AAI Junior Executive Exam Pattern 2026: CBT Format and Marking

The AAI Junior Executive exam pattern for 2026 is built around a single computer-based test (CBT) for all four posts: Finance, Law, Operations, and Survey and Cartography. There is no interview for these posts, so the CBT is the stage that decides your rank. Knowing how the paper is structured helps you decide where your practice time should go.

This page separates what the official advertisement confirms from what is only reported by third parties. The advertisement (No. 12/2026/CHQ/DR-CBT) confirms the test type, the marking rule and the stages, but it does not list the number of questions, marks or duration. Those details sit in the syllabus document on the AAI website, which you should read on the official AAI recruitment page.

Table of Contents

• Exam pattern at a glance

• Key points to know

• CBT pattern

• Marking scheme and negative marking

• What the pattern means for you

• Stages after the CBT

• Final merit

• Time management and exam-day strategy

Exam Pattern at a Glance

Key Points to Know

• Confirmed: The test is objective type, has no negative marking and is bilingual except for the language test.

• Confirmed: Where the CBT runs in several sessions, AAI equates the scores. You may appear only once for a given post.

• Reported, not confirmed: Total marks of 120, duration of two hours and the Part A and Part B split.

• Do not mix up papers: A 150-question general pattern with four sections appears on some pages. It is not stated in this advertisement, so do not build your plan around it without checking the official syllabus.

CBT Pattern

Third-party reports describe a paper of 120 marks and two hours, divided into two parts. Part A tests general ability and Part B tests subjects tied to your qualification. The weightage of Part B is reported to vary by post.

The mark figures above are our arithmetic from the reported percentages, so treat them as indicative. Part A covers general knowledge, reasoning, aptitude and English; Part B is built from your degree subjects, as explained in the AAI Junior Executive syllabus. The advertisement does not mention sectional time limits, so check your admit card and the instructions on the exam screen.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

The advertisement states that the CBT has no negative marking. Reports add that each correct answer earns one mark, which is how the 120-mark total is reached. A wrong answer and an unanswered question both score zero, so a guess can only help you.

What the Pattern Means for You

• Guess the unknown: If you reach the last two minutes with unanswered questions, mark every one of them.

• Weight your effort: For Finance and Law, roughly seven of every ten marks come from Part B, so most of your weeks belong to the subject. For Operations, general studies and aviation topics matter as much as Physics and Mathematics.

• Cost of a slow question: If the paper has 120 one-mark questions in 120 minutes, you have about a minute per question. A three-minute question costs you two others.

• Sectional risk: The advertisement does not mention sectional cut-offs. Even so, a very weak Part A can pull down a strong Part B, so keep both above your target.

Older pages and pattern tables for other AAI recruitments may show negative marking, technical papers with different sections, or an interview. Follow the official advertisement for this cycle.

Educators publish tests, courses and notes on Testkart, and the exam page shows what is currently available if you want a timed paper to check these habits against.

Stages After the CBT

Shortlisted candidates are called for document verification. They bring original certificates, proof of identity and one set of self-attested photocopies. Candidates must present their documents within the time given, and missing or mismatched papers lead to rejection. A medical examination follows, and the cost is borne by the candidate.

Two post-specific requirements apply. Operations candidates need a valid Light Motor Vehicle licence, and colour blindness or night blindness is a rejection criterion for Law, Operations, and Survey and Cartography. Read the eligibility page for the full list, because failing these requirements can cost a seat at the last stage.

Final Merit

The provisional merit list is based on CBT marks, subject to eligibility, document checks, character and antecedents, and medical fitness. No interview marks, weightage or normalisation formula beyond the equating of sessions is mentioned for Junior Executive posts. As an illustration only, a candidate who scores 84 out of 120 gets 70 percent of the CBT marks, and that percentage is what is compared with others in the same category and post.

Time Management and Exam-Day Strategy

1. Start with your strongest part: Clear the section where you are fastest, so you bank marks early.

2. Flag and move on: Mark a question for review if it takes more than a minute and return after the first pass.

3. Use the last ten minutes: Revisit flagged questions, and fill every blank before time ends.

4. Reach early: Carry the admit card and a valid photo ID, and expect biometric capture at the exam hall.