NWA WEBSITE ON SEAL PROCEDURES You should check the NWA website for the latest information on the NWA seal test since the following information is not guaranteed to be current. One requirement in order to get the NWA seal is the passing of an exam with a score of 80% or greater in the subjects of general meteorology, radar and satellite meteorology, severe weather, climatology, and technology/terminology. In order to do well on the exam you must do the following, 1) Re-read and study the Introduction to Meteorology book, 2) Go through lecture notes in the courses taken in Introduction to Meteorology, Satellite Meteorology, Radar Meteorology, Severe Weather, Climatology, and Synoptic Meteorology, 3) Be able to decipher NWS forecast discussions, 4) Study broadcasting terminology (mostly gained by on the job experience). The format of the exam is 100 multiple choice questions. A score of 80% or higher will be needed to pass the exam. Here are some comments concerning the test: 1. has plenty of radar and satellite interpretation like questions 2. the test as a whole is fair but there are several tricky questions 3. is a fairly easy test to pass for those with a solid meteorology background 4. the questions are application type questions that need to be thought through 5. A solid background in meteorology principles is very important in order to do well on the exam It should help to go through all of the following practice questions. An answer key is provided with each practice test. Answer every question in the practice questions below and then check your answers. For any question you get wrong figure out why the right answer is correct. These are resources provided for practicing the answering of multiple choice questions that deal with meteorology concepts and these questions are not provided by the NWA. 100 practice meteorology questions: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/wxtest/test/ 15 practice tests with 20 questions each on various meteorology topics (300 questions total): http://www.theweatherprediction.com/quizzes/ 500 Haby Hint questions (in 50 question increments): http://www.theweatherprediction.com/hhquizzes/ The next bold step you can take in your study pursuits is to read the entire theweatherprediction.com website. Get another spiral notebook and fill in up with concepts and information you have learned and reviewed. Go through topics under the heading "weather prediction education and resources": http://www.theweatherprediction.com/ Read all Haby Hints: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/ There are several very good textbooks out there you can read to help with your studies. The following are recommended. Highlight all important concepts you run across in the books. Reread an Introduction to Meteorology textbook Reread a Climatology textbook Tim Vasquez, "Weather Maps Handbook" Tim Vasquez, "Weather Forecasting Handbook" Tim Vasquez, "Storm Chasing Handbook" Eric Conway, "An Introduction to Satellite Image Interpretation" Ronald Rinehart, "RADAR for Meteorologists" Peter Chaston, "Hurricanes!" Peter Chaston, "Thunderstorms, Tornadoes and Hail!" You will likely find the test has a mixture of easy, moderate and difficult questions. You want to make sure to get all the easy ones right and most of the moderate ones right and do the best you can with the difficult ones. Here is additional advice: If you finish the test early do not leave. Check your work until time is up. This can make the difference between passing and not passing. Read the questions and answers carefully. Many people are going to miss about 5 questions they would think they should have obviously gotten right but they either misread the question or did not read all the answers. Check your work carefully and check it more than once if you have time! Don't miss questions you should get. Good luck on the big test! |