A study guide to prepare for the FAA IFR written & pass with ease.
If you genuinely follow this IFR written study guide and study accordingly, you’ll be ready to pass the FAA IFR knowledge test in no time.
I shared the resources and how to utilize each resource to acquire instrument flying knowledge and prepare for the instrument knowledge test.
In this post, I discussed the following:
- Online IFR ground school: To understand the theory and obtain an Instrument knowledge test endorsement;
- Instrument pilot’s handbook: To study and understand topics in great detail;
- Instrument rating test prep: Essential to test your instrument rating merit and to familiarize yourself with the FAA questionnaire.
In the past, it was common to memorize answers to questions and pass the exam. Passing the FAA instrument rating knowledge test requires effort and a genuine grasp of the subject.
I may sound demotivating, but you must give your best to be ready and pass your IFR written test on your first attempt.
Now that I summarized a bit about preparing for the IFR written test, I will give all the details on studying for the FAA IFR knowledge test.
Well, it is not as complicated as it sounds. If you follow a syllabus and stay committed to passing the IFR written test, you will pass the exam with over 90%.
Understanding the IFR flying materials in detail is essential to passing the FAA instrument written test. Merely memorizing the test prep questions and answers doesn’t work anymore. Thoughtful studying and fully understanding each subject will elevate your chances of passing the IFR written test.
Follow this simple three steps process:
- Give yourself a time boundary to take the instrument exam by a specific date;
- Commit to studying for IFR written test;
- Use test preps to practice answering the IFR questions as much as possible.
Give yourself a time boundary to take the instrument exam by a specific date.
IFR written test is not as complicated as many people say. I believe actual instrument flying is more challenging than the written test.
So, set a time frame of six months.
Spending more than six months to take the IFR knowledge test is a waste of time.
Promise yourself to pass the IFR written exam in the next six months after enrolling in an IFR ground school. It’s possible to complete studying for the IFR written test in less than six months.
Many private pilots get their IFR rating within three months.
Commit to studying for IFR written test.
Assuming most of my readers are independently training for an Instrument rating, and I structured this article for PART 61 instrument pilot students.
To begin with, you must enroll in an online IFR ground school.
The benefit of an online ground school is that after you prove your merits by passing the quizzes in the online IFR ground school, you’ll get your endorsement to take the FAA IFR written test.
Without an IFR knowledge test endorsement, you can’t take the exam.
How do self-study for the IFR written test?
Once you start preparing for the IFR written test, you realize the subjects are more complex than the private pilot materials.
Nevertheless, passing the instrument exam is not impossible. Being diligent and having access to better resources make a significant difference.
The materials are essential for IFR self-studying.
Self-studying was never so straightforward in the past. Today tons of excellent resources are available online, and individuals with little practice can pass the IFR written test on their first take.
To self-study for IFR written, you need:
- IFR ground school online;
- A textbook for studying theory: Rod Machado’s Instrument Pilot’s Handbook.
- An IFR written test prep: Choose either a digitalized version or a traditional test prep book.
Typically watching an online ground school course is supposed to be adequate to pass your IFR written test.
To further challenge yourself on instrument rating subjects, you must get your hands on an instrument handbook. As the IFR subjects are complex and watching course clips isn’t adequate to remember all the topics, you need to read a book.
Reading an instrument pilot’s handbook instills the topics in your brain for the long run.
It’s easy to remember a topic if you understand its fundamentals. Reading books allows instrument pilot trainees to do so.
If you’re limited on a budget to buy only one instrument rating online course, buy Rod Machado’s Instrument Pilot Ground School.
Rod Machado is a veteran flight Instructor and well-known for explaining complex subjects to students in an easy, transparent language.
Lumping Rod Machado’s online course with Rod Machado’s Instrument Pilot’s Handbook will make studying a breeze.
However, it’s up to you if you prefer any other instructor and book to prepare for your IFR written test. After all, it’s easier to learn from your chosen flight instructor.
Most instrument rating trainees struggle with the Instrument approach and departures. Rod Machado understood this and dedicated a section to the Instrument approach and departures. I recommend Rod Machado’s online course because there are lessons on actual flying too.
Let’s be honest; not all students are equal, and some cannot grasp subjects quickly. Students who require extra details to understand topics at their own pace must read a book alongside an online IFR ground school.
How to use a book alongside IFR ground school?
Rod Machado’s Instrument Pilot’s Handbook is straightforward, and the language is not overwhelming for pilots.
Pilots with hundreds of VFR hours struggle to understand instrument flying materials because, often, the information is too complex and baffling for pilots to understand.
Rod Machado is famous for articulating complex subjects smoothly for students to understand. With his teaching technique studying, IFR is less monotonous. Transparent language and humor keep students engaged.
If you looked at the FAA publication’s free Instrument handbook, you would view Rod Machado’s Instrument Pilot’s Handbook as noticeably improved and illustrated.
IFR written test preps to practice answering questions similar to the FAA instrument written test.
I have already described what to study in this IFR-written study guide to understand instrument rating theories.
Now that you have studied the textbook or the materials you think were necessary, it’s time to buy a test prep. You can purchase online test prep software or a traditional IFR-written test prep book.
Both of these are essential tools for passing the IFR written test:
Many pilots only rely on IFR written test prep books to memorize the question and pass their written test.
I recommended reading up on an instrument flying textbook and not just memorizing answers from the instrument rating test prep.
Memorizing answers is outdated, and it’s simpler to pass the IFR knowledge test today by comprehending topics to answer a question.
Reasoning, the FAA updates its question bank multiple times yearly to discourage pilots from memorizing the questions and answers and encourage them to understand a subject entirely.
Today, the sole purpose of a test prep book is to use it for mock tests. Practice answering questions on time and familiarize yourself with the FAA instrument rating knowledge test.
If you answer a wrong question, refer to the section describing why one answer is correct and the other is wrong. To further clarify a subject, you can go to the Instrument Flying Handbook and study the issue.
Answering the wrong question and comprehending the reason for an answer to be correct solidifies your instrument knowledge.
To avoid taking IFR written test multiple times, follow these three steps instructions:
- Take an IFR ground school online;
- Have an Instrument flying handbook at your disposal;
- Use an IFR test prep to comprehend the questions FAA might ask.
Regardless of whether a digitalized test prep or a traditional textbook-type test prep, you will have access to thousands of FAA questions on Instrument rating subjects.
To become a competent IFR pilot, you don’t need multiple books, but applying better studying techniques will make you the best pilot at your flight school.
This study guide would allow you to think and select the correct answer from your memory during your IFR written test.
