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Finally passed 1.2; now some advice

 
Greenhorn
Posts: 17
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I passed with 83%. I've been studying for this test for 13 months. It hasn't come all that easy, since programming isn't my primary field. I've went through a couple of sets of CBT's from Sun and 4 Java books including: Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days (SAMS), Complete JAVA 2 Certification (Sybex), Exam Cram (Corollis), How To Program in Java (Dietel and Dietel).
I'm pleased with my results and I would have been pleased with any passing score on this moster. I was very nervous prior to the test. BTW: I went for 1.2, because that's what I started studying for 13 months ago.
Study up notes:
1) Questions on java.io Package. I several questions with FileInputStream, FileOutputStream, DataInputStream, etc... It's hard to find good information on all the implementations of these. The ones I mentioned plus a couple others are well worth knowing. This was my worst area on the test.
2) Threads got a pretty heavy weighting. If you've been coding, you probably know them as well as I do. You need to know the two ways to create a thread, how to start a thread, syncronized threads, all the stop, sleep, yeild, wait, notify, and join stuff.
3) java.util package: several questions. All you need to know is the differences between the types: StoredSet, Map, HashMap, and so forth.
4) I got 85% on Overloading, Overriding, Runtime Type, and Object Orientations. There were so, many questions on overloading and overriding. You need to know everything about overloading/overriding methods AND constructors. There was a question on constructors, or you may not even be able to answer some questions that aren't even of this category. I'm not kidding; overloading and overriding comes up so much, that you can hardly pass if you don't know it.
5) Inner Class constructors as well as abstract inner classes: Well worth knowing.
6) java.awt package: a few questions. I don't know how you could not ace this portion if you've been coding.
7) java.lang package: You need to know throws, throwable, Error, Runtime Exception. At least a few questions on these.
8) A couple of easy questions on garbage colection.
9) Flow control and exception handeling: You need to know the while, for, and do loops forward and backwards. As well as case, and try/catch/finally.
10) Operators and Assignements: Not only do you need to know all the operators, but you need to know when a conversion of certain types happens with them.
I hope this helps someone. If you do what I said and do it dilligently you probably pass the test if you got the draw I did from the pot.
One last note: If you sit the test, look for dumb little errors in the code: A bad import, a bad main method, wrong access modifiers for a method, etc... Sun will do their best to trick you.
Peace,
John
 
John Ringo
Greenhorn
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I forgot to mention what a great resource the Java Ranch has been. It is actually better than any of the books. I like the cows game. It actually is good for teaching us beginners something. There are many here who are well beyond where I'll ever be with this language, and I thank them for their patience in answering our questions and offering constructive advice. Java Ranch is the #1 resource for this certification. There's not really another good support community out there for Java geeks and I don't know if I would have made it without hte ranch.
I suggest hitting as man mock exams as possible. Then when you answer a question wrong, look it up and find out why. This has really helped me. Coding is something of a trial and error processes for beginners like my self. Coding is absolutely necessary as well. The Mock Exam's are good though. Figure out why you're answers are wrong, and you will learn. Hit the books and look this stuff up.
 
Ranch Hand
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Congratulations John!
 
Author & Gold Digger
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Nice shot John
 
Ranch Hand
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Congratulations!
 
Sheriff
Posts: 5782
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Congratulations and good luck with your future endeavours!
 
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