AFPSAT General Information: PH History, Geography, AFP Knowledge

AFPSAT General Information: PH History, Geography, AFP Knowledge

General information is the part of AFPSAT prep where study time turns into points most directly. The other areas are skills you build with practice. General information is mostly facts you can memorize from a finite list.

A note on scope: the AFP does not publish the AFPSAT's subtests, item counts or weights. Reviewer sources describe general-information items on Philippine history, government and the Constitution, current events and basic AFP knowledge. The list below is a study map built from that, not an official breakdown.

This post is the topic plan that the AFPSAT guide hands off to.

Philippine history

Drill list:

• Pre-colonial: the barangay system, baybayin, datus
• Spanish colonial period: Magellan (1521), Legazpi (1565), the galleon trade, the encomienda
• The Philippine Revolution: the Katipunan (1892), the Pact of Biak-na-Bato (1897), the declaration of independence (June 12, 1898)
• The American period: the Treaty of Paris (1898), the Philippine-American War, the Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934)
• The Commonwealth (Quezon, Osmeña)
• World War II and the Japanese occupation (1942–1945): Bataan, Corregidor, the Death March, USAFFE and the guerrilla movement
• Post-independence administrations
• Martial Law and the EDSA People Power Revolution
• Post-EDSA reforms

For each period, know the key dates and figures. Give defense history extra time: USAFFE, the Philippine Scouts, and how the AFP was formed under the National Defense Act of 1935.

Philippine geography

• The three island groups (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao)
• The regions and their key cities
• Major mountain ranges, rivers and lakes
• Major bays and gulfs
• The West Philippine Sea and the country's maritime zones

The 1987 Constitution and government

Focus on:

• Article II (Declaration of Principles and State Policies), especially Section 3: civilian authority is supreme over the military at all times, and the AFP is the protector of the people and the State
• Article III (Bill of Rights)
• Article XVI (General Provisions), which includes the provisions on the armed forces
• The three branches of government and how they check each other
• RA 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees

Current events

The hardest block to drill directly. A practical approach:

• Read one major Philippine news source daily for 2–3 months before your slot
• Track defense and security news: the West Philippine Sea, AFP modernization, disaster response
• Know who holds the top posts: the President, the Secretary of National Defense and the AFP Chief of Staff

AFP knowledge

The block most applicants skip. Cover:

• AFP structure: the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy (including the Marine Corps), under the General Headquarters
• Ranks: enlisted (Private to First Chief Master Sergeant) and officers (Second Lieutenant to General)
• AFP schools: the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio, plus the National Defense College of the Philippines under the DND
• The AFP's mission and roles
• The Articles of War and the basics of military discipline

World basics

Light coverage:

• Continents and major countries
• The world wars at survey level
• Major international organizations (UN, ASEAN)

A 3-week general information plan

The volume targets are a suggested pace, not a requirement. What matters is reviewing every wrong answer the same day.

Practice with Super Tutor

Super Tutor's AFPSAT reviewer has General Information (Constitution, government, RA 6713, human rights, environment, Philippine history) and AFP Knowledge (Articles of War, AFP organization, Philippine defense history and current affairs) chapters, with practice quizzes at three difficulty levels and an AI tutor that explains each answer. Start free — 5-day trial, no card.

What to read next

The AFPSAT guide covers the full review. Other area plans: Verbal, Numerical, Logical Reasoning, Spatial.