Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test study guide

Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test, administered by FAA, is mapped here as 8 topic areas; the heaviest are IFR Regulations, Currency & Required Equipment (18.3%), En-route Charts & IFR Navigation (16.7%) and Instrument Approach Charts & Minimums (16.7%).

About this course: Holding entries, finally unstuck. Pass the IFR written - 42 of 60 - without memorizing 1,000 questions blind.

Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test at a glance

Questions: 60
Time allowed: 2 hours
Passing standard: 70% (at least 42 of 60 correct)
Format: Beginning October 26, 2026, the IRA test includes image-based questions that are not found in the printed testing supplement
Standard / edition: FAA-S-ACS-8C, effective May 31, 2024; FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix, revised September 25, 2026
Administered by: FAA

Source: FAA-S-ACS-8C, effective May 31, 2024; FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix, revised September 25, 2026, FAA. Confirm current details with the exam owner before you book.

Topic areas and weights

Topic area	Weight	Concepts	Guide
IFR Regulations, Currency & Required Equipment	18.3%	6	Section below
Alternates & IFR Fuel Requirements	10%	5	Section below
Departures, Takeoff Minimums & Lost Communications	10%	5	Section below
En-route Charts & IFR Navigation	16.7%	5	Section below
Instrument Approach Charts & Minimums	16.7%	6	Section below
Holding Entries & Course Reversals	11.7%	5	Section below
IFR Aviation Weather	11.7%	5	Section below
Instruments, Systems & Partial Panel	5%	5	Section below

Study plan in this course

IFR Regulations, Currency & Required Equipment Lesson: IFR Regulations, Currency & Required Equipment — 6 cards · free
Alternates & IFR Fuel Requirements Lesson: Alternates & IFR Fuel Requirements — 5 cards · free
Departures, Takeoff Minimums & Lost Communications Lesson: Departures, Takeoff Minimums & Lost Communications — 5 cards · full course
En-route Charts & IFR Navigation Lesson: En-route Charts & IFR Navigation — 6 cards · full course
Instrument Approach Charts & Minimums Lesson: Instrument Approach Charts & Minimums — 6 cards · full course
Holding Entries & Course Reversals Lesson: Holding Entries & Course Reversals — 5 cards · full course
IFR Aviation Weather Lesson: IFR Aviation Weather — 5 cards · full course
Instruments, Systems & Partial Panel Lesson: Instruments, Systems & Partial Panel — 5 cards · full course

IFR Regulations, Currency & Required Equipment

IFR Regulations, Currency & Required Equipment carries 18.3% of the Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test blueprint used in this course, the largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 6 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: IFR Regulations, Currency & Required Equipment.

What IFR Regulations, Currency & Required Equipment covers

What recent experience keeps you current to act as PIC under IFR?
You let instrument currency lapse — when do you need an IPC?
What is the GRABCARD required equipment for IFR?
How can you log simulated instrument time and keep it legal?
Which reports are required to ATC even without a request when IFR?
At a non-towered airport, what does a clearance void time mean?

In the app this area comes with 6 memory cards and 14 module-quiz questions and is part of the free starting modules.

Alternates & IFR Fuel Requirements

Alternates & IFR Fuel Requirements carries 10% of the Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test blueprint used in this course, the 6th-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 5 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Alternates & IFR Fuel Requirements.

What Alternates & IFR Fuel Requirements covers

When is an alternate airport NOT required for an IFR flight (the 1-2-3 rule)?
What are the standard minimums to file an airport as your alternate?
How much fuel must you carry to fly IFR?
If the 1-2-3 rule is met and no alternate is required, how much reserve fuel do
Can you plan to use GPS at both your destination and alternate?

In the app this area comes with 5 memory cards and 11 module-quiz questions and is part of the free starting modules.

Departures, Takeoff Minimums & Lost Communications

Departures, Takeoff Minimums & Lost Communications carries 10% of the Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test blueprint used in this course, the 7th-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 5 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Departures, Takeoff Minimums & Lost Communications.

What Departures, Takeoff Minimums & Lost Communications covers

After a two-way radio failure in IMC, what route do you fly?
After a lost-comms in IMC, what altitude do you fly for each segment?
Lost comms: when do you leave the clearance limit and start your approach?
Do Part 91 pilots have required takeoff minimums?
What standard climb gradient does an Obstacle Departure Procedure assume?

In the app this area comes with 5 memory cards and 12 module-quiz questions in the full course.

En-route Charts & IFR Navigation carries 16.7% of the Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test blueprint used in this course, the second-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 5 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: En-route Charts & IFR Navigation.

What En-route Charts & IFR Navigation covers

How is the MOCA different from the MEA?
What do MCA and MRA mean on an en-route chart?
What does OROCA provide, and what does it NOT provide?
What obstacle-clearance buffer applies in mountainous vs non-mountainous areas?
How does GPS/RNAV navigation differ from VOR navigation for IFR?

In the app this area comes with 6 memory cards and 14 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Instrument Approach Charts & Minimums

Instrument Approach Charts & Minimums carries 16.7% of the Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test blueprint used in this course, the third-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 6 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Instrument Approach Charts & Minimums.

What Instrument Approach Charts & Minimums covers

What is the difference between a DA and an MDA?
How do precision, APV, and non-precision approaches differ?
What marks the Final Approach Fix, and what are the approach segments?
What three conditions allow descent below DA/MDA (91.175)?
What is a VDP, and what are circling minimums?
How are aircraft approach categories determined?

In the app this area comes with 6 memory cards and 14 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Holding Entries & Course Reversals

Holding Entries & Course Reversals carries 11.7% of the Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test blueprint used in this course, the 4th-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 5 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Holding Entries & Course Reversals.

What Holding Entries & Course Reversals covers

How do you decide which holding entry to fly?
Describe the parallel, teardrop, and direct entries.
What are standard holding leg times and maximum holding speeds?
How do you correct for wind in a hold, and what is the EFC?
What are the rules for a procedure turn (course reversal)?

In the app this area comes with 5 memory cards and 11 module-quiz questions in the full course.

IFR Aviation Weather

IFR Aviation Weather carries 11.7% of the Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test blueprint used in this course, the 5th-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 5 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: IFR Aviation Weather.

What IFR Aviation Weather covers

What conditions are required for structural (airframe) icing?
What do AIRMETs Sierra, Tango, and Zulu cover?
How does a SIGMET differ from a Convective SIGMET?
Why is the saying high to low, hot to cold, look out below critical for IFR?
What IFR weather hazards hide in stratiform cloud and calm nights?

In the app this area comes with 5 memory cards and 10 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Instruments, Systems & Partial Panel

Instruments, Systems & Partial Panel carries 5% of the Instrument Rating - Airplane Knowledge Test blueprint used in this course, the 8th-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 5 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Instruments, Systems & Partial Panel.

What Instruments, Systems & Partial Panel covers

What happens to the airspeed indicator if the pitot tube (ram and drain) becomes
What happens if the static port blocks, and what is the fix?
When the vacuum system fails, which instruments are lost and how do you fly?
What are the magnetic compass acceleration errors (ANDS)?
What are the compass turning errors (UNOS) and key IFR illusions?

In the app this area comes with 5 memory cards and 10 module-quiz questions in the full course.