Most candidates who fail the INRAT don't fail because they didn't know the material. They fail because they showed up unprepared for the process itself — wrong ID, wrong expectations, wrong mindset. The exam centre is not a classroom. It has rules, and Transport Canada enforces them.
Here's exactly what you need to know before you walk through that door. For a full overview of the exam format, content, and scoring, see what to expect on the INRAT written exam.
What ID Is Accepted
Transport Canada requires two pieces of identification. One must be government-issued with a photo. Your pilot licence alone does not count as primary ID.
Acceptable primary photo ID:
- Canadian passport
- Provincial driver's licence
- Provincial photo ID card
- Permanent Resident card
Acceptable secondary ID (no photo required):
- Credit or debit card with your name
- Student card
- Health card (in provinces where it can be shown)
- Signed pilot licence or student pilot permit
The names on both pieces of ID must match each other and your exam booking exactly. If you recently changed your name and your ID is inconsistent, sort that out before you book.
What You Can Bring In
Short answer: almost nothing.
The INRAT is a closed-book exam. Here is what is explicitly allowed:
- Your ID (they verify it at the front desk, you don't keep it at your station)
- A non-programmable scientific calculator — TC allows this for the INRAT
- Earplugs if the testing centre permits them (ask ahead)
Here is what is not allowed:
- CFS (Canada Flight Supplement) — not permitted for the INRAT
- AIM (Aeronautical Information Manual) — not permitted
- Any paper notes or study sheets
- Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, or any wireless device
- Programmable calculators
- Food or drinks at the workstation (policies vary — ask when you arrive)
Some candidates assume that because open-book references are allowed for certain TC exams, they're allowed for all of them. They're not. The INRAT is closed-book. Do not bring your CFS expecting to use it.
How the Exam Centre Works
You'll check in at the front desk, show your two pieces of ID, sign in, and be escorted to a workstation. The exam is delivered on a computer — there is no paper version for the INRAT in the modern TC system.
The interface is straightforward: questions appear one at a time, you select from four multiple-choice options, and you can flag questions to review later. There is a navigation panel that shows you which questions you've answered, which you've skipped, and which you've flagged.
The clock counts down from 3 hours. Most candidates finish in 60 to 90 minutes. If you're taking close to 3 hours, that's a sign you're second-guessing yourself too much — a problem worth addressing in practice before exam day.
Before You Start
The proctor will explain the interface and rules before the clock starts. Pay attention. Ask if anything is unclear. Once the exam begins, you can't ask questions about how the system works — only technical issues (screen freezing, etc.) can be raised mid-exam.
During the Exam
Answer every question, even if you're unsure. There is no penalty for wrong answers. Flag questions you want to revisit and keep moving. Don't spend 4 minutes on a single question on the first pass.
What to Do When You Finish Early
Review your flagged questions. Then do a full scan of every question you answered quickly — especially anything involving altimetry, holds, or weather minima. These are the areas where careless reading causes the most damage.
When you're satisfied, submit. The result appears on screen immediately. You'll receive a printed score report at the desk. Keep it — you'll need to show it when you apply for your IFR rating.
If you pass, the proctor will give you a passing grade letter or stamp. If you fail, you'll see a breakdown by subject area. TC requires a 30-day waiting period before you can rewrite.
Logistics: The Day Before and Morning Of
Confirm your appointment time the day before. Exam centres sometimes have cancellations or scheduling changes. Arriving 15 minutes early is reasonable — don't show up 5 minutes before your slot and expect a smooth check-in.
Get sleep. The INRAT is not a memory test you can brute-force on caffeine. The questions require you to reason through scenarios: holds, approaches, weather interpretation, airspace. A tired brain makes bad decisions about whether a published ceiling is in statute miles or RVR.
Eat something. Low blood sugar affects reading comprehension and focus. You have 3 hours — use them without crashing halfway through.
Mindset Going In
The INRAT is a 100-question multiple-choice exam. You need 70 correct answers to pass. That means you can get 30 questions wrong and still walk out with a pass. That's a lot of margin.
Candidates who struggle usually fall into one of two patterns: they haven't studied enough subject areas (especially airspace and weather), or they understand the concepts but haven't drilled enough questions to recognize TC's phrasing. Both are solvable problems before exam day. The INRAT practice area question guide covers the specific question styles that trip candidates up most often.
When you sit down, the goal is not to ace it — the goal is to pass. Read questions twice. Eliminate obvious wrong answers. Don't change your first instinct unless you have a clear reason to.
For a full breakdown of the exam content and scoring, read INRAT Written Exam: What to Expect. For how long to spend studying before you book, see How Long to Prepare for the INRAT.
Practice Under Exam Conditions
The best way to prepare for the INRAT is timed practice with real TC-style questions. IFRTEST.ca gives you 100-question mock exams, instant answer explanations, and progress tracking by subject area.
Try Free Demo