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Review of 2 mock exams products for SCEA part 1

 
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Hi
I wanted to share with you my thoughts about the Mock-Tests exams I did, and how they helped me with my test.
I have taken the test on the 24/02, and passed with 93%. The exam was harder than I expected.
I used 2 products :
1. few (not all) tests from Whizlabs SCEA tests ver 4.0 - on my friends computer. Note that he didn't let me use the hall product (as it is for personal use) and only showed my a test or 2 , and the overall product look-and-feel.
2. INESystems SCEA mock tests. For the proper disclosure I must add the I got the INESystems product for review - in exchange for posting it here.
The INESystems product consist of 5 mock tests , each with 48 questions, and a "trial" test - with 30 questions.
The Whizlabs product has (if I re-call correctly) 1 trial test with 10 questions, 1 "diagnostics" test with ~30 questions, 3 full tests with 48 questions, 1 with 46 questions, and 1 "Final" test - meant to be taken right before the exam.
Both product has a "Custom" part - which lets you customize your own test. I didn't used that part - so I wont refer to it at hall.

First of all , I was surprised to find our that the GUI of both products does not match the GUI of the promatic product on which I was tested on. The promatic was much less user friendly, didn�t have a "Go To" button, a "Review" button, which made me press the "next" and "back" buttons like crazy trying to go from question 48 to question 1. Only when I finished the test, and presses the "next" button on the 48th question - I noticed that the test was not over, and I moved to a "review" page - with "Go to" button and all� Very annoying !! In both products you can choose 3 answers where there are only 2 allowed - where in the actual exam you cant !
Both products do deliver the overall feeling of taking the exam - both in the questions phrasing, and the type of answers you get. However :
I have not seen any question in the actual exam that was similar to a question I have answered in one of the products. I have seen question that was posted here, on the forum�
The INESystems product has many questions with "all of the above" and "none of the above" answers. It makes answering the question in the elimination-way much harder. However - in the test I have not seen 1 question with this type of answers.
The INESystems product consist of question of type "What design pattern does this UML diagram show". This is one of the official requirements of the exam, and I don�t recall seen any in the Whizlabs product. However - In the actual exam I haven't seen a question of that kind.
I could spot some questions in the Whizlabs product that had typing mistakes, and major phrasing problems. Some of the questions were really hard to understand, and some answers very un clear. However - in the actual exam I had some questions that were completely not understandable ! I have commented in the "Comment" section of the test - but it is likely that this wont be changed. So - this actually do simulate the real-life case.
There are many errors in the current version of the INESystems product. Couple of mistaken answers, grammar problems, unclear answers, some small software bugs. All these small/big issues really interfere with the process of taking the tests !
However - I have noted the authors of all of these errors, and they are making efforts in fixing them. A new version (2) just came out, and many of the problems were fixed !!
The INESystems product is much cheaper - and the type and level of questions is almost the same to the ones in Whizlabs test..

So, to summarize - Getting one of the mock-test products is a must for anyone whishing to succeed in the test. You must prepare to the test software that you will use, that type of question and answers you will get - and this is the only way to "simulate" the exam.
Whizlabs is more expensive - but has more experience and the product has less "rough edges".
INESystems are just starting, the product is very nice, and after fixing the small issues I have noted it is, without a doubt, a "best-buy".

I can strongly recommend buying both - as doing more questions increases your chance for a better score. You wont find the same exact questions in these product, so there is an advantage in doing both products' tests.
 
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