The TP 691E is Transport Canada's official study and reference guide for the INRAT. It's free, it covers every topic on the exam, and most candidates either don't read it or read it the wrong way. Here's what's actually in it and how to use it properly.
What the TP 691E is
TP 691E (the "E" is the English edition) is a Transport Canada publication that covers all 13 subject areas tested on the INRAT. It's not a textbook and it's not comprehensive aviation theory — it's a study guide written specifically for this exam. The content maps directly to what Transport Canada expects candidates to know.
You can download it as a PDF from the Transport Canada website at no cost. It's the official source. Every other study material for the INRAT is either derived from it, supplementing it, or in some cases contradicting it (usually because it's FAA-based content that doesn't apply to Canada).
What's actually in it
The guide covers all 13 INRAT categories. Some sections are dense and technical (instrument approaches, meteorology); others are relatively short (human factors, communications). The depth of each section roughly corresponds to how heavily that topic is tested.
Notably, the TP 691E includes sample questions at the end of each section. These aren't the actual exam questions, but the format and difficulty level are representative. Working through the sample questions as you finish each section is one of the better uses of the document.
How most people read it wrong
The most common mistake is treating the TP 691E as something to memorize. It's not. The exam doesn't ask you to recite definitions — it asks you to apply concepts. A question about two-way comm failure isn't testing whether you remembered the page number for 7600 procedures. It's testing whether you actually understand the sequence of actions and can apply it to a specific scenario.
Reading for memorization also tends to make candidates skip the parts they find confusing. That's exactly backwards. The confusing sections are the ones that need the most attention. If holding entry geometry or GFA analysis makes your eyes glaze over, that's a signal to slow down, not to skip it and hope it doesn't come up.
How to actually use it
Read it once, straight through, before doing any practice questions
Don't stop to memorize. Read for understanding. You want a mental model of each category before you start testing yourself. Jumping straight to practice questions without reading the guide first means you're guessing rather than reasoning, and you'll learn slower as a result.
Work the sample questions at the end of each section
Do them with the section fresh in your mind. When you get one wrong, go back to the relevant part of the section and find out why. This is more useful than any amount of re-reading.
Use practice questions to identify where your understanding breaks down
After your first read-through, run a set of practice questions across all categories. Your score by category will show you which parts of the TP 691E you understood and which ones you only thought you understood. Go back to those sections in the guide, re-read them with the specific type of question you're getting wrong in mind, and drill that category again.
Keep it open when reviewing wrong answers
Every wrong answer is a pointer to a specific part of the TP 691E. When you miss a question on departure procedures or instrument systems, find the relevant section, read it again, and understand exactly what you got wrong. This is slower than just noting the right answer and moving on — and significantly more effective.
What the TP 691E won't do
Reading the guide is necessary but not enough on its own. Two things require practice that the document can't provide.
GFAs and aeronautical charts. You can read descriptions of how to interpret them, but the skill only develops by actually working through real charts and checking your interpretations against known answers. If you haven't spent time with real GFAs before exam day, those questions will cost you marks.
Timed exam simulation. The TP 691E prepares you for the content of the exam. It doesn't prepare you for sitting focused for three hours, managing time across 50 questions, or the specific pressure of watching the clock. Run at least two full timed simulations before you book. For realistic prep timelines, see how long to prepare for the INRAT.
Pair the TP 691E with real practice questions
476 INRAT questions with category tracking, timed exam mode, and explanations for every answer. Built for Transport Canada — not the FAA.
Try Free →