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Another exam simulator question

 
Keith Rosenfield
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Hi All:
I'm currently using two exam simulators in preparation for the real thing. I am using EJBPlus and SoftSCBCD. My scores using EJBPlus have been in the 70 percentile whereas my scores using SoftSCBCD have been in the 80 percentile. I have found that some of the questions in EJBPlus are a bit convoluted and some even ask about stuff not in the real exam. The SoftSCBD questions are more straightforward.
For those who has used both of these, which one is more like the real exam For those who have used just one, which one, and how well does it reflect the real exam?
I don't want to waste my time practicing unrealistic questions.
Thanks for you help.
 
L Singh
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My comments which I posted in another discussion thread. You might find it of some help.
------
I was also looking for the best SCBCD simulator to start my preparation.
The recent posts in the Sun Certification Forum suggest that soft-SCBCD
is better compared to EJBPlus. My friend in United States had used
both EJB plus and soft SCBCD and he has also suggested to go for sof-SCBCD
as the question are close to real exam.
------
Rgds
LP
 
Magnus Stattin
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Hello Keith
I used both and I found that SoftSCBCD was very close to the real exam. As you say the questions are more straightforward and there are fewer errors. I would highly recommend the tutorial in SoftSCBCD, as it gives a good overview. The score I got on the softSCBCD in the end was close to what I got on the real exam.
Good luck
/Magnus
 
Manoj Gupta
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Hello Keith, Magnus
Thanks for appreciating our product.
We would like to add to this discussion that as of now there are no *known* errors in the simulator. The errors that were found by Magnus were taken care of in the simulator, as soon as the errors were reported by Magnus. We are thankful to Magnus for pointing out the errors that he found in the simulator.

We had consolidated all the feedbacks that we received from our customers and incorporated in the simulator. That is the reason why the new customers no longer receive the Mock Exam Errata from the Technical Support team.
Best regards
Manoj Gupta
SoftLearn Systems
www.softlearn-systems.com
 
bhargavi kakarala
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hi keith,
Before buying exam simulator I went thru all old posts here mostof them were satisfied with softSCBCD.
manoj,
A small suggestion to u .can u change the name of softscbcd exam simulator from Ashish Sarin's mock engine to softscbcd or soft-learn scbcd.since it was not mentioned properly I thought INEsystems scbcd as softscbcd.
[ February 03, 2004: Message edited by: bhargavi ]
 
Peter Vennel
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I have tried the three simulators WhizLabs, EJBPlus and SoftSCBCD (SoftLearn).
Whizlabs cannot printout quick preparation notes. I wanted to refer it at work or while having lunch. ( )
SoftSCBCD does not store exam results (Ouch!). You definitely want to know what your weak points were and work on them more often. I found this to be one of the biggest drawback of the product. You do not want to keep working on the exams till you get 100%.
EJBPlus, on the other hand has lot of features including making your personal notes for each question while you attempt it.This really helped me, as I could view all the notes made by me for all the exams day before and memorize them.
I do agree that my score on SoftSCBCD was very near to the actual exam. While EJBPlus may do have some questions outside the exam, it does not harm to know them. Rule of the thumb is that you add 20% more than what you get in EJBPlus or WhizLabs or HeadFirst exam simulator, because you are not given the choice of knowing the correct number of answers to select for multiple choice questions. But this makes you think hard and really see the difference through the nuances of the answers. I had got 70% average in all my exams, including HeadFirst. Except Soft-Learn SCBCD where it was in lower 80's.
I got 85%. Lost marks in areas I thought I would get 100% like EJBQL and Transactions . There is lot of time to recheck your answers. One thing I did not like on real test is that for EJBQL, once you select the query words, you cannot go back and review it. When I tried to click on it, it said, that this will reset all my selection. So I did not go into it again.
This forum goes a long way to help you with all your confusions . I had browsed the postings for few days and found most of my questions answered. Probably that is why you might have not seen much postings by me.
I feel that you should not just prepare from certification point of view, because, eventually you are going to work on some live project. So it does not kill to know something outside the certification.
Kathy and Bert have very correctly mentioned that you have to take the test only once. Because you take the same test couple of times and you end up getting 98% and still fail on real test because you have memorized the questions and answers by that time.
Last ,but not the least, I would like to praise the book "Head First EJB'. It really drills the info into your brain in a different way. (liked the approach). Here's to Kathy & Bert .
You do not want to just pass the exams and not know much about EJB. So do not just depend on selecting a simulator just because it has questions matching the real exams. What is Sun decides to change the questions in the question bank???
Finally I would like to say is that if you want value for you money, I would definitely place my bet on EJBPlus. WhizLabs is also not so bad (other than not letting you print their quick reference notes), but too expensive compared to EJBPLus.
Also thanks to Anil Paul for sending me free copy of EJBPlus for evaluation. I am looking forward to their SCEA simulator .
p.s. Keith, I thought you might have already taken the test. Good Luck.

Peter Vennel
SCJP, SCJD, SCWCD, SCBCD, IBM XML, MCP (not the other one.... )
[ February 04, 2004: Message edited by: Peter Vennel ]
 
Keith Rosenfield
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Hey Peter,
I have decided to use both EJBPlus and softSCBD in my preparation. That way I can have all my bases covered. I took two practice tests in EJBPlus and scored 74% and 85%. My scores in the two practice tests in softSCBD were 88% and 86%. They are both exceptional tools for test preparation although the three features that give EJBPlus and edge the ability to keep notes, that it saves your test results, and the ability to customize the test.
[ February 04, 2004: Message edited by: Keith Rosenfield ]
 
Peter Vennel
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Hi Keith,
You correctly mentioned the other two advantages of EJBPlus over the other simulators, which I missed out.
I thought of giving Test after you gave, because from your postings it looked like we are on the same page. I thought that I will wait for you feedback on the test and be somewhat more prepared . But here at work, I was running out of time as I have to start working J2EE project. I am working the design architecture. I find this more exciting that the test , because I will actually get to implement my knowledge.
The scariest part is that EJB is something new my organization is venturing into and I do not have much help other than from the diferent newsgroups.
One thing that really bothered me a lot was the ej-jar.xml file. It is very inconsistent w.r.t. naming convetion like 'primkey-field' and 'prim-key-class', and others in 'relations' element where they skipped ejb in some places and had it in others .
In Funny thing is that in Borland Enterprise Server, there is icon in Deployment section, which gives you the state diagram based on whether you are in Session Bean or Entity Bean or Message Driven Bean. I had it so much drilled into my brain that I could draw that in my sleep also.
But Hats off the Dare-Devils who ventured for the Beta Test. We are lucky to have all these simulators to access our weakness before the actual test.
So when are you planning to take the DIVE! . Based on your scores in mock test, I guess you should not get anything less than higher 80's if not 100.
I might have got 100, but was too over confident. Should have rechecked my answers thoroughly. Can't believe I lost in EJBQL and Transactions. They are the easiest. Always scored 100% in all mock test for these sections.
Peter.
 
Keith Rosenfield
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Hey Peter,
I just purchased the exam voucher this morning. I will take the exam either this coming Friday or next Monday, depending on how I do on the next few practice tests. I have been able to complete the practice exam with plenty of time to spare. On the real exam, I will use this extra time to carfully review my answers. At this point I am confident that I will pass but I want to "pass with flying colors".
Thanks for you input and good luck on your project.
 
Vishwa Kumba
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Originally posted by Keith Rosenfield:
At this point I am confident that I will pass but I want to "pass with flying colors".


Good Luck!!!
 
Jeff Walker
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Originally posted by Keith Rosenfield:
Hi All:
I'm currently using two exam simulators in preparation for the real thing. I am using EJBPlus and SoftSCBCD. My scores using EJBPlus have been in the 70 percentile whereas my scores using SoftSCBCD have been in the 80 percentile. I have found that some of the questions in EJBPlus are a bit convoluted and some even ask about stuff not in the real exam. The SoftSCBD questions are more straightforward.
For those who has used both of these, which one is more like the real exam For those who have used just one, which one, and how well does it reflect the real exam?
I don't want to waste my time practicing unrealistic questions.
Thanks for you help.


------------------------------------
Ok, one more thing; what about Whizlabs SCBCD exam simulator?
http://www.whizlabs.com/scbcd/scbcd.html
It seems to be very pricey at $74 and change. Has anybody used it please?
Is the SoftSCBCD exam simulator really only $15?? Go here and see:
http://www.softlearn-systems.com/softSCBCD.htm
-jeff walker
 
Dale Seng
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Have a look at
this.
I happen to have won the whizlabs product right here on this board, but haven't used it yet (and I don't think results from it are part of the analysis of that link, above).
--Dale--
 
Swapan Mazumdar
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To Those Who Have Used The Similators,

1) Can anybody tell me what is the mode of delivery of EJB+ / softSCBCD?
2) Do they deliver electronically?
3) What is the delivery time?


Thanks
An Aspirant From South Africa
 
Swapan Mazumdar
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Hi Moderator,

I just realized that Jeff Walker's post was logged at May 05, 2004 04:43 PM
and Dale Seng's at May 05, 2004 06:18 PM. My post follows them at March 11, 2005 06:16 AM which doesn't make sense. :roll:

There is nothing serious but I thought I should raise this through to the Site Master.
 
Don't get me started about those stupid light bulbs.
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