Most Common Oral Exam Topics
Based on reports from pilots who completed their Instrument Rating checkride, these topics came up most frequently during the oral portion:
- Lost communication procedures (91.185)
- Weather products, briefings, and interpretation
- Approach plate and chart reading — symbology, minimums, and notes
- Alternate airport requirements and fuel planning
- Instrument system failures (pitot-static, vacuum, G5/avionics)
- Airworthiness and required inspections (SPARROW / required documents)
- GPS and navigation system knowledge
- Climb gradients, VDPs, and departure procedures
- IFR regulations — currency, logging, and recency
- NOTAMs and TFRs for planned routes
What to Expect on the Flight
The flight portion of the IFR checkride almost always includes multiple approaches — typically three, mixing precision and non-precision types. Expect at least one ILS, one GPS or RNAV approach, and often a VOR approach. Several reports mention partial panel work being introduced mid-approach with little warning, including simulated G5 or vacuum failures and glideslope loss scenarios. If your DPE can simulate it, assume they will.
Hold entries, procedure turn entries, and missed approach procedures are standard fare. Multiple pilots reported that examiners played the role of ATC during the flight, issuing clearances or amendments to test your ability to copy, read back, and comply in real time. Altitude discipline is critical — several reports mention that busting an altitude or a minimums callout nearly ended the ride. Unusual attitudes under the hood also appear frequently.
DPE tendencies vary, but the common thread is that examiners want to see you manage workload calmly and make sound decisions — not just fly the needles. Several reports highlight that examiners introduced distractions or curveballs (unexpected runway changes, sudden weather discussions, approach plate questions mid-flight) specifically to test your ability to prioritize. Precision on landings after approaches matters more than you might think, especially with certain examiners.
Preparation Tips from Pilots Who Passed
- Know lost comm procedures (91.185) inside and out — be able to walk through the route, altitude, and clearance logic for any scenario the DPE throws at you. This is the single most tested oral topic in these reports.
- Brief every approach plate in detail before the checkride, including notes, minimums, missed approach procedures, and any inoperative component notes. Multiple pilots reported being asked to interpret plates on the spot during both oral and flight portions.
- Practice partial panel flying until it feels routine — several DPEs simulate instrument failures mid-approach without warning, including glideslope failures and glass panel shutdowns.
- Prepare a thorough nav log and weight & balance before you show up. At least one pilot's oral was derailed by an incomplete weight and balance form, and fuel planning questions come up repeatedly.
- When answering oral questions, give thorough explanations rather than minimum responses. Multiple reports note that DPEs follow up aggressively on vague answers, and some specifically reward pilots who demonstrate depth of understanding.
- Write everything down during the flight — clearances, frequencies, altitudes. Several pilots credit good note-taking habits with keeping them out of trouble when examiners introduced distractions or amended clearances.
- Review your aircraft's specific avionics and systems — especially if you fly with a G5 or GPS navigator. DPEs ask pointed questions about how your installed equipment works, its failure modes, and what becomes inoperative when components fail.
- Set and commit to personal minimums before the ride. At least two reports mention examiners specifically asking about personal minimums, and one pilot regretted not being firm about weather limits during the checkride itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
A lot. Lost comms showed up in more reports than almost any other single topic. Expect detailed scenario-based questions — not just 'recite 91.185' but 'you're here, at this altitude, with this last clearance — what do you do and why?' Practice walking through multiple scenarios with different variables until your reasoning is automatic.
Almost certainly. Partial panel flying — whether from a simulated vacuum failure, G5 shutdown, or glideslope loss — appears across a large number of these reports. Several pilots were caught off guard because the failure was introduced mid-approach with no warning. Practice partial panel approaches until you can fly them without a significant increase in workload.
Most reports describe three approaches during the flight portion, typically a mix of ILS, GPS/RNAV, and VOR approaches. Some examiners add holds or procedure turns between approaches. Be ready for at least one missed approach that you'll need to execute cleanly.
The majority of reports describe scenario-based oral exams. DPEs build on your cross-country flight plan and ask 'what if' questions — what if you lost comms here, what if weather dropped below minimums there, what if this navaid went out. Some examiners start with rote regulatory questions and then shift to scenarios, but pure memorization alone won't carry you.
Both matter equally based on these reports. Examiners test plate interpretation during the oral — asking about symbology, minimums with inoperative components, and missed approach details — and then expect you to apply that knowledge precisely during the flight. Pilots who thoroughly briefed their plates beforehand consistently reported smoother rides.
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Get your free DPE brief → Browse gougesContent generated from 53 pilot gouges in the Gouge Hub database. Updated periodically as new reports are submitted.