Passed Step 1 with 91 %.

[Durga Penmatsa]

Hi All,
Today I cleared step 1 with 91%. Thanks to this forum for some interesting discussions. I brought the mock exams from INE systems. I tried 4 mock exams from INE systems simulator, I failed all the mocks with 28/48. My confidence went down after I wrote the mocks. Then I went back to my favorite site to find out review comments about INE systems simulator at
https://coderanch.com/t/152038/java-Architect-SCEA/certification/Review-mock-exams-products-SCEA.
I completely agree to the review comments made on INE systems simulator at the above link.
- The mocks were tougher than the real exam.
- Simultor asked to find the design pattern looking at UML diagram. Real exam didn't have any of these questions.
- Simulator had options like "there is only one other correct option", the real exam didn't have such options.
- There are lots of small bugs which I reported to INE systems.

My Prepration:
Books I read:
- Completely read Mark Cade book
- Read some chapters from Joseph Bambara book from Osborne ( I felt boring reading this book).
- EJB by Richard Monson-Haefel
- Design patterns from our SCEA links http://www.patterndepot.com/put/8/JavaPatterns.htm
- I read EJB and Design Patterns thoroughly. Remaining topics I just looked at the links from the forums.
It is always helpful to write as many mock exams as possible. I had been looking at Javaranch forum and scea_prep for the past 3 months. Javaranch forum had some questions which were lot helpful in the real exam.
Thank you once again and keep up the good work.
Let me know if anyone needs any further information on preparing for the exam.
Regards
Durga

[Andrew Monkhouse]

Congratulations Durga . Good luck with part II.

[Ian B Anderson]

Hello Durga Penmatsa,
Firstly many congratulations on passing part 1 of the SCEA test.
We had to include questions asking you to select a design pattern based upon a UML diagram because this is in the exam critera. (Although only a few people actually get these type of questions.)
We chose to make our questions slightly harder than the exam because as soon as you are comfortably passing our tests the real exam should be a breeze. We may now review this in light of your comments.
We have worked hard over the last few weeks to iron out the last few bugs and recently released an updated version of the exam simulator.
We wish all the best for parts 2 and 3.
Ian Anderson

[E. Messing]

Congrats Durga !!
I am glad that my review helped you !!
Just wanted to note that INESystems received a full report of all the issues that I had with their product (included all of your remarks and some more) and really listened !! they have come up with a new version that fixes some of the issue , and (As I was told by Ian - from INESystems) are now working on improving the product even more... So its nice that they are listening , and improving...

[George Thomson]

congratulations on passing part 1 of the SCEA.
Thanks for your analysis and explanations provided,