Meteorology
Meteorology questions test the physics of the atmosphere and the interpretation of reports and forecasts. Understand the standard atmosphere, lapse rates, stability and instability, and how temperature and dewpoint relate to cloud base and fog. Know the meaning of QNH, QFE and QNE and how each is used.
Learn the pressure systems: highs, lows, ridges, troughs, cols, and the wind circulation around each in both hemispheres. Understand the formation of fronts (cold, warm, occluded, stationary) and the weather associated with each.
Know the hazards: icing (clear and rime), turbulence (mechanical and convective), wind shear, microbursts, thunderstorms and their life cycle, and volcanic ash. Understand the meaning of METAR, TAF, SIGMET, AIRMET and SPECI, and how to decode them.
Traps: confusing QFE with QNH; assuming a warm front produces more turbulence than a cold front; and misreading a TAF validity period.
Worked rule of thumb: cloud base in feet ≈ (temperature − dewpoint in °C) × 400. If the spread is 5°C, the convective cloud base is about 2000 ft. Use this to sanity-check a reported cloud base.