AFCAT Cut Off 2026 – Previous Year Cut Off Marks & Analysis

The AFCAT Cut Off 2026 is the minimum score that a candidate must secure to qualify for the AFSB Interview. The Indian Air Force (IAF) releases the AFCAT cutoff after each exam cycle — AFCAT 1 and AFCAT 2. Knowing the previous year’s cutoff helps aspirants understand the level of competition and plan their target score accordingly.

In this article, we’ll cover the expected AFCAT Cut Off 2026, last five years’ cutoff trends, branch-wise analysis, and score strategy to clear AFCAT in the first attempt.

AFCAT 2026 Cut Off – Expected Marks

The expected cutoff for AFCAT 2026 is calculated based on previous trends, difficulty level, and student feedback from recent exams.

Exam	Expected AFCAT Cut Off (Out of 300)	Expected EKT Cut Off (Out of 150)
AFCAT 1 2026	155 – 165	40 – 45
AFCAT 2 2026	160 – 170	42 – 47

Note: The actual cut off may vary slightly depending on paper difficulty, normalization, and overall performance of candidates.

AFCAT Previous Year Cut Off (2020–2025)

Here’s a look at the past year AFCAT cutoff marks which give a clear idea of the exam trend:

Year	Exam Cycle	AFCAT Cut Off (Out of 300)	EKT Cut Off (Out of 150)
2025	AFCAT 1	157	41
2024	AFCAT 2	155	38
2024	AFCAT 1	160	40
2023	AFCAT 2	155	37
2022	AFCAT 1	157	40
2021	AFCAT 2	157	39
2020	AFCAT 1	153	40

Cut Off Trend Analysis (2020–2025)

Stable Range: AFCAT cut off generally stays between 150–165 marks every year.
Increasing Accuracy Requirement: Due to more competition, accuracy above 80% is now essential.
EKT Cut Off: Remains between 35–45 marks; focuses on engineering fundamentals.
Paper Difficulty: When English or GK is tough, cutoff dips slightly (2–5 marks).

Factors Affecting AFCAT Cut Off

Number of Candidates: More applicants lead to higher competition and slightly higher cutoff.
Difficulty Level: A tougher paper brings the cutoff down.
Vacancies: More vacancies mean a slightly lower cutoff.
Normalization Process: IAF uses score normalization to balance shift difficulty.

How Cut Off is Calculated

The AFCAT exam is of 300 marks and EKT of 150 marks. The cutoff is determined based on the overall marks of top-performing candidates and normalized score variation across shifts.

Formula Used:

Weighted Cut Off = (Number of Vacancies × Average Performance) / Total Applicants

Target Score to Clear AFCAT 2026

Based on recent analysis, here’s the safe score you should aim for:

Exam	Safe Score to Clear	Ideal Attempt (Accuracy 85%)
AFCAT 1 2026	170+	80–85 Questions
AFCAT 2 2026	175+	85–90 Questions

Subject-Wise Marks Distribution & Strategy

Section	Weightage (Marks)	Strategy
English	75	Revise grammar, reading comprehension, and vocabulary daily.
Reasoning & Military Aptitude	96	Practice daily puzzles and pattern questions.
GK	75	Focus on defence, current affairs, and static GK.
Maths	54	Focus on arithmetic topics like percentage, ratio, time-work.

Cut Off Comparison: AFCAT vs Other Defence Exams

Exam	Maximum Marks	Average Cut Off
AFCAT	300	155–165
CDS (IMA)	300	120–130
NDA	900 (Written)	340–360

Tips to Score Above Cut Off in AFCAT 2026

Focus on accuracy — avoid negative marking at all costs.
Attempt 80–90 questions with 85% accuracy for a safe score.
Revise English and Reasoning daily — they carry 60% of the paper.
Take mock tests twice a week and analyze every mistake.
Don’t leave GK blank — 10–12 marks in GK can change the result.

FAQs on AFCAT Cut Off 2026

Q1. What is the expected AFCAT Cut Off 2026?

The expected cut off for AFCAT 1 2026 is around 160 marks and EKT around 42 marks.

Q2. Is AFCAT cutoff same for all branches?

Yes, the AFCAT cutoff is common for all candidates; only EKT applies to Technical branches.

Q3. Does AFCAT have sectional cutoff?

No, there is no sectional cutoff — only an overall cutoff is considered.

Q4. How many marks are needed to get AFSB call?

Scoring above 170 marks (with 85% accuracy) almost guarantees an AFSB call.

Q5. Is AFCAT cutoff high every year?

The cutoff remains steady between 155–165 due to consistent difficulty level and competition.

Conclusion

The AFCAT Cut Off 2026 will likely remain in the same range as previous years, around 160 marks for AFCAT and 42 for EKT. To ensure selection, aim 10–15 marks above the expected cutoff. Stay consistent, take mock tests, and revise regularly. Remember — it’s not about just clearing the cutoff, it’s about staying comfortably above it so you walk confidently into your AFSB interview.

Keywords used: AFCAT Cut Off 2026, AFCAT Previous Year Cut Off, AFCAT 1 Cut Off, AFCAT 2 Cut Off, AFCAT EKT Cut Off, AFCAT Passing Marks.

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