INRAT
Instrument Rating Exam (INRAT): 50 Questions, 3 Hours, 70% and How to Book
The written exam for the Instrument Rating. TP 691E covers both aeroplane and helicopter candidates; our study material teaches the aeroplane case.
| Questions | 50 |
|---|---|
| Time allowed | 3 hours |
| Pass mark | 70% |
| Scored by subject area | No — a single mark |
Source: Transport Canada TP 691E — Seventeenth Edition, 2013. Verified 19 September 2026.
How it is scored
The INRAT carries a single mark of 70%. Transport Canada's guide does not divide it into mandatory subject areas, so there is no partial pass — one result against the pass mark.
What it covers
- Air Law and Procedures
- Navigation and Radio Aids
- Meteorology
- Instrument Flight Procedures
Booking and exam day
- Booking
Ask an Authorized Examination Invigilator (AEI) near you whether they can give the exam. If none can, book it at a Transport Canada Centre with TC's online booking tool: have your pilot licence or file number ready (a file number begins 5802), choose the exam, location and date, attest that you meet the eligibility criteria, and pay. To be refunded, cancel at least 3 business days before the exam.
Transport Canada, How to book a flight crew exam- Aeroplane version
The INRAT comes in aeroplane and helicopter versions; book the aeroplane one. "The category of aircraft used on the initial flight test must match the category of aircraft specified on the INRAT examination."
TP 691E, Instrument Type Rating Examination (INRAT)
- Fee
Transport Canada's fee table lists $35 to write or rewrite an exam for a flight crew permit, rating or endorsement, such as the INRAT. Fees may change with inflation every 1 April, so confirm the amount when you book, and if an AEI gives your exam, ask them what you will pay. The fee is lost if you sit an exam without meeting its eligibility criteria.
Transport Canada, How to book a flight crew exam, Fees and service standards- Photo ID and medical
Photo identification "bearing the signature and photograph of the candidate" (a passport, aviation document booklet or driver's licence, for example) and proof of medical fitness: a Medical Certificate in the appropriate category (a temporary certificate also counts). Without them you will not be allowed to write, and the fee is not refunded.
Standard 421.13(1)–(2); Transport Canada, How to book a flight crew exam
- Letter of recommendation
Not needed for the INRAT.
TP 691E, Examination Prerequisites; Standard 421.13(3)
- Instrument time
Your logbook or pilot training record, showing "a minimum of 5 hours of instrument flight or ground time". TP 691E (2013) still says 20 hours; the standard was amended on 10 October 2024.
Standard 421.13(4)(d); Transport Canada, How to book a flight crew exam
- In the exam room
Bring a pencil and a flight computer for the navigation questions. A calculator's memory is cleared before and after the exam in front of the invigilator, and an electronic flight computer must be one the Minister has approved. Unless the invigilator allows it, any other aid, notes or help fails the exam, and you "may not take any other examination for a period of one year".
TP 691E, Materials Required; CARs 400.02
- Results
The same day, with feedback on the areas that need improvement.
Transport Canada, How to book a flight crew exam- Rewriting
After a first failure you wait 14 days to rewrite; after a second, 30 days; after a third, 60 days, and 30 more for each failure after that, to a maximum of 180 days. Transport Canada shortens the wait on request once it has confirmation that you have reviewed your weak knowledge areas.
CARs 400.04(1), (6)
- 24-month limit
Written exams, "including all sections of a sectionalized examination", must be completed "during the 24-month period preceding the date of the application" for the licence or rating. Every part your application relies on, supplementaries included, has to fall inside that window.
CARs 400.03(1)
Checked against the CARs, Standard 421 and Transport Canada on 4 October 2026.
Topics on the INRAT, explained
Common questions
What is the INRAT pass mark?
70%. Unlike the PPAER and CPAER, the guide does not sectionalize the INRAT into mandatory subject areas, so it is carried as a single mark.
How long is the INRAT?
50 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours — a generous allowance that most candidates do not use in full.
Is there a partial pass on the INRAT?
No. Because the exam is not sectionalized, there is a single result against the 70% mark.
How do I book the INRAT?
Ask an Authorized Examination Invigilator (AEI) near you first; if none can give it, book a Transport Canada Centre with TC's online booking tool, using your pilot licence or file number. Choose the aeroplane version: its category must match the aircraft on your initial flight test (TP 691E). Transport Canada's fee table lists $35 for a rating exam; if an AEI gives the exam, ask them what you will pay.
Transport Canada: How to book a flight crew examWhat do I need to bring to the INRAT?
Photo identification, proof of medical fitness, and your logbook showing at least 5 hours of instrument flight or ground time (Standard 421.13(4)(d)). No letter of recommendation is needed (TP 691E).
How soon can I rewrite the INRAT?
14 days after a first failure, 30 after a second, then 30 more for each further failure, up to 180 days (CARs 400.04(1)). Transport Canada shortens the wait on request once it has confirmation that you have reviewed your weak areas (CARs 400.04(6)).
Practise the INRAT the way it is scored
The Instrument Rating course ($99 CAD, one-time, for 3 months) has 6 chapters of notes cited to the CARs and TC AIM, and 7 full-length mock exams.
Other exam guides
TC Exam Prep is independent and not affiliated with Transport Canada. Specifications are quoted from the study and reference guide linked above and were correct on 19 September 2026 — confirm current details with your flight training unit before booking.