FAA · IRA
Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) Knowledge Test practice exams
The FAA's Instrument Rating Airplane knowledge test — practice against the Instrument Rating ACS, with every answer explained.
Or read 15 sample questions with answers.
About the IRA exam
The Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) knowledge test covers flying in the clouds: IFR regulations and currency, weather and icing, IFR flight planning and alternates, instruments and equipment checks, ATC clearances and holding, attitude instrument flying, navigation systems, instrument approaches and emergencies such as lost communications.
The test follows the Instrument Rating – Airplane ACS (FAA-S-ACS-8C). These practice exams cover each area of operation; the FAA does not publish per-area percentages, so our domain weights are an estimate.
The real exam
Public information published by FAA. A ExamWize practice exam matches this format — it is not a copy of the exam's contents.
- Format
- 60 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours, at an FAA airman knowledge testing center.
- Cost
- Testing fees are set by the testing center — check current pricing when you schedule.
- Scoring
- The passing score is 70 percent. Practice scores here use the same 70% pass line.
- Validity
- A passed knowledge test must be followed by the practical test within 24 calendar months (14 CFR 61.39).
Practice by exam topic
ExamWize practice exams draw questions in these same proportions, from a bank of 597 IRA questions. Open a topic for what it covers and free questions with answers.
- Pilot Qualifications and IFR Regulations· 77 questions13%
- Weather Information· 101 questions17%
- IFR Cross-Country Flight Planning· 58 questions10%
- Aircraft Systems, Instruments and Equipment· 79 questions13%
- ATC Clearances and Holding Procedures· 61 questions10%
- Flight by Reference to Instruments· 43 questions7%
- Navigation Systems· 61 questions10%
- Instrument Approach Procedures· 78 questions13%
- Emergency Operations· 39 questions7%
Who it's for
- Private pilots training for the instrument rating
- Instrument students preparing for the knowledge test before the checkride
- Instrument-rated pilots refreshing IFR rules and procedures
How to prepare
- Know IFR currency, alternate requirements (1-2-3 rule, 600-2 / 800-2) and IFR fuel reserves cold.
- Practice holding entries and the lost-communication route and altitude rules.
- Learn equipment checks: VOR (30 days, ±4° VOT), altimeter and static system (24 months).
- Study icing, thunderstorms and wind shear — weather is a large part of the test.
See the free IRA cheat sheet for a one-page domain summary, and the content policy for how these questions are written.
Free IRA practice resources
- 15 free IRA practice questionsSpread across the exam's topics, each with the answer and an explanation for every option.
- Free 10-question diagnosticA quick, scored check of where you stand, with no account needed.
- IRA cheat sheetThe topics and the facts that come up most, on one page.
- IRA study guideHow to plan your preparation.
IRA exam FAQ
- What is the format of the IRA exam?
- 60 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours, at an FAA airman knowledge testing center.
- How much does the IRA exam cost?
- Testing fees are set by the testing center — check current pricing when you schedule.
- How is the IRA exam scored?
- The passing score is 70 percent. Practice scores here use the same 70% pass line.
- How long is the credential valid?
- A passed knowledge test must be followed by the practical test within 24 calendar months (14 CFR 61.39).
- How many IRA practice questions does ExamWize have?
- 597 original practice questions, drawn into full practice exams in the same format and domain proportions as the real IRA. Every option has its own explanation.
- Are these real IRA exam questions?
- No. Every question is original, written from FAA's public content outline — never copied from the real exam or from exam dumps. They match the real exam's format, not its contents.
- Can I try ExamWize for free?
- Yes. The free diagnostic has 10 IRA practice questions with a full explanation for every answer, and no account is needed.