An information recording apparatus controls a recording power to be optimal without using a high-rate sampling circuit even when a recording condition changes. A laser diode emits a light at a first optical amount value and a second optical amount value greater than the first value. The light emitted by the laser diode is irradiated onto an optical disc. A signal level value of the reflected light is detected by a sample hold circuit or a low-pass filter, and one of the outputs of the low-pass filter and the signal hold circuit is selected in accordance with an instruction for selection. The sample hold circuit detects the signal level value of a sampled reflected light. The low-pass filter outputs an average value of the signal level value. A drive current driving the laser diode is adjusted by comparing the signal level values before recording information and after starting information recording.