Willie,
It sounds like you put a lot of work into preparing for the exam! And you must have a good foundation in
Java since you scored so highly on the Roundup and mock exams. I am sorry to hear that you did not pass the actual exam on your first attempt. But please don't give up, that happens to a lot of people. It is a very difficult exam!
It was smart of you to use RHE and to take lots of mock exams. You asked what to do different to achieve a better score. I can think of a few things:
(1) You say you studied about 4 hours per day for six months. Was that studying mostly reading the books and taking mock exams? If so, it would really help you
alot to actually
write some code. You learn things by trial and error when coding that you do not learn just from reading books. Also, since many of the questions on the exam have sample code and ask you about it, you will do much better if you have written this sort of code yourself to see how it behaves.
(2) Perhaps you were very nervous at the actual
test. That would be understandable because taking tests can be very stressful. Especially when it costs lots of money to take and there is a lot riding on the result. If this was the case, you'll need to find a way to relieve this stress so you can concentrate on the questions.
(3) Visit this forum often. Try to read as many posts as possible. Lots of people are in the same boat as you. They will tell about confusions they had and you can learn from their mistakes like we all do.
Anyway, I am sure you will do better on your next attempt! Then you will have an advantage over other people. You will know exactly what sort of questions are asked, because you already did it once. Don't give up!
Stephanie