PAF Airman Initial Test exam-day guide
PAF Airman Initial Test · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Original CNIC or B-Form plus photocopies
Bring your original national identity card (or B-Form if you do not yet hold a CNIC) and at least two clear photocopies. Name and date of birth on the document must match your educational certificates exactly.
Matriculation / equivalent result card and certificate
Carry originals and one set of photocopies of your matriculation (or equivalent) marksheet and certificate, plus any additional qualification documents you listed on the application.
Printed application / registration slip and roll number slip
Print the acknowledgement or roll number slip generated when you applied, if one was issued to you. Confirm with the provider which slip, if any, is accepted at the gate.
Recent passport-size photographs
Bring four to six recent photographs with a plain background, matching the photograph submitted with your application. Confirm with the provider the exact number and background colour required.
Blue or black ballpoint pens and a pencil with eraser
Written papers are usually answered on a machine-readable sheet, so bring two reliable ballpoint pens, a sharpened pencil, and a clean eraser. Do not bring correction fluid or gel pens.
Sports kit for the physical test
Bring running shoes, shorts or tracksuit, and a spare shirt. The initial test commonly includes a timed run plus push-ups, sit-ups and chin-ups, so prepare to change clothes. Confirm with the provider which physical events apply to your trade.
Water bottle and a light snack
Testing days are long with waiting periods. Carry a refillable water bottle and something small to eat between stages, subject to any restrictions announced at the centre.
Arrive early at the designated selection centre
Reach the centre well before the reporting time printed on your call-up instructions, usually allowing at least one hour for gate clearance, document checking and seating.
Leave prohibited items at home
Mobile phones, smart watches, calculators, notes and study material are normally not allowed inside the testing hall. Confirm with the provider where to deposit them or whether to leave them behind entirely.
Medical and physical preparation
If you wear glasses or contact lenses or take regular medication, carry them and be ready to declare them. Get a normal night of sleep and avoid strenuous training in the two days before the physical test.
Transport and contact plan
Confirm the centre address and your route the day before, and note a contact number for the centre in case of delay or a last-minute change.
Plan the day
Re-read your call-up or registration instructions line by line and list every document they name. Photocopy each document and place originals and copies in two separate folders so a single missing folder does not stop you.
Check that your CNIC/B-Form, marksheets and photographs all carry consistent spelling of your name, your father's name and your date of birth. Any mismatch is a common reason for being turned away; resolve it now or confirm with the provider how to handle it.
If the test includes a physical component, taper your training: light jogging and mobility only, no heavy gym sessions, and no new exercises you have not practised before.
Confirm the centre location, reporting time and travel plan, including the expected travel time and any transport strikes or weather warnings. Pack your bag the same evening rather than in the morning.
Lay out clothes, sports kit and shoes, and place all documents and stationery in one bag by the door. Charge nothing you cannot carry in - assume no phone access during the test.
Eat a normal, familiar dinner, avoid heavy or oily food late at night, stop caffeine after early evening, and aim for seven to eight hours of sleep.
Eat a light, familiar breakfast - nothing you have not eaten before a practice run. Drink water but do not overload, especially if there is a physical test.
Leave with enough margin to arrive at least an hour early. Dress neatly and conservatively, and bring a spare shirt if you have a long day.
Before entering, do a final document check against your list: identity document, marksheets, photographs, roll number slip and stationery.
On entering the hall, listen to all instructions before touching the answer sheet. Fill in your roll number, name and booklet or paper code exactly as instructed, then verify it a second time.
For the intelligence and written papers, work in passes: answer the questions you can settle immediately, skip anything that stalls you, then return to the skipped ones. Never leave a bubble blank if there is no negative marking - confirm with the provider whether negative marking applies.
For the physical test, warm up properly, pace the run rather than sprinting from the start, and use steady controlled form for push-ups, sit-ups and chin-ups - repetitions performed with poor form are often not counted.
Between stages, note anything you were told verbally that was not written down - follow-up dates, medical timings, document requirements - and write it down as soon as you are outside the hall.
Rules to check
Bring the identity document named in your call-up instructions, and expect it to be checked against your photographs, signatures and educational documents at every stage. If your document is lost, contact the provider before the test date rather than arriving without it - the provider's rule on alternate identification must be confirmed in advance.
Reach the reporting point by the stated time. Latecomers are commonly refused entry with no re-test, but the exact grace period is a provider policy - confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Electronic devices, calculators, smart watches, notes and unauthorised study material are not permitted in the testing hall or holding area. Keep them with a guardian or leave them at home.
Give only your own details and act on your own. Impersonation, influence attempts or copying from another candidate is treated as a serious disciplinary matter and typically results in disqualification; the exact penalties are set by the provider.
Follow instructions from the invigilators and medical staff without argument. If you feel unwell, are injured, or need to leave, raise it immediately instead of continuing silently.
Do not assume a break is scheduled. Carry water and a snack, and ask an invigilator whether a break is permitted before leaving your seat; shortlisted breaks are announced at the centre, not in advance.
Scoring is normally based on the written papers plus qualifying physical and medical standards; clearing one stage does not guarantee selection at the next. The marking scheme, negative-marking policy and pass marks should be confirmed with the provider.
Any information you give on forms, including medical history, must be truthful. A discrepancy found later can invalidate your candidature, so declare conditions and medication rather than concealing them.