Free Practice Questions for KMA Grade 9 Meteorologist

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Key Facts: KMA Grade 9 Meteorologist Exam

100 items / 110 min

Official written format across five 20-item papers in a single session

https://www.kma.go.kr/kma/news/recruit.jsp?mode=view&num=3473

2026-04-04

2026 written examination sitting date at Daejeon Dunsan Middle School

https://www.kma.go.kr/kma/news/recruit.jsp?mode=view&num=3473

35 posts

2026 Grade 9 intake quota across national and regional tracks

https://www.kma.go.kr/kma/news/recruit.jsp?mode=view&num=3378

KRW 5,000

Grade 9 application fee in KMA Notice No. 2026-1 (공무원임용시험령 Art. 35: 8급·9급 5천원)

https://www.weather.go.kr/kma/news/recruit.jsp?mode=view&num=3378

Specialist Tie-Break

Interview ties resolved by combined score of 기상학개론 and 일기분석 및 예보법

https://www.kma.go.kr/kma/news/recruit.jsp?mode=view&num=3378

40% Floor

Minimum 40 points per subject required to avoid automatic failure (과락)

https://www.weather.go.kr/kma/news/recruit.jsp?mode=view&num=3378

The KMA Grade 9 Meteorologist Exam (기상청 9급 기상직) is an independent national civil service open competition conducted directly by the Korea Meteorological Administration. The 2026 written paper comprises 100 four-option items in 110 minutes across 5 subjects (Korean, English, Korean History, Introduction to Meteorology, Weather Analysis & Forecasting) on 4 April 2026 in Daejeon, selecting 35 officers. Application fee is KRW 5,000. This page provides an independent 100-question English MCQ study bank.

Sample KMA Grade 9 Meteorologist Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the KMA Grade 9 Meteorologist exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Why is the moist adiabatic lapse rate (습윤단열감률) consistently smaller in magnitude than the dry adiabatic lapse rate (건조단열감률) in the troposphere?

A.Moist air has a higher molecular weight than dry air, which accelerates parcel ascent

B.The acceleration of gravity decreases rapidly inside saturated air parcels

C.Latent heat released during the condensation of water vapor partially offsets the adiabatic cooling of the ascending air parcel

D.Radiational cooling from cloud droplets increases the temperature of the surrounding environment

Explanation: As an unsaturated air parcel ascends, it cools at the dry adiabatic lapse rate of approximately 9.8 K/km. Once the parcel reaches saturation, continuing ascent induces water vapor condensation, which releases latent heat of condensation into the parcel. This internal thermodynamic heating counteracts expansive cooling, reducing the effective rate of cooling to between roughly 5 and 6.5 K/km depending on parcel temperature and pressure.

2Using the hypsometric equation with dry air gas constant Rd = 287 J/(kg·K) and standard gravity g = 9.8 m/s², what is the geopotential thickness (층후) between the 1000 hPa and 500 hPa isobaric surfaces if the layer mean virtual temperature is 250 K? (Use ln(2) ≈ 0.693)

A.4,210 meters

B.5,074 meters

C.5,850 meters

D.6,320 meters

Explanation: The hypsometric equation gives layer thickness as Δz = (Rd · Tv_bar / g) · ln(p1 / p2). Substituting the values: Δz = (287 · 250 / 9.8) · ln(1000 / 500) = (71750 / 9.8) · 0.69315 ≈ 7321.43 · 0.69315 ≈ 5,074 meters. This calculation illustrates how mean virtual temperature directly scales isobaric layer thickness on synoptic upper-air charts.

3Which of the following vertical gradients of potential temperature (dθ/dz) defines a statically stable dry atmosphere (정적 안정 상태)?

A.dθ/dz = 0

B.dθ/dz < 0

C.dθ/dz < -g/cp

D.dθ/dz > 0

Explanation: Potential temperature (θ) is the temperature an air parcel would attain if brought adiabatically to standard reference pressure (1000 hPa). When dθ/dz > 0, an air parcel displaced upward adiabatically preserves its original potential temperature and finds itself cooler and denser than the warmer surrounding environment, generating a downward restoring buoyancy force characteristic of static stability.

4On a standard Skew-T ln p thermodynamic diagram (단열선도) used by the Korea Meteorological Administration, how are isotherms (등온선) and isobars (등압선) plotted?

A.Isobars are horizontal straight lines on a logarithmic scale; isotherms are straight parallel lines sloping upward to the right at approximately 45 degrees

B.Isobars and isotherms are mutually perpendicular rectilinear Cartesian axes with equal linear spacing

C.Isobars curve exponentially to the left; isotherms are completely vertical straight lines

D.Isobars are concentric semicircular arcs; isotherms are radial spokes emanating from the diagram center

Explanation: The Skew-T ln p diagram is an area-preserving thermodynamic chart where pressure is represented on a logarithmic vertical axis with isobars appearing as horizontal straight lines. Isotherms are skewed straight lines sloping upward and to the right at an angle of roughly 45 degrees to optimize visual separation of temperature and dew-point soundings across the troposphere.

5Why is humid air less dense than dry air at identical temperatures and atmospheric pressures?

A.Water vapor exerts negative molecular attraction that repels surrounding nitrogen molecules

B.Water vapor molecules (H2O) have a lower molecular mass (approx. 18 g/mol) than the diatomic nitrogen and oxygen molecules (approx. 29 g/mol) they replace

C.Condensation nuclei inside humid air convert thermal energy into kinetic energy

D.The specific heat of moist air causes volumetric contraction under constant pressure

Explanation: According to Avogadro's law, equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain an equal number of molecules. When water vapor is added to air, each H2O molecule (molecular weight ~18.02 g/mol) displaces a heavier molecule of dry air (predominantly N2 at ~28.01 g/mol and O2 at ~32.00 g/mol, giving an average dry air mass of ~28.97 g/mol). Consequently, the total mass per unit volume decreases, making humid air lighter and more buoyant.

6At a surface meteorological station, the dry-bulb temperature is 25°C and the dew-point temperature is 17°C. Using the standard empirical approximation for surface-forced parcel ascent z_LCL ≈ 125 · (T - Td) meters, what is the estimated Lifting Condensation Level (LCL, 상승응결고도)?

A.625 meters above ground level

B.1,250 meters above ground level

C.1,000 meters above ground level

D.1,500 meters above ground level

Explanation: The dew-point depression is (T - Td) = 25°C - 17°C = 8°C. Applying the standard operational approximation z_LCL ≈ 125 · (T - Td) yields 125 · 8 = 1,000 meters. The factor 125 m/°C reflects the convergence between the dry adiabatic cooling rate of temperature (~9.8°C/km) and the slow decrease of dew point in unsaturated air (~1.8°C/km), giving a net rate of ~8.0°C/km (or 1°C per 125 m).

7Which thermodynamic property remains conserved during both dry adiabatic expansion and moist pseudo-adiabatic ascent with precipitation removal, making it a primary tracer for air-mass identification?

A.Relative humidity (상대습도)

B.Sensible heat content (현열)

C.Dew-point temperature (이슬점온도)

D.Equivalent potential temperature (θe, 상당온위)

Explanation: Equivalent potential temperature (θe) represents the potential temperature an air parcel would achieve if all its moisture were condensed out through pseudo-adiabatic ascent and the parcel were then brought down adiabatically to 1000 hPa. Because it accounts for both sensible heat and latent heat release, θe is conserved during dry adiabatic processes as well as saturated pseudo-adiabatic ascent, making it an ideal tracer for tracking distinct air masses.

8According to Wien's Displacement Law (λmax = b / T), what is the primary physical reason solar radiation peaks in the visible spectrum (~0.5 μm) while terrestrial radiation peaks in the thermal infrared spectrum (~10 μm)?

A.The Sun's emitting surface temperature (~5800 K) is much higher than Earth's surface temperature (~288 K)

B.Solar radiation undergoes total internal reflection inside the ozone layer before reaching the surface

C.Earth's planetary magnetic field shifts emitted wavelengths toward longer infrared bands

D.Atmospheric carbon dioxide reflects visible light back into deep space

Explanation: Wien's displacement law states that the wavelength of maximum blackbody spectral emission is inversely proportional to absolute temperature: λmax = b / T (where b ≈ 2898 μm·K). With a photosphere temperature of roughly 5778 K, the Sun emits peak energy near 0.5 μm in the visible band. In contrast, Earth's average surface temperature of 288 K yields a peak wavelength near 10 μm, squarely within the thermal infrared region.

9Why does the daytime cloud-free sky appear blue to an observer on Earth while cloud decks appear bright white?

A.Nitrogen molecules emit blue spectral lines when excited by cosmic rays, whereas clouds absorb all colors except white

B.Blue light passes through ozone without refraction, whereas longer red wavelengths are completely absorbed in the upper troposphere

C.Air molecules cause Rayleigh scattering proportional to 1/λ^4, preferentially scattering shorter blue wavelengths, while cloud droplets cause Mie scattering roughly independent of wavelength across the visible band

D.Atmospheric water vapor acts as a blue prism, while cloud droplets absorb all visible wavelengths equally

Explanation: Atmospheric gas molecules (N2 and O2) are much smaller than visible light wavelengths, producing Rayleigh scattering where scattered intensity is inversely proportional to the fourth power of wavelength (I ∝ λ^-4). Blue light (~0.45 μm) is scattered roughly six times more effectively than red light (~0.7 μm), coloring the sky blue. Cloud droplets, by contrast, are much larger than visible wavelengths (several micrometers in diameter), producing Mie and geometric scattering where all visible wavelengths are scattered with roughly equal efficiency, producing a white appearance.

10What is the atmospheric window (대기의 창) in terrestrial radiation transfer?

A.A permanent physical hole in the ozone layer over equatorial regions that permits deep solar penetration

B.A spectral band between approximately 8 μm and 12 μm where clear-sky greenhouse gases absorb relatively little thermal radiation, allowing surface emission to escape to space

C.The ultraviolet corridor between 0.1 μm and 0.3 μm where solar rays reach the lower troposphere without attenuation

D.An elevation band in the upper mesosphere where greenhouse warming transitions to radiative cooling

Explanation: The atmospheric window refers to the wavelength interval between approximately 8 μm and 12 μm in the thermal infrared spectrum. In this region, clear-air absorption by the principal greenhouse gases (water vapor and CO2) is remarkably weak (except for an ozone absorption band near 9.6 μm). Consequently, a substantial portion of Earth's surface thermal emission can pass directly through the atmosphere into outer space without being trapped.

About the KMA Grade 9 Meteorologist Exam

The Korea Meteorological Administration Grade 9 Meteorologist Exam (기상청 9급 기상직 공채) is an independent open competitive civil service recruitment conducted directly by the KMA for meteorological observation, analysis, and forecasting staff. Governed by KMA Notice No. 2026-1, the 2026 examination selects 35 personnel across national and regional tracks. The written paper comprises 100 multiple-choice questions across five subjects in 110 minutes: Korean, English, Korean History, Introduction to Meteorology (기상학개론), and Weather Analysis and Forecasting Methods (일기분석 및 예보법). OpenExamPrep provides an independent 100-question English MCQ study bank covering these statutory subjects; it is not an official KMA translation.

Exam sponsor: Korea Meteorological Administration (기상청); applications via gongmuwon.gosi.kr. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Three-stage recruitment under KMA Notice No. 2026-1: Stages 1 and 2 merged into a single 100-item, 110-minute written examination (선택형 필기), followed by Stage 3 interview (면접시험). Scoring is out of 100 per paper with a 40-point failure floor (과락). In interview tie-breaks, ranking is decided by the combined score of the two specialist papers (기상학개론 and 일기분석 및 예보법). Total intake for 2026 is 35 posts.

Time Limit

110 minutes for 100 items in a single continuous session (10:00–11:50); interviews scheduled separately in Daejeon

Passing Score

Written: minimum 40 points per subject (과락 floor) and competitive ranking within recruitment quotas; final selection follows the interview stage

Exam / Certification Fees

KRW 5,000 (KMA Notice No. 2026-1; 공무원임용시험령 Art. 35); statutory waivers for eligible groups

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Korea Meteorological Administration Notice No. 2026-1 — 2026년도 기상직 국가공무원 공개경쟁채용시험 등 계획 공고 · Source checked 2026-09-20Official recruitment plan issued by the KMA Administrator on 2 January 2026 setting out 35 Grade 9 posts, statutory subjects, schedule, and tie-break rules.
Korea Meteorological Administration Notice No. 2026-42 — 2026년도 기상직 9급 필기시험 일시·장소 및 응시자 준수사항 공고 · Source checked 2026-09-20Written examination logistics notice confirming the 4 April 2026 test date, 10:00–11:50 timing (110 minutes), and testing venue at Daejeon Dunsan Middle School.
National Civil Service Recruitment System (국가공무원채용시스템) · Source checked 2026-09-20Unified national civil service application portal used for KMA Grade 9 application submission and score notifications.
Decree on Examinations for Appointment of Public Officials (공무원임용시험령) · Source checked 2026-09-20Art. 16 sets the age floor at 18 in the year of the final sitting. Art. 35 sets the Grade 8/9 application fee at KRW 5,000 and lists the statutory fee waivers. Written 과락 (below 40% of full marks on any paper) is applied by the 2026 KMA notice under this decree.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25% of practice bank (25 questions; 20% of official exam)

Introduction to Meteorology (기상학개론)

Thermodynamics of dry and moist air, hydrostatic balance, hypsometric thickness, static stability, atmospheric radiation principles, cloud and precipitation microphysics, horizontal wind dynamics, geostrophic and thermal wind relations, and general atmospheric circulation.

25% of practice bank (25 questions; 20% of official exam)

Weather Analysis and Forecasting Methods (일기분석 및 예보법)

Surface and upper-air synoptic analysis, METAR/TAF observation codes, thermodynamic Skew-T chart interpretation, convective stability indices, quasigeostrophic vertical motion, jet streak circulations, cyclogenesis, radar and satellite imagery analysis, severe weather phenomena, and numerical weather prediction (NWP) applications.

18% of practice bank (18 questions; 20% of official exam)

Korean Language for Public Service (국어)

Standard Korean orthography and spacing rules, administrative document composition principles, standard pronunciation, logical fallacy identification, and reading comprehension of scientific and administrative expository texts.

16% of practice bank (16 questions; 20% of official exam)

English for Meteorological & Administrative Service (영어)

Reading comprehension of atmospheric science and public policy passages, international meteorological terminology (WMO protocols), contextual vocabulary, and formal grammatical and syntactic accuracy.

16% of practice bank (16 questions; 20% of official exam)

Korean History for Public Officials (한국사)

Korean meteorological and scientific administration history (Cheugugi rain gauge, Pung-gi-dae, Gwansang-gam, Chiljeongsan calendar), governance systems from the Three Kingdoms through Joseon, civil service examination systems, agrarian policies, Sirhak natural philosophy, and modern constitutional development.

Preparing for the KMA Grade 9 Meteorologist Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Written: minimum 40 points per subject (과락 floor) and competitive ranking within recruitment quotas; final selection follows the interview stage
Assessment: Three-stage recruitment under KMA Notice No. 2026-1: Stages 1 and 2 merged into a single 100-item, 110-minute written examination (선택형 필기), followed by Stage 3 interview (면접시험). Scoring is out of 100 per paper with a 40-point failure floor (과락). In interview tie-breaks, ranking is decided by the combined score of the two specialist papers (기상학개론 and 일기분석 및 예보법). Total intake for 2026 is 35 posts.
Time limit: 110 minutes for 100 items in a single continuous session (10:00–11:50); interviews scheduled separately in Daejeon
Exam / certification fees: KRW 5,000 (KMA Notice No. 2026-1; 공무원임용시험령 Art. 35); statutory waivers for eligible groups Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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KMA Grade 9 Meteorologist: Suggested Study Strategy

1Prioritize the two specialist subjects (기상학개론 and 일기분석 및 예보법) because they determine tie-break rankings and represent 40% of the official examination.

2Master atmospheric thermodynamic principles on the Skew-T ln p diagram, including dry and moist adiabatic lapse rates, LCL calculations, and convective parameters (CAPE, CIN, LI).

3Understand dynamic balances (geostrophic wind, gradient wind, thermal wind) and their applications to synoptic trough and ridge analysis.

4Familiarize yourself with standard meteorological observation formats (METAR, TAF, SYNOP) and satellite/radar interpretation principles used in KMA forecasting centers.

5Review Korean civil service public document writing guidelines (공문서 작성 원칙) and core orthographic standards (한글 맞춤법, 띄어쓰기).

6Study Joseon scientific instruments (측우기, 풍기대, 수표, 관상감, 칠정산) which frequently appear in the Korean history section of technical exams.

7Practice time management: with 100 items in 110 minutes, you have roughly 66 seconds per question across all five subjects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the KMA Grade 9 exam administered by the Ministry of Personnel Innovation (인사혁신처)?

No. While Grade 5 meteorological recruitment and the mid-career (민간경력자) intake are conducted centrally by the Ministry of Personnel Innovation, KMA Notice No. 2026-1 heads the Grade 7 and Grade 9 table 기상직 7급·9급 공개경쟁채용시험 (기상청 실시): the KMA runs those competitions under its own notices, its own quota, its own Daejeon venue, and its own two specialist papers. The Korean, English and Korean History papers are set by the Ministry of Personnel Innovation and are the same papers used in the national Grade 9 competition, which is sat on the same day, so candidates cannot apply for both.

What is the format and duration of the 2026 written examination?

The written examination consists of five papers of 20 items each (100 four-option multiple-choice items total) administered in a single continuous 110-minute session from 10:00 to 11:50. The subjects are Korean, English, Korean History, Introduction to Meteorology (기상학개론), and Weather Analysis and Forecasting Methods (일기분석 및 예보법).

How are ties broken during the recruitment process?

Under the official KMA 2026 plan notice, if candidates remain tied after the third-stage interview, ranking is determined by the combined score of the two specialist papers (기상학개론 and 일기분석 및 예보법), excluding the scores from Korean, English, and Korean History.

Is the subject list changing after 2026?

Yes. KMA Notice No. 2026-1 states that from 2027 the Grade 9 한국사 paper will be replaced by the 한국사능력검정시험 (Korean History Proficiency Test) at level 3 or above, and that the Grade 7 first-stage written paper will be replaced by the PSAT. The 2026 cycle described on this page still used all five written papers, so candidates preparing for 2027 should re-check the KMA notice before relying on the Korean History section.

What is the minimum passing score for the written examination?

Candidates must achieve at least 40% (40 points out of 100) on each individual paper to avoid an automatic subject failure (과락). Written passers are then selected based on high-score ranking within the 35 allocated positions for 2026.

What is the application fee for the KMA Grade 9 exam?

KMA Notice No. 2026-1 states a Grade 9 application fee of KRW 5,000, matching Article 35 of the Decree on Examinations for Appointment of Public Officials (공무원임용시험령 제35조: 8급·9급 5천원). The same notice waives the fee for eligible basic-livelihood recipients, next-higher-tier households, single-parent support recipients, disability-pension recipients, and applicants with two or more minor children.

How does this OpenExamPrep practice bank relate to the official KMA exam?

The official examination is a 100-item Korean-language multiple-choice test. This OpenExamPrep bank is an independent 100-item English-language MCQ study adaptation designed for bilingual candidates. It is not an official KMA translation, reproduction of past confidential items, or interview simulation.