Well, it’s official—I passed the FAA Instrument Rating Written Test! Not with a perfect score, but with a “good enough” grade to make sure it won’t be a problem during the check ride oral. My CFII made it clear that while the passing score is 70%, anything below 90% could invite some extra scrutiny from the FAA Designated Examiner (DPE). So, I aimed for a solid, stress-free margin, and Sporty’s pulled me across the finish line.

How I Studied (A.K.A. How I Overcomplicated This Process)

Like any rational person (or pilot), I decided that one course wasn’t enough. No, I needed a full-stack approach to over-preparing. Here’s what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently.

Flight Insight Instrument Rating Ground School

I started with Flight Insight’s IFR ground school, taught by Dan George, whose teaching style I really liked. His explanations are clear, engaging, and well-structured. However, the course has some content gaps—notably in weather, which is kind of an important topic in IFR (just a little). Also, the written test prep tools are limited, both in the number of practice questions and the ways you can drill problem areas.

✅ Pros: Great explanations, easy to follow, good video content.

❌ Cons: Lacks depth in some areas, weak test prep tools.

ASA Instrument Rating Test Prep (2023-24 Edition)

Realizing I needed more structure, I picked up the ASA Instrument Rating Test Prep book. This book is great—well-organized, covers all the required topics, and includes online test access via Prepware. The question bank is solid, and the explanations are clear.

That said, it lacks adaptive learning tools—there’s no way to focus on your weak areas based on missed questions. I had five practice tests included with my book, but I later found out that the 2025-26 edition includes unlimited tests (cue mild frustration).

✅ Pros: Well-written, well-organized, good question database.

❌ Cons: No tools to focus on weak areas, limited number of practice tests in older editions.

Sporty’s IFR Ground School – The Final Push to 90+%

After going through Flight Insight and ASA, I realized I needed better test-taking tools, so I finally took the plunge and got Sporty’s IFR Ground School. My main reason? Their adaptive test prep system.

Sporty’s lets you drill down into weak areas, retake only the questions you missed, and even customize practice sessions based on specific knowledge gaps. This was exactly what I needed, and I’m convinced it’s what pushed me over 90% on the test.

✅ Pros: Best test prep tools, adaptive question review, great check ride prep features.

❌ Cons: More expensive, but worth it if you want higher scores.

Final Thoughts

Would I recommend this approach? Not exactly. If I were to do it again, I’d probably start with Sporty’s and supplement it with ASA’s book. Flight Insight is still a great video course, but it alone wouldn’t have gotten me there.

Now, with the written test behind me, it’s time to focus on actual IFR flying and check ride prep. I still need to complete Stage II and Stage III of my IFR training, so there’s plenty of work ahead before I’m check ride-ready. But at least now, when that day comes, I won’t have to worry about the DPE grilling me on my written test score. The real fun begins when the foggles come out.