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About this exam

The CASA Instrument Rating Examination (IREX) is the written knowledge test that CASA sets for pilots seeking an instrument rating in Australia. It is aimed at pilots who already hold a licence and want the privileges that let them fly under the instrument flight rules - in cloud, at night under IMC, and on instrument approach procedures. The syllabus is organised into four equally weighted areas: instrument flight rules and procedures; meteorology for instrument flight; navigation and radio navigation aids; and flight planning, performance and loading. Each area carries 25 per cent, so the exam rewards balanced preparation rather than deep specialisation in one topic. Candidates typically prepare through a flying school or self-study course, working through the CASA instrument rating syllabus, the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations, the Aeronautical Information Publication and current charts, then sitting practice papers under timed conditions before booking the real exam. Because the exam tests applied judgement as well as recall, the most effective preparation combines question practice with actual flight planning exercises, weather interpretation from real forecasts, and approach chart briefings. Note that this page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by CASA. Always confirm exam format, fees, booking procedures and current syllabus requirements directly with CASA or your flight training provider before you book.

What you'll study

Common questions

About CASA IREX preparation

What does the IREX actually test?

It tests the knowledge needed to operate under the instrument flight rules. CASA's published syllabus splits into four equally weighted areas: IFR rules and procedures, instrument meteorology, navigation and radio navigation aids, and flight planning, performance and loading. Expect applied questions - reading forecasts, planning approaches, computing performance - rather than pure definitions.

How hard is the IREX compared with other CASA exams?

Most candidates find it more demanding than the private pilot written because it assumes solid foundations and adds weather decision-making, approach procedure interpretation and performance calculations. Difficulty is mostly about breadth: four equally weighted areas means you cannot carry a weak topic with strength elsewhere. Structured study over several weeks beats cramming.

How should I order my study?

Start with IFR rules and procedures so the regulatory framework makes sense, then meteorology, because forecast interpretation underpins every flight-planning decision. Move to navigation aids once you understand the airspace structure, and finish with flight planning and performance, which draws on all three. Practise mixed question sets at the end to simulate the real exam.

What are the most common failure modes?

Candidates most often lose marks on weather interpretation - misreading forecasts and trend information - and on performance calculations where a unit or an assumption is wrong. Others underestimate radio navigation aids, assuming GPS knowledge covers everything. Weakness in one of four equally weighted areas is enough to pull the overall result below a pass.

How long is the exam and what is the pass mark?

We could not verify the current duration, question count, pass mark or fee from CASA's published pages at the time of writing, so we have not stated figures. Confirm these directly with CASA or your flight training organisation before booking, as exam formats are revised periodically and older figures circulating in study groups may be out of date.

What happens if I fail - can I resit?

CASA sets the retake rules, and we could not confirm the current policy from the source material, so check directly with CASA. In practice, most candidates who fail do so on one specific area; review your result, rebuild that area, and avoid rebooking immediately without further study, since a second attempt with the same gaps usually repeats the outcome.

Which documents should I have open while studying?

The current Aeronautical Information Publication, the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations and the applicable manuals of standards, current en route and terminal charts, and the CASA instrument rating syllabus. Practise with real forecasts and actual approach plates rather than simplified textbook examples - the exam questions are written against current operational documents.

Is this page an official CASA resource?

No. This is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by CASA. We have not reproduced any official question bank. Use this material alongside the official syllabus and your instructor's guidance, and verify all administrative details - fees, booking, format and validity - with CASA before you rely on them.