Attention Bert Bates or anybody who knows about SCWCD Beta

[Pratibha Malhotra]

Hi Bert Bates
Kindly Clarify the confusion raised due to following statement of yours in Thread [I] Topic: Voucher Status [I]

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.

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What do u mean by "Get in"
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.
[ January 04, 2004: Message edited by: Michael Ernest ]

[Michael Sullivan]

what they mean is thus: (numbers arbitrary, but used to get the point across)
If Sun/ Prometric gives out 1000 beta vouchers, and needs at least 600-700 responses, then the beta testing may end after 700 exams have been taken. So if you wait until the last week to take the exam, you are increasing the risk that the maximum number of exams have been taken, and thus you may not 'get in' or be eligible for the exam.
I believe that the important things to note are this:
Don't request a voucher unless you are going to take the exam.
Getting a voucher does not guarantee that you'll sit for the exam.
If you do get a voucher, schedule early sitting.

[Ali Ragi]

Just want to clarify one more thing: Since to phone in at the first registration day - Jan 16th, 2004 to make a appointment-schedule for the exam, and taking the exam at the last day(scheduled exam day)- Feb 6th, 2004 are two difference things. My question is that if I phone in at the fisrt registration day to schedule my exam for Feb 6th, 2004 - the last exam day, that will guarrantee my sit for the exam. Your further reply will be appreciated.

[Zack Ponares]

Indeed, I am confused about this as well. If, on January 16th, one schedules an exam for February with Prometric, why would this exam sitting not be ensured? The exam is 5 hours and people will be taking time off from work, making travel arrangements, et cetera...just to right this exam. And you (Michael) are suggesting that all these efforts could be found to be worthless on exam day??

[Michael Sullivan]

Yes, you are correct. Even scheduling the exam may not ensure that you will sit for the exam. Sun/ Prometric may stop the 1.4 Beta testing at any point during the testing cycle, after the minimum threshold of test takers has been reached.
You are not guaranteed to get a voucher for the exam.
If you get a voucher, you are not guaranteed to get scheduling for the exam.
If you schedule the exam, you are not guaranteed to sit for the exam.
If you sit for the exam, you are not guaranteed to pass the exam.

Sounds fun, huh?

[Zack Ponares]

But how do you know this, Michael? Nowhere in my e-mail does it have any fine print even hinting at what you are saying. In fact, the very first line reads: Congratulations, you are now confirmed for the Sun Certified Web Component Developer for the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition 1.4 Beta exam.
[ January 03, 2004: Message edited by: Zack Ponares ]

[Michael Sullivan]

Zach,
I called Prometric the day I received my voucher, and they told me that the confirmation I received was for the VOUCHER only, not a guarantee to sit for the test. They specified that the voucher doesn't guarantee me a scheduled slot, nor that a scheduled slot would guarantee that I sit for the exam. They specified that the number of beta testers allowed to sit for the exam was controlled by Sun, and that Sun could stop Beta testing at any point during the Beta testing cycle.
Thanks,
Michael

[Raj Puri]

This sounds pretty scary. Does Sun want students to take Beta w/o adequate study. This thread and post else where suggest only taking test in the first or second week(may be) can ensure you are withing Sun's quota of allowed test takers!.

Can some one clarify this? I see a stempede her.

[Bert Bates]

Michael has it exactly right!!!
The beta is meant to help Sun fine-tune the test. It is not intended for beginners to get a "free" exam. If you feel that you are not solid in SCWCD topics and that you don't intend to take the exam unless you can take it for free, then I would recommend that you not go. However, you don't have to be an expert; if you intend to study for the real exam anyway. Because seats cannot be guaranteed, Sun doesn't want anyone feeling bad if they study and then don't get in.
You're supposed to say: "hey great I got in" or "too bad I didn't get in, but my studies have not been wasted because I'm going to take this exam anyway"
Make sense?

[Zack Ponares]

Originally posted by Bert Bates:
Michael has it exactly right!!!
The beta is meant to help Sun fine-tune the test. It is not intended for beginners to get a "free" exam. If you feel that you are not solid in SCWCD topics and that you don't intend to take the exam unless you can take it for free, then I would recommend that you not go. However, you don't have to be an expert; if you intend to study for the real exam anyway. Because seats cannot be guaranteed, Sun doesn't want anyone feeling bad if they study and then don't get in.
You're supposed to say: "hey great I got in" or "too bad I didn't get in, but my studies have not been wasted because I'm going to take this exam anyway"
Make sense?

No, not much sense. How hard is it for Sun to ensure users at least a day before the exam that their trip to the Prometric centre for the 5 hour exam will not be in vain? Again, people will be setting aside FIVE hours for the exam and some people will even be traveling over an hour just to get to their nearest Prometric centres for the opportunity to participate in this Beta effort. Zero assurance from Sun that a scheduled sitting (nevermind the voucher) will be honoured just doesn't seem right.
If the target is 1000 exam sittings, why not spare us Java lovers the grief. Take the relatively small cost hit and just honour all 1200 or however many vouchers Sun hands out. Please?
[ January 03, 2004: Message edited by: Zack Ponares ]

[Bert Bates]

Man I feel your pain
I would recommend that you call your Prometric center ahead of time. I believe (but I'm not sure), that they can tell you before you get in your car, whether or not your voucher is still valid. It's not perfect I know.

[Zack Ponares]

I'll do that, for sure. Thanks, Bert.