"Jim Macklin" wrote:
Know how to interpret the material from on-line sources.
The key is, can you draw a crude picture of the weather
[verbally or with a pencil] and then apply that to the FAR
as to whether the weather, currently and forecast, will
allow the operation.

When I was doing my training (early 90's), I found studying the chart
material very difficult, for two reasons. First, the charts they showed
you in the study guides were badly reproduced, sometimes to the point of
being almost unreadable. More importantly, I never saw those charts in
real life. The days of walking into your local FSS were already gone, and
the days of universal internet access wasn't here yet. As a result,
weather for me was whatever you got on DUATs and/or by calling
1-800-WX-BRIEF, and the charts in the test prep book were completely alien.

Today, it's different. Almost any airport or FBO has computer access to
weather charts (in full color, on a high-resolution screen), as does every
pilot from their home or office (not to mention things like The Weather
Channel on TV).

I usually go to http://www.weatherunderground.com/Aviation_Maps/. I
couldn't tell you the official names of the various charts. I assume one
of them is a "prog chart", but I couldn't tell you which, nor could I tell
you how many hours in advance a prog chart is good for, or exactly what
combination of data is on a prog chart. But, I can go to that web page and
instantly see where the lows and fronts are, how they're going to move,
what the icing situation is, what the winds are like, where there's going
to be VFR weather so I know where to be thinking about alternates, etc,
etc. That's what's really important.

I also don't have all the little symbols memorized. If I'm not sure of
something, I just click on the "Learn More About Aviation Weather Maps"
link and get to the key.

I second whoever it was that suggested you bring your FAR/AIM to the
checkride. But, make sure you're already familiar with it. For many
things, the examiner will be happy with an answer like, "I don't remember
the exact details, but I know where to find it", as long as you come up
quickly find the correct section in the book. If you give him a blank
stare and start wandering aimlessly through the book, that won't work.