An apparatus and method for controlling an internal combustion engine can perform exact timing control for ignition timing, fuel injection timing and the like in an inexpensive manner. A crank angle sensing means 20 generates a crank angle signal .theta. comprising a series of successive pulses in synchronization with the rotation of the engine. A cylinder pressure sensor 21 senses an internal pressure in at least one of cylinders of the engine and generates a corresponding cylinder pressure signal P. A pressure peak detecting means 42 detects a peak in the internal pressure in the at least one cylinder during an engine cranking cycle. A reference position setter 43 sets as a reference position the crank angle signal at the instant when the pressure peak in the at least one cylinder is detected. A control timing setter 44 includes a position counter for counting the number of pulses in the crank angle signal. The counter is reset in response to an occurrence to the reference position. The control timing setter is operable to set a control time Ta corresponding to a control timing for each of the cylinders on the basis of a counted value of the counter. With this arrangement, the crank angle sensing means 20 generates no reference signal and hence can be simplified.