AFCAT 1 Cut Off 2026 refers to the minimum qualifying marks candidates must secure to clear AFCAT 1 Exam 2026 conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on January 31, 2026. The cut-off marks are used to shortlist candidates for the next stages of the selection process, including AFSB testing and medical exam. AFCAT 1 recruitment 2026 is held to select candidates for Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officer posts in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty branches (Technical and Non-Technical). The cut-off will be determined based on exam difficulty level, number of candidates, vacancies, and overall performance, and will be released along with or after the result declaration.
IAF has released AFCAT cutoff 2025 for its February and August sessions of the exam on the official website of IAF. This cutoff is based on the difficulty of questions, the number of vacancies, and the number of candidates taking the exam.
| Exam Session | AFCAT Cut Off |
|---|---|
| AFCAT 01 2025 | 121 |
| AFCAT 02 2025 | 140 |
| Exam Session | EKT Cut Off |
|---|---|
| AFCAT 01 2025 | - |
| AFCAT 02 2025 | 40 |
AFCAT Cutoff marks vary with each of its exam sessions. The following tables show AFCAT cutoff for both sessions over the years:
| Year | AFCAT 1 Cutoff | AFCAT 2 Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| AFCAT 2024 | 137 | 139 |
| AFCAT 2023 | 155 | 157 |
| AFCAT 2022 | 157 | 157 |
| AFCAT 2021 | 165 | 155 |
| AFCAT 2019 | 133 | 140 |
| AFCAT 2018 | 155 | 160 |
| AFCAT 2017 | 150 | 148 |
| AFCAT 2016 | 132 | 144 |
| AFCAT 2015 | 126 | 123 |
| Year | EKT 1 Cutoff | EKT 1 Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| AFCAT 2024 | - | - |
| AFCAT 2022 | - | - |
| AFCAT 2021 | 18 | 18 |
| AFCAT 2020 | 30 | 40 |
| AFCAT 2018 | 50 | 55 |
| AFCAT 2017 | 60 | 60 |
| AFCAT 2016 | 60 | 60 |
| AFCAT 2015 | 52 | 52 |
| AFCAT 2014 | 55 | 45 |
Note:
After the IAF releases AFCAT Cutoff 2026 for the online exam held on January 31, 2026, candidates can check the cutoff in the following manner:
Before calculating AFCAT scores, candidates shall be aware of the official marking scheme of AFCAT. Its marking scheme is given below:
| Response Type | Marks Awarded |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +3 |
| Incorrect Answer | –1 |
| Unanswered / Blank | 0 |
Several factors are taken into consideration to decide AFCAT cutoff 2026, which are given as follows:
AFCAT 1 cutoff 2026 will be set by IAF based on vacancies, exam difficulty, and candidates' performance. Going through the past year's cutoff trends will help candidates in setting realistic targets, aligning preparation strategies, and being aware of competition levels.
Ques: Does AFCAT cutoff remain the same every year?
Ans: No. AFCAT cutoff changes every year depending on exam difficulty, vacancies, and candidate performance. It is rarely identical to the previous year’s score.
Ques: Is AFCAT cutoff different for flying and ground duty branches?
Ans: No. The cutoff score is common across all branches of IAF, but final selection depends on vacancies, merit list, and candidate preference for flying, technical, or ground duty roles.
Ques: Are AFCAT 01 and AFCAT 02 cutoff scores announced together or separately by the IAF?
Ans: The IAF releases AFCAT 01 and AFCAT 02 cutoff marks independently for each session after their exams are held. This ensures clarity for candidates on the qualifying scores required in their respective attempts.
Ques: Does failing EKT affect AFCAT cutoff 2026 clearance?
Ans: Yes. Technical branch aspirants must qualify for both AFCAT and EKT individually. Clearing AFCAT cutoff alone is insufficient for technical roles if the EKT cutoff is not met.
Ques: Is the sectional cutoff applied in AFCAT exam 2026?
Ans: No. AFCAT does not have sectional cutoffs. Only overall cutoff marks are considered, in which candidates can balance weaker sections with stronger ones to qualify.
Download the PREPP App and attempt FREE AFCAT Mock Tests and get complete study material!
Comments