- The FAA's CY2025 volume report shows 2,751 IGI administrations, a 99.71% passing rate, and a 93.11% average score.
- That figure is a 2025 administration-level result, not a 2026 rate and not a first-attempt-only rate.
- The IGI test is 50 questions in 150 minutes with a 70% passing score; the timer is not 2 hours.
- Initial IGI testing needs no instructor endorsement, but retesting after failure requires the failed report and an endorsement.
What the FAA Numbers Actually Say
If you are searching for the Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI) pass rate, the best available answer comes from the FAA itself. The agency publishes an annual Airman Knowledge Test Volume Report, and the calendar year 2025 edition lists the Ground Instructor Instrument test (test code IGI) with three headline figures:
| Metric (CY2025, FAA Volume Report) | IGI Result |
|---|---|
| Test administrations | 2,751 |
| Passing rate | 99.71% |
| Average score | 93.11% |
Put simply, nearly every administration of the IGI knowledge test in 2025 ended in a pass, and the average score sat roughly 23 percentage points above the 70% passing threshold. That is a remarkably strong signal, and it is why the IGI is generally treated as one of the more approachable FAA knowledge tests. For a deeper look at perceived difficulty, see our guide on how hard the IGI exam really is.
How to Read a 99.71% Pass Rate
A number that high invites two opposite mistakes: assuming the test is trivial, or assuming the statistic must be wrong. Neither is the right conclusion. Here is how to interpret it responsibly.
It counts administrations, not people
The FAA report tallies test administrations. That means each sitting is a data point. The report figure is not a measure of how many individual applicants passed on their first attempt. A candidate who failed once and passed on a second sitting would show up as two administrations. Because of this, you cannot translate 99.71% into "99.71% of people pass on the first try." The first-attempt pass rate is simply not what this report publishes.
The candidate pool is self-selected
Who takes the IGI test? Largely people who already hold an instrument rating or are deep into instrument training, along with aviation students, working instructors adding a rating, and professionals who already know the material from daily flying. These applicants have already worked through IFR regulations, charts, weather, and procedures. When a test population arrives pre-trained, a high pass rate is the expected result rather than evidence that the questions are easy.
The 70% bar is modest, and the average is far above it
The FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix sets the IGI passing score at 70%. With a 93.11% average score, the typical candidate clears the bar by a wide margin. If you want the exact scoring rules, our page on the IGI passing score breaks them down.
Key Takeaway
Treat the pass rate as reassurance about the exam's reasonableness, not as permission to skip preparation. The people producing that 93.11% average were mostly well prepared, and you should aim to look like them.
What the Data Does Not Show
Responsible use of a statistic means knowing its edges. The FAA volume report does not tell you several things that candidates often assume it does:
- First-attempt pass rate. Not published for the IGI test in this report.
- Pass rate by study method. No data links results to any course, app, or prep provider.
- Score distribution by domain. The report gives an overall average, not a breakdown by subject area.
- A 2026 figure. The 2025 report is the most recent full-year series referenced here.
- Comparisons to other credentials. The IGI result applies only to the Ground Instructor Instrument test. It says nothing about the Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) test, the Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane (FII) test, the Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI) test, or Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI).
That last point matters for naming. Several unrelated credentials and industries also use the letters "IGI." This article is exclusively about the FAA's Instrument Ground Instructor knowledge test and rating. If you want a primer on the term itself, see what IGI is and what IGI stands for.
Why the IGI Test Is Passable: Format and Rules
Part of the reason the statistics look the way they do is the structure of the test. The FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix specifies the following for the IGI:
| Feature | IGI Test Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 50, excluding any unscored validation items |
| Time allowed | 150 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Format | Computer-delivered, multiple choice |
| Minimum testing age | 16 |
| Testing provider | PSI, at authorized knowledge-testing centers |
| Voucher price (PSI-published) | US$175 plus applicable tax |
A few clarifications are worth making here, because competitor pages sometimes get them wrong.
The time limit is 150 minutes
Some prep sites list a 2-hour timer. The FAA matrix says 150 minutes, which is two and a half hours. For 50 questions, that works out to an average of three minutes per question, a generous pace that leaves room for chart interpretation and a final review pass.
"50 questions" means 50 scored questions
The matrix lists 50 questions excluding any unscored validation items. The FAA does not state in that table how many additional unscored items might appear, so do not assume a specific number. Practically, treat every question as if it counts, because you cannot tell which ones, if any, are unscored.
Cost context
The US$175 figure is PSI's published voucher price for the FAA knowledge test, plus applicable tax. It is the cost of the test sitting itself, not a course price and not the total cost of anything else you may need, such as a separately required FOI test. For the full financial picture, read our IGI certification cost breakdown.
What you can bring
Under the test-aid rules in FAA Order 8080.6H, Conduct of Airman Knowledge Tests (chapter 3), approved calculators and navigation aids are permitted, subject to memory clearing and proctor approval, along with the testing supplement the FAA supplies. Outside study materials are prohibited. For the IGI, the FAA table identifies the FAA-CT-8080-3F testing supplement, so practicing with that supplement's figures and charts before test day is time well spent.
Where Candidates Still Lose Points
With a 99.71% passing rate, failures are rare, but the 93.11% average still implies that most candidates miss a handful of questions. Where do those misses tend to come from? The IGI test draws on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in 14 CFR 61.65(b), which are statutory headings rather than a published weighted blueprint. The FAA does not publish percentage weights for them on the IGI, so we do not assign any here. For a complete walkthrough of each area, see our IGI exam domains guide. The areas below are the ones where careful preparation pays off most, based on how the material is built rather than on any published miss-rate data.
Domain 1 and 2: IFR Regulations and the Aeronautical Information Manual
These areas reward precise recall of IFR rules and AIM guidance. Candidates who flew IFR but never studied the regulatory text can be surprised by wording-specific questions.
- IFR operating requirements and equipment/currency expectations in the regulations
- AIM procedures that apply to instrument flight operations
- Knowing the difference between what is required and what is merely recommended
Domain 3: Air Traffic Control System and Procedures
Expect scenario-style questions on clearances, communications, and procedural handling in the instrument environment.
- Clearance structure and what each element authorizes
- Radio communication and lost-communication logic for IFR flight
- How ATC procedures shape instrument departures, en route, and arrivals
Domain 4 and 5: Navigation, Approaches, and Chart Use
This is the most supplement-dependent territory. You will interpret figures from the FAA testing supplement, so familiarity with chart symbology and approach plate layout matters.
- IFR navigation using navigation systems
- Reading en route charts and instrument approach procedure charts
- Minimums, missed approach points, and procedure-specific notes
Domain 6 and 8: Weather Reports, Forecasts, and Critical Weather
Weather questions combine decoding skills with judgment. Recognizing hazardous conditions and windshear avoidance is explicitly part of the knowledge areas.
- Procuring and using aviation weather reports and forecasts
- Forecasting weather trends from reports and personal observation
- Recognizing critical weather situations and windshear avoidance
Domain 7, 9, and 10: Operations, Judgment, and Crew Coordination
These areas test applied thinking: safe and efficient operation under instrument flight rules and conditions, aeronautical decision making, and crew resource management including communication and coordination.
- Decision-making frameworks applied to instrument scenarios
- Crew communication and coordination principles
- Operating safely and efficiently in instrument conditions
If You Fail: Retest Mechanics
The pass rate is high, but contingency planning is cheap. The rules differ sharply between an initial attempt and a retest:
| Situation | What You Need |
|---|---|
| Initial IGI attempt | An FAA Tracking Number (FTN) from IACRA and acceptable identification; no instructor endorsement or other written authorization |
| Retest after failing | The failed Airman Knowledge Test Report plus the required instructor training/proficiency endorsement |
The practical takeaway: the first sitting is administratively simple, while a retest adds a documentation and endorsement step. That asymmetry is a good reason to arrive fully prepared the first time rather than "testing the waters." Our IGI requirements guide covers eligibility and prerequisites in more detail.
A Domain-Ordered Prep Plan
You do not need an elaborate system for a test with this profile, but sequencing helps. The logic below orders the ten knowledge areas so that foundational material comes before the areas that depend on it. Adjust the timeline to your experience level, and see our full IGI study guide for expanded methods.
Regulations and the AIM (Domains 1 and 2)
- Read the IFR-relevant regulations and AIM sections
- Note required-versus-recommended distinctions
ATC and Navigation (Domains 3 and 4)
- Work through clearances and communication procedures
- Review navigation systems used for IFR flight
Charts and Weather (Domains 5, 6, and 8)
- Practice with FAA-CT-8080-3F supplement figures
- Decode reports and forecasts; review critical weather and windshear
Operations, ADM, and CRM (Domains 7, 9, and 10) plus Full Practice
- Apply decision-making and crew coordination concepts to scenarios
- Take timed practice sets, then review every miss
Why this order? Charts and weather rely on understanding the regulations and ATC procedures behind them, and the judgment-based areas work best when you already have the technical vocabulary. Finish with timed practice so the 150-minute pacing feels natural. You can run timed sets on our IGI practice test site, and our IGI cheat sheet works well as a last-day review.
Pass Rate vs. Credential Value
A high pass rate tells you the test is attainable. It does not tell you what the rating is worth, and those are separate questions.
The certificate does not expire, but currency does
Under 14 CFR 61.19(e), ground instructor certificates are issued without an expiration date. However, exercising the privileges requires meeting the recent-experience alternatives in 14 CFR 61.217 within the preceding 12 calendar months. Those alternatives include qualifying ground-instructor activity, qualifying flight-instructor activity, an approved flight instructor refresher course, or an authorized-instructor proficiency endorsement. Permanence of the certificate is not the same as instructional currency, and there is no fixed CEU requirement.
Eligibility goes beyond the test
Passing the knowledge test is one element. Under 14 CFR 61.213, certificate eligibility requires age 18, the specified English proficiency, the applicable aeronautical-knowledge examination, and FOI knowledge unless exempt. FOI exemptions include holders of a ground or flight instructor certificate, qualifying teaching certificates permitting teaching at grade 7 or higher, and teachers employed at accredited colleges or universities. Notably, section 61.213 does not impose a pilot certificate, flight-time minimum, or practical flight test for this ground instructor rating. The privileges concern instrument ground instruction and applicable endorsements, not flight instruction.
Value depends on your goals
We do not cite a credential-specific salary premium because no verified one exists in the sources we rely on, and earnings for ground instruction depend heavily on employer, region, and workload. If you are weighing return on effort, our IGI ROI analysis and salary guide separate the rating itself from broader ground-instructor job pay, and our IGI jobs overview looks at where the rating is used.
Key Takeaway
The 99.71% rate answers "can I pass?" with a confident yes for a prepared candidate. It does not answer "should I pursue this?" Make that decision on your instructional goals, not on the statistic.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAA's CY2025 Airman Knowledge Test Volume Report records 2,751 IGI test administrations with a 99.71% passing rate and a 93.11% average score. This is a 2025 administration-level result, not a 2026 figure and not a first-attempt-only rate.
The most recent full-year series referenced here is CY2025. Treat it as the best current indicator, and check the FAA's test statistics page for newer volume reports as they are released.
The FAA testing matrix lists 50 questions, excluding any unscored validation items, with 150 minutes allowed and a 70% passing score. The exact number of any additional unscored items is not established by the table.
Not for an initial attempt; you need an FAA Tracking Number through IACRA and acceptable identification. A retest after failure requires the failed Airman Knowledge Test Report and the required instructor training/proficiency endorsement.
No. The rate reflects a largely pre-trained candidate pool, and the 93.11% average shows that most people still miss some questions. Prepare across all ten knowledge areas and practice with the FAA testing supplement, starting with our pass rate resources and a timed run on the IGI practice test.