If you did not pass the beta...

[Kathy Sierra]

PLEASE remember, that some of the people who helped us the most on the exam are the ones who did not pass -- because they took too much time giving us comments on the exam. It really helped US, but didn't necessarily help *their* score... so, first of all, THANK-YOU to everyone who took the beta and didn't pass.
Obviously (and despite the fabulous scores of some of our kick-ass javaranchers), the exam was difficult. More difficult than we had thought, which is why the pass percentage is 64%. That means a LOT of people not only did not pass, but got very low scores. So if you didn't pass, you're in a very large crowd
But mainly, I want to thank those of you who took the beta, but didn't pass, because we KNOW that you didn't have much time to prepare. In fact, because of the way we scared everyone into scheduling the exam EARLY, before it closed, that made it even harder for all those who took it in the first couple of weeks, and so had LESS time to prepare.
A LOT of people take a beta simply to 'practice', not taking it seriously, and knowing that they probably aren't ready to pass, and that's OK.
Anyway, if you've decided to now go for the real exam, please stick with us, and we will stick with you and get you through it!!
(and I'm hoping that some of our beta passers will also stick around and help out...)
cheers,
Kathy

[Randall Stevens]

Your response means alot to many of us that did not pass.
Since we didn't pass, can we get a discount on your book
Randall
/*************************************************************************/
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform 1.2
Microsoft Certified Professional Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic.NET and Microsoft Visual Studio.NET

[Leon Wang]

I think that beta testing is a little bit unfair.
At beginning, there were annoucement. Only the first 400 person passing the exam will get cert. So, many people hurried to take without enough preparation.
Then later on, thing looks different. Later exam takers got more mock exams from forum and with more preparation.
Hopefully, next time for beta exams, do not push a lot for limitation like "400 passers".
It is jus my thought

[Pradeep bhatt]

Those who took up the exam early might have scored less because they were not prepared.

[Jane Somerfield]

Originally posted by Kathy Sierra:

Obviously (and despite the fabulous scores of some of our kick-ass javaranchers), the exam was difficult. More difficult than we had thought, which is why the pass percentage is 64%. That means a LOT of people not only did not pass, but got very low scores. So if you didn't pass, you're in a very large crowd
Kathy

Kathy,
Could you tell us how many percent of the people who took the beta and passed? And the passing
(or average scores) distribution on the date of taking the test? That
should tell a lot.
I believe the later you take the test, the easier to pass.
It happends to all the certification tests.
Thanks

[Randall Stevens]

I believe the later you take the test, the easier to pass.
It happends to all the certification tests.

That is not necessarily true. Due to technical difficulties, some of us didn't get to study because we spent the month trying to schedule the exam.

[Gayan Balasooriya]

I failed the exam :roll: I got only 51%.I do not feel bad because I knew it.I did not prepare well.I did it on the second day after beta testing started.Congratulations to those who passed the exam
Now I'm preparing to do it again.Kathy we need your help.Thank you for what
you have done to help us.
For those who did not pass like me,I have collected some links and resources for this exam on my web site http://www.gayanb.com.
Thanks
Gayan Balasooriya
SCJP2,SCWCD
http://www.gayanb.com - DEVELOPER RESOURCES

[Kathy Sierra]

Howdy,
I'm afraid I don't know any of the other statistics related to the beta, but I think overall that a lot of people were in difficult situations and didn't have a chance to prepare as well as they wanted to, especially those trying to take it in the beginning, but also people later in the month.
With such a short period of time in which to schedule the exam, everyone just had to take it when they could. I'm not sure waiting a week or two later would have helped *everybody*, because some folks simply were not able to take that time to study, because of work deadlines or other situations.
On the beta, you just have to go for it, regardless of your circumstances.
But for the *real* exam, you can take your time and schedule it when YOU want to take it, as opposed to during that short time when the beta is offered.
So the best I can say is that taking the beta is a way to get a feel for what the real exam is like -- except that the real exam is easier! (because it's so much shorter than the beta )
Even if you don't run out of time on the beta, there are *very* few people who can keep focused for such a long stretch of questions (and time). I know my brain shuts down after the first 70 questions (which is, thankfully, the exact number of questions on the *real* exam )
So, even without the scheduling issues most people had with the exam, the beta is NEVER an ideal way to really get certified. But it is an opportunity, and I believe the people who just happened to already be pretty well prepared, and had the time to study for the beta, were in good shape to be able to take advantage of that chance to get a real certification. But for many MANY people, it simply came up too quickly to be adequately prepared, and so you have to consider it as an opportunity to get a free 'practice' run at the exam... and we DO have evidence that people who take any of the exams a second time will ALWAYS do better than they did the first time.
cheers,
stick with us and you WILL pass this thing (and it will feel so much easier than the beta )
Kathy

[wr nieman]

Hi,
What should I do. I participated in the Beta but did not receive my results yet. How do I get to know my results?
Regards
Wouter

[v giri]

You have got two ways to know your results.
(1) Log on to www.galton.com/~sun. Even if you have never logged in, you would be able to create a login from your Prometric results sheet of Java Programmer certification and view the results.
(2) If you have a login in www.2test.com. The test status of this exam would be changed from (earlier status of) Tested to (hopefully) Passed.
Otherwise you would any way get results through snail mail.
Best of luck and best wishes.

[iyven koh]

hi kathy,
Thanks for the tip for the beta exam. I have failed my exam but it is under my expectation since i have not enough time to prepare for it and i got the voucher at the later time.However, i feel that it is a good experience to take the beta exam and test on my knowledge on EJB. Thanks for the effort you have put in this exam.

[Vedhas Pitkar]

Me failed tooooooooo
I was expecting atleast a passing grade.Got 57%
Planning to give up certs for good.