hi guys,
I have written xml certification yesterday and cleared it with 70% score( it is not the best score I know). However I would like to share my experience. I looked at javaranch and other forums, Most of the times it was projected that XML certification is the tougest exam. I don't think so. It is diffinitely tough but nothing to frighten about. I have read the postings of jayadev and some others guys in this post. I am really impressed with their understanding of concepts and I feel that they can easyly make it.(Jayadev why wait mate, go for the exam unless you are pressed for time in your project) I have seen the big recomonded lists. which includes xml-rpc, security etc. I haven't covered topics like signatures, encryption and XML-Databases stuff. still I have cleared the exam.
O.K I will give some of my questions.
number of questions are 55.
Pass mark is 58% So be prepared for it.
Tons of scenario based questions (no mock
test covers this many)
Lot of emphasis on schema, DTDs, XSLT, like what is the correct implementation / various types of content models.
DTD and Schemas
all particles of schema like list, union, enumaration, all, any , simple type, complex type are covered in one way or other)
Comparisions, Limitations in a given scenario.
Not many direct questions.
Time is just sufficent but not plunty(at least for me as I have got many scenario questions.reading them alone took lot of time). So you have to plan your time properly. I coudn't find time to review all my questions. so give your best shot when you read it or leave it completely for next round.but dont do half-half. You will be loosing time twice. As it is said in the earlier post they are very reading-intensive.
I have completed my first round of answers in 1 hour 15 minutes. and revisited remaining 8 to 10 questions I left in 2nd round.
some questions I can remember is
(forgive me for my spellings)
one question on validation of a document againest DTD (easy).
one question on validation of a document againest Schema.(easy)
Customer & Item scenario to identify the relationship uniquely(use of id and idref).
one question on xsl:fo. but like to which parent a perticular child element belongs to whether fo:block or fo:flow .. etc.
none on signature/encription
couple questions on
SOAP, WSDL. however they are not in depth techie questions. It was like in a buiseness scenario.There are two bussiness entities, one is manufacturing company other is a supplier. how to find for the (web)service? whether to use the UDDI look up or not.
In general I believe we should have overall understanding of web services and how it works. but need not know about finer details of Implementations or programming.
how a document is completely represented using the following (select 5 choices)
self::
ancestor::
descident::
following::
presceding::
following-sibling::
presceding-sibling::
atleast 3 questions from mockexams (all scenario based)
Atleast 5 questions on DOM & SAX.
so In general I think one shoud concentrate on core technologies like DTDs & Schemas, XSLT, DOM & SAX , XPath &XPointer.
as always said IBM mock test is the best one. no other is near to real exam.
no other is any whare near that.
best of luck
Satya Uppaluri.
Sun certified programmer for the
Java 2� platform
IBM Certified Developer in XML and Related Technologies
[ October 16, 2002: Message edited by: satya uppaluri ]
[ October 16, 2002: Message edited by: satya uppaluri ]
[ October 16, 2002: Message edited by: satya uppaluri ]