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AFCAT 1 Cutoff 2026 (Soon), Check Previous Year Trends & Qualifying Marks

Paulami Chandra

Feb 23, 2026

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.

AFCAT Cutoff 2025

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 Previous Year Cutoff

AFCAT Cutoff marks vary with each of its exam sessions. The following tables show AFCAT cutoff for both sessions over the years:

AFCAT Previous Year Cutoff Marks

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

EKT Previous Year Cutoff Marks

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:

  • EKT means Engineering Knowledge Test.
  • It is conducted only for candidates applying to the Technical Branch of the Indian Air Force.

How to Check AFCAT Cutoff 2026?

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:

  • Go to the official AFCAT website afcat.cdac.in
  • On the homepage, look for the “Candidate Login” section.
  • Click on the relevant AFCAT session (AFCAT 01/2026 or AFCAT 02/2026) link.
  • Enter your login details (Email/Registration ID, Password) and Captcha.
  • After login, candidates can view/download their scorecard/result PDF. The cutoff marks are usually mentioned in that document.
  • Save or print the document for future reference.

AFCAT Marking Scheme 2026

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

Factors Affecting AFCAT Cutoff 2026

Several factors are taken into consideration to decide AFCAT cutoff 2026, which are given as follows:

  • Average marks obtained by candidates
  • The exam’s overall difficulty level
  • Total vacancies announced
  • Total number of applicants for AFCAT 2026

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.

AFCAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs

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.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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