend to clear it and then stop there. Our AFCAT coaching in Thane covers both halves.
What AFCAT Involves
Written Examination
A single paper covering General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning & Military Aptitude, with negative marking. Candidates applying for the Technical branch also sit the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) as a separate paper.
AFSB Interview
Stage 1 screening with an officer intelligence rating test and Picture Perception & Discussion. Stage 2 covers the psychological tests — TAT, WAT, SRT and Self Description — Group Testing Officer tasks, and the Personal Interview. Flying branch candidates additionally sit the Computerised Pilot Selection System.
Medical
Air Force medical standards, particularly for the flying branch, are strict. We go through the requirements early so candidates are not surprised at the last stage.
How We Teach It
The written preparation overlaps substantially with our CDS and NDA courses — English, General Awareness and reasoning are shared — so students often prepare for more than one defence entry in a single cycle. What is specific to AFCAT is Military Aptitude and the Air Force-oriented general awareness, which get their own modules.
The AFSB module runs the same way as our SSB training: mock psychological tests with written feedback, group tasks with an observer, and panel-style personal interviews. Officer-like qualities are treated as trainable skills, because they are.
Who Should Consider AFCAT
Graduates who want a commission but did not clear NDA after Class 12, engineering graduates targeting the Technical branch, and CDS aspirants who want a second serious defence attempt in the same year. See defence coaching in Thane for the full picture of what we run.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AFCAT easier than CDS?
The written paper is generally considered more approachable, largely because it is a single combined paper. The selection process afterwards is not easier — AFSB is as rigorous as SSB.
Can women apply for AFCAT?
Yes. Women candidates are eligible for Short Service Commission entries. Branch-wise eligibility changes between cycles, so confirm against the current notification.
Do I need an engineering degree?
Only for the Technical branch, which also requires the EKT paper. Flying and Ground Duty branches are open to graduates from other streams subject to the notification.
Can I prepare for AFCAT and CDS together?
Yes, and most of our defence students do. English, General Awareness and reasoning carry across, and both lead to an interview stage we train for jointly.
Do you provide AFSB interview coaching separately?
Yes — candidates who cleared the written stage elsewhere can join the AFSB module on its own.
Book a Free Demo Class
Sit through one live class before you decide. Contact D.I.C.E. Institute to book a free demo, or explore all our courses, the test series and our student results.