The invention discloses a method for preparing 3-aminomethyl-3, 5, 5-trimethyl cyclohexylamine (isophorone diamine, IPDA) by 3-cyano-3, 5, 5-trimethyl cyclohexanone (IPN, isophorone nitrile), which comprises the following steps: a) 3-cyano-3, 5, 5-trimethyl cyclohexanone and oxyammonia are arranged in an organic solvent for reaction under a temperature ranging from 40 DEG C to 80 DEG C, and 3-cyano-3, 5, 5-trimethyl cyclohexanone oxime is generated; b) 3-cyano-3, 5, 5-trimethyl cyclohexanone oxime, hydrogen and liquid ammonia are arranged in an organic solvent for reaction under a temperature ranging from 50 DEG C to 120 DEG C, a total pressure ranging from 5 MPa to 15 MPa and the effect of a hydrogenation catalyst, and 3-aminomethyl-3, 5, 5-trimethyl cyclohexylamine is obtained. The method has the advantages that, the production of a by-product 3-aminomethyl-3, 5, 5-trimethyl cyclohexanol (IPAA) which is hard to be separated from IPDA is avoided; simultaneously, the amount of liquid ammonia is largely decreased.