I am Bummed

[Mark Spritzler]

Well on one hand, I passed. On the other, I scored a 64%. I know why I scored so low, and I am almost positive, if I took the test again I would get a much higher score.
Although I am not 100% sure I would score higher, so I don't want to depress myself like I did last Thursday when I took the test.
I confused myself.
I think mostly because the test was nowhere near any mock test that I took. and I took over ten of them. From Markus to Bogden, to Jaworski to Jxam and JQuest. Nothing comes close to the test.
So while I was taking the test I was thinking to myself, either this test is really easy, or they are really trying to trick us. Well, I assumed they were tricking us, which was wrong. I was suprised at the type of question they had, because I could tell you everything about Layout Managers, but alas no questions on them. They did a a number of Thread and IO questions. I did fair with that area.
I actually got 100% in 2 areas. I forgot which ones, and don't have the print-out here. and 87% in two others, but I got only 33% in IO. 0%in another.
Also I thought the actually test was a really cheesy VB program, and that threw me for a loop, considering the cool applications that people have made for the mock exams.
The testing site also took me by surprise, it was the size of a bathroom. with 6 little cubicles 3 by 2. It was not really a test condusive environment.
Overall, I think I actually would have felt better if I didn't pass than get a 64%, from the experience, but still being 4 days since, I am glad that I passed and have the Certification. I will think about taking it again, but probably not.
I would like to thank everyone here at JavaRanch. It has helped keep me focused and driven. It pointed me to some great resources. there was one I can't remember that had about 50 pages of notes someone took while going through books and websites, that condensed a lot of great information into one document. OK I found the document on my machine and the document was written by Velmurugan Periasamy. This is a must have.
Hope this post made sense.
Thanks
Mark

[Mark Spritzler]

I don't get it, even now I got to the JavaRanch roundup game, or take a Mock test and I get over 90%, why would I get such a low score on the actual test.
Oh Well.
Mark

[Socket Hiho]

Hei,My Friend,You had pass,right? So don't be so frustrated.
And would you tell me the difference between the real exam and the mock exam,because I plan to take the exam this week.I am so worried about it.
btw,would you send me Velmurugan Periasamy's note to me,I can't get in his website.
My e-mail is:[email protected]
Thanks

[Rosie Vogel]

Hello Mark,
Don't worry about your score, I don't think many people will ask you about it and it doesn't appear on your certificate. It's like your driving license: once you have it, you have it and whether you normally drive better than you did on the driving test, is of no consequence.
Just to make you feel better: I passed with 61%... I was very sick the night before, so yes, maybe I could go back, do it again and get a better score but who cares? I don't want to waste my money like that!
Enjoy your victory!
Regards, Rosie

[Sandeep Ghosh]

First take my Congratulation for passing.Would you send me Velmurugan Periasamy's note to me.My e-mail [email protected]

[Hrishi Maha]

Hi Mark,
Can you please send me the 50 odd pages notes.
My email id is [email protected]
Regards,
Hrish

[Jade Adediwura]

Hi Mark,
I must congratulate you Mark, a pass is a pass,I cant even get my hands on topics to concentrate on.
Could you please send me Velmurugan Periasamy's note, my email address is: [email protected].
Thanks

[Ronnie Phelps]

Congratulations dude!
Can you or anyone send me Velmurugan Periasamy's document.

[Jane Griscti]

Congratulations Mark
I know it's disappointing when you don't do as well as you think you might but in the end it's the certificate that counts and your abilities as a programmer. I found that the mocks, while extremely helpful, also made me vary wary. When I took the real exam I wasted alot of time reading and re-reading questions looking for tricks. Bottom line, there weren't any but I wasted a ton of time ... had to rush through the last 20 questions in 15 minutes!
Let it go ... you passed, and that's what matters. Enjoy it
For everyone else, Velmurugans notes are at http://www.geocities.com/velmurugan_p/
------------------
Jane Griscti
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java� 2 Platform

[Mark Spritzler]

Thanks guys. I am feeling much better on passing. And I too don't want to spend another $150 just to get a big, er bigger head.
Now it's on to get the Developer and Architect Certs
Mark

[Mahendra Kamble]

hi mark,
congrates men , usually intelligent people dont score in exams,
You better concentrate on your projects which will help u a lot.and earn u a lot of knowledge which is reqd in industry and not marks
i am supposed to give test next month
give me some tips

[Andrew Spruce]

Hi Mark,
Congrats, Maybe not scoring as high as you thought will benefit you more than if you sailed it ?
I passed the exam with 74% and some of my colleagues here had scores in the high 80s early 90s.
I too did countless mock exams and scored consistently above 90%.
Like you say, the test was unlike any mock and perhaps I didn't take the IO and thread work seriously enough, as this is where I scored the weakest.
I also spent a lot of time understanding the Layout Managers, which probably gained me less than 1 percent.
I think the other 2 exams probably count for more as there demonstrate understanding and application not can you think compiler ?
Well done !!!

[Vegad Arvind]

Congratulations Mark
Avi

[Slightly Uber]

I too was disappointed in my taking of the exam. I actually failed with a 59%. I thought the exam would cover more areas than it died. I think the questions are random, but i had several I/O questions right off the bat. Also many threading questions, which like another poster said I didn't take seriously enough. I tried to grasp as much as I could off every topic listed in the objectives. I'm taking it again on friday and have been concentrating on I/O and threads everyday. Beign a GUI person i don't use threads and I/O that often and I only had one GUI question - at least i got that right =)
Oh and by the way, when an object is set to null it is ready for garbage collection. LOL

[Ankit Jain]

Hi dear,
I am new to this website & 1st of all would like to CONGRATULATE you on your success. Always remember "success is sweetest to those who never succeed" & u my friend with God's grace have succeeded. So ENJOY!!!
Also u wrote..
"I would like to thank everyone here at JavaRanch. It has helped keep me focused and driven. It pointed me to some great resources. there was one I can't remember that had about 50 pages of notes someone took while going through books and websites, that condensed a lot of great information into one document. OK I found the document on my machine and the document was written by Velmurugan Periasamy. This is a must have."
Since u think this is a must have so please send this doc. to me as well.
If any other person posseses this Velmurugan Periasamy's doc. PLEEEEEEEEEEASE do send it to me.
Thanks & Regards
Ankit

[Jane Griscti]

Ankit,
Velmurugan's notes can be downloaded from his site: http://www.geocities.com/velmurugan_p/
------------------
Jane Griscti
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java� 2 Platform