Voucher Status

[Bert Bates]

I justed talked to Sun, and as of today there are still vouchers available. However, prometric might be a little behind, so you might get weird emails from them until they catch up.
One thing to remember is that these free beta exams from Sun should be considered "gifts". The intention is that it's a win-win situation, Sun gets valuable information used to create the final exam, and some candidates get a free exam.
Sun doesn't release the actual numbers, but they do release a few more vouchers than can be used. They do this because a lot of people get the vouchers and then don't take the exam, and Sun needs a large enough beta population to make valid statistical evaluations.
The practical implications of this "overbooking" (kind of like the airlines do), are this:
1 - Don't panic!
2 - Don't procrastinate!
The beta runs from Jan. 19 to Feb. 6. If past experience is any indication, then I'd predict (notice I didn't say guarantee ), that everyone who schedules their exam in the first week will be really safe. Everyone who schedules their exam in the second week will be taking a bit of a risk, but not much. Anyone who schedules their exam in the third week should understand that there is a reasonable chance they might not get in.
The corollary: If you're NOT an expert in Servlets and JSPs that's OK. But because not everybody gets in, I advise that you put a lot of effort into preparation for the exam ONLY if you intend to take it regardless of whether you get a free voucher. Last time some people were upset that they studied hard and then didn't get in, and they didn't want to pay the $150 for the real exam.
Hope that helps!
Bert

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Bert Bates:

that everyone who schedules their exam in the first week will be really safe. Everyone who schedules their exam in the second week will be taking a bit of a risk, but not much. Anyone who schedules their exam in the third week should understand that there is a reasonable chance they might not get in.

But in the email I received from Prometric, it says that the Prometric will start to receive the scheduling process only at Jan 16 and onwards...
I'm not sure what u meant by "the first week will be really safe"
Will they receive scheduling process at the first week of January?
Thank you in advance, Mr.Bates...

[Nicholas Cheung]

I guess Mr. Bates divided the exam period in 3 weeks:
1st week: 19 Jan - 25 Jan
2nd week: 26 Jan - 1 Feb
3rd week: 2 Feb - 6 Feb
So, the 1st week actually refers to 19 Jan to 25 Jan, and Prometric receives schedules on 16 Jan.
Nick.

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:
I guess Mr. Bates divided the exam period in 3 weeks:
1st week: 19 Jan - 25 Jan
2nd week: 26 Jan - 1 Feb
3rd week: 2 Feb - 6 Feb
So, the 1st week actually refers to 19 Jan to 25 Jan, and Prometric receives schedules on 16 Jan.
Nick.

That's not good for me... I planned to take the exam on Feb 2. It looks like I have to take the exam in the first week to make sure that I am not dropped for the test... :roll:

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Ko Ko,
I think this does not matter, you can schedule the exam on 19 Jan, in order to "reserve" a seat on 2 Feb first.
In fact, since I have to work on Mon-Fri, I cannot take the exam without taking leave. Thus, I will schedule the exam on either 31 Jan (Sat) or 1 Feb (Sun).
Nick.

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:
Hi Ko Ko,
I think this does not matter, you can schedule the exam on 19 Jan, in order to "reserve" a seat on 2 Feb first.
In fact, since I have to work on Mon-Fri, I cannot take the exam without taking leave. Thus, I will schedule the exam on either 31 Jan (Sat) or 1 Feb (Sun).
Nick.

So u mean Mr.Bates is only talking about the scheduling(reserving) for the exam... I also think like that too... So I hope that I can take the exam on February 2.....
All the best for your preparation also, Nick...

[Nicholas Cheung]

Ko Ko,
As I have taken the "old" SCWCD, most the concepts I have been gone through.
I just have 3 topics left, which maybe the most difficult ones:
- EL
- JSLT
- Design pattern
I hope I can read more info from the spec., before I take the exam.
Best luck to you too
Nick.

[Ko Ko Naing]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:
Ko Ko,
As I have taken the "old" SCWCD, most the concepts I have been gone through.
I just have 3 topics left, which maybe the most difficult ones:
- EL
- JSLT
- Design pattern
I hope I can read more info from the spec., before I take the exam.
Best luck to you too
Nick.

As for me, I am ready for the current version, but I found out later that the new version is coming and I planned to go for it, instead of taking the current version.

By the way, do u think that it is enough to read the JSP spec for the JSP portion of the exam? Since Mr.Bates said that there will be more coding question, so I think it's better, if we have more practice on JSP portion.... I'm planning to buy one book on JSP 2.0 tech... Still cannot decide which one to buy.
The books in my list are
-Pro JSP(APress) recommended by Kathy, but hard to get, since I'm in Thailand
-JavaServer Pages, 3rd Edition(O'Reilly)
-JSP 2.0:The Complete Reference, I can get it in the bookstore near my house
What's your opinion on the books? Do u think whether we need a book to study about the JSP tech for the exam?

[Nicholas Cheung]

Hi Ko Ko,
For the booklist you make,

-Pro JSP(APress) recommended by Kathy
-JavaServer Pages, 3rd Edition(O'Reilly)
-JSP 2.0:The Complete Reference

In fact, I have all these books in my company.
I have scanned through them once for SCWCD objectives, I think that Pro JSP is a really good book for JSP 2.0, so I will definitely use it as a reference during preparation.
I feel the O'Reilly book is a bit difficult to read becos it tries to explain lots of difficult concepts using short paragraphs. For JSP 2.0 book, for the same concepts, I feel it is easier for me to understand using APress's one rather than this one.
So, I also recommend Pro JSP.
But the feeling is different for different people.
Nick.

[Ko Ko Naing]

THanks a lot for your suggestion, Nick...
My mind also crash on Pro JSP as well...

[Ganesh mb]

Hi everyone,
I am new to javaranch and bumped into this topic just now. I cleared the programmer's test this Monday (read the details here at https://coderanch.com/t/138092/sr/certification/Hurray-SJCP-Java)
I am interested in getting this voucher as I am planning to take SCWCD next. Is it too late to apply for this one?

Thanks,
Ganesh

[Ali Ragi]

I guess that all this thread talking about is the chance to reserve a seat - the earlier schedule the exam, the better chance to have a seat, RIGHT? But it doesn't mean that the earlier to take the exam, the better chance to pass the exam, and the later to take the exam, the passing grade will be higher, and more likely to fail the exam. I hope I guess right. Well, maybe this is a stupid question. But just wondering!

[Michael Sullivan]

I received my voucher this week, and another poster mentioned receiving one today. Send your email off to prometric, with your prometric ID as soon as possible to be considered for the voucher. Noone has posted that prometric has rejected any requests (yet).

This thread is about receiving a voucher to take the SCWCD 1.4 beta exam for free. Apparently Sun has decided to allow a finite number of testers to take the new beta exam without cost, in trade for providing valuable comments on the questions. You must send an email to request a voucher for the test, and then on January 16th, you may schedule your test.
[ January 01, 2004: Message edited by: Michael Sullivan ]

[Pratibha Malhotra]

Hi Bert Bates
Kindly Clarify the confusion raised around here
Kindly clarify Whether Giving exam in first week is to ensure booking of seat or Low Pass percentage. Or is it that after a fixed amount of candidates say 100 jave cleared certification, SUN just ignore rest of the exams attempted.
I am planning to take my exam in FEB.

[Bert Bates]

Hope to clear up any confusion...
There is a certain number of beta exams that Sun will provide for free. Call that number X.
Because not everyone who gets a voucher actually shows up for the exam, Sun gives out more than X vouchers. The first X people to show up and take the exam will be the sample group to help Sun determine how to fine-tune the test for its live debut. Once X people have showed up to Prometric and actually taken the test, the beta is over. It could take 1 week for enough people to show up, or it could take 6 weeks. On another thread I *guessed*, (and it really is just a guess!!! ), that most everybody who goes to prometric within the first two weeks will probably get in, and that by the third week it's more likely that if you go, you may be too late. Remember, it's just a guess!!! :roll:
If you are amoungst the first X people to take the beta (the only ones who will), then it doesn't matter whether you take it early or late - Sun wants the entire sample population of test takers! So if you're in you're in!
Good luck!!

[Dave Knipp]

how long will the beta tests take to grade? and then how long until the actual new version of the scwcd test comes out? months? years?
Best Regards,
Dave