which sierra book

[donald rieck]

Hi,

I have a friend who told me the book that Kathy Sierra has is a great book, and a must have to prepare for the SCJP, but, and always a but, she did not say anything about Bert Bates? I just what to make sure I'm getting the right book. She did say it has 9 chapters (for the scjp?). I'm not sure if she was talking about the 1.4 or the 5.0.

(Moderator: Removed part about using brain dumps, that is, cheating)

any help would be a dream
[ September 28, 2006: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

[Deepak Bala]

Websites that give you real exam questions are not welcome in this forum. The SCJP study guide book in available in two versions 1.4 and 1.5 for the java 1.4 and 1.5 exams respectively. Have a look at the review on my signature. No brain dumps, real exam questions please.

[Barry Gaunt]

If you do not mention the SCJP version you are going to study for, how can anybody tell you which version of the K & B book that you need?

[donald rieck]

1. I'm not aware of any websites that give real exam questions and was told that ****** has question real close to the actual test as noted in my topic.

2. I'm don't know if I'm looking for a book from just Sierra or Sierra and Bates as noted in my question. Not just the scjp version.

Please read my question carefully.

This is not a "brain dump", I'm looking for some help. Maybe this is not the
right place for this type of question, so please just say so.

[ September 28, 2006: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

[Marcus Green]

Every "brain dump" site I have ever seen has included laughably incorrect versions of questions, with false and misleading answers and explanations. Creating even single mock exam with accurate questions, answers and explanations is a very difficult task. Very very few people alive could accuratly remember 60 qestions accurately from a real exam and reproduce them afterwards including reasonable answers with explanations.

You will geta better experience from any one of the commercial simulators. Look out for names like enthuware,whizlabs or my own stuff.
[ September 28, 2006: Message edited by: Marcus Green ]

[donald rieck]

So is ********* a good source? It was suggested to find their free faq's for
exam style questions and download them.

Does Kathy Sierra have a 9 chapter book on j2se certification that she did alone?(not Sierra and Bates)

whow, I'm around all the big wigs today, and honored!

[ September 28, 2006: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

[Barry Gaunt]

Donald, the site that you mentioned is known as "a braindump site" which gives the real questions (not just close). People seeing questions from that site often say "I saw exactly the same question on my exam". That's why we do not allow questions from that site to be used on this forum. If someone uses information from such sites to pass the exam then, in my opinion, their certification is worthless.

[Barry Gaunt]

The two recent books known as K & B (Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates) are for SCJP 1.4 and SCJP 5.0. If you have access to a book by Kathy Sierra alone then it is possible that it is for SCJP 1.2 or earlier, I do not know for certain. Perhaps Bert (also a JavaRanch moderator) will see this and ask Kathy if she has written any other books.
[ September 28, 2006: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

[donald rieck]

I agree, if a person could just get the questions then why bother?
I'm asking around for mock exams that get me as close to the real thing, so
I would know what level difficulty I'm needing to aim for.

I get some mock exam material and it makes me wonder if this is all there is to it, and then some material that is like all questions of complicated, long, envolved...
stuff.

Thank you guys for your help

[donald rieck]

I've never read or heard the term "brain dump."

At any rate, I'm getting closer and closer to taking the J2SE test.

[Bert Bates]

Hi Donald,

Kathy and some of the other JavaRanch moderators wrote a book for the 1.2 exam - it's got the word "passport" in its title - I don't think Kathy would be upset if I said that she'd recommend that you NOT get that book. Since then we've written a few books together, as has been stated, we have a book for the 1.4 exam and a different book for the 5.0 exam.

hth,

Bert

[Shaan Shar]

Donald rieck,

BTW Check your PM (Personal Message)...