IA Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the IA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
IA exam key facts
- The IA does not announce passing scores before an exam; depending on the exam, the passing score typically ranges between 70% and 75%. Source
- IA candidates must wait 90 days before retaking an exam and may test no more than three times in two years, after which they must wait one year to re-apply. Source
📋 IA Exam Format at a Glance
📚 IA Topics to Study (22)
✍️ Sample IA Questions & Answers
1. Net Positive Suction Head Available (NPSHa) must always be:
NPSHa must exceed NPSHr by at least 2–3 feet of safety margin to ensure the pump does not cavitate.
2. Which backflow prevention assembly provides the highest level of protection against both back-pressure and back-siphonage?
The RPZ assembly provides the highest mechanical protection because it maintains a zone of reduced pressure between two check valves and vents any backflow to the atmosphere via a relief valve.
3. A zone fails to activate but others work fine. What is the likely cause?
If only one irrigation zone fails to activate while all other zones function correctly, the most likely cause is a localized electrical issue specific to that zone. This typically points to a broken wire preventing the electrical signal from reaching the valve, or a faulty solenoid on that particular valve that cannot open even if it receives power.
4. What is the definition of a cross-connection?
A cross-connection is any physical link between a potable water system and any source that could introduce contaminants into the drinking water supply.
5. Total Dynamic Head (TDH) in a pump system is the sum of which components?
TDH = static head + friction head losses + velocity head + any pressure required at the point of delivery, representing total energy the pump must supply.
6. What is the purpose of the 'pump start relay' output on an irrigation controller?
The pump start relay (PSR) output sends a 24 VAC signal to an external relay, which in turn switches line voltage to the pump motor whenever irrigation is active.
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An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length IA mock exam — 100 questions in 180 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
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- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
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How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- irrigation.org — Exam format, time limit, eligibility, test delivery, passing score, registration deadline, retake policy, exam information · verified Oct 2026