Certification Question
Tim Moore
Greenhorn
Posts: 17
posted 13 years ago
I have been preparing for the 1.2 certificaton exam. In preparation, there have been some sample tests that I have done very well on, but others that I have done very poorly on lately. It seems like there is a distinct difference in the style of the practice exams that I do well on vs. the ones that I do poorly on. I have heard that the test is now much harder than it was, and that the newer practice exams reflect that. Is this true? If so, how can I be sure I am looking at the appropriate practice exams that are really indicative of what I might see on the real thing today? I think I was getting a false sense of confidence by doing so well on some of the older test exams. What do you think?
Thanks,
Tim
Thanks,
Tim
Anupam Sinha
Ranch Hand
Posts: 1090
La Vish
Ranch Hand
Posts: 161
posted 13 years ago
Tim,
The practice exams or mocks,as they are generally referred to ,actually reflects the personality of the person who created it and the purpose for which it is created.
You can take a mock at various stages of your study -for example
1.Before starting your studies to see how you fare and how much you should study and the topics you need to concentrate on.
2.Complete all your studies and then keep taking mock after mock to check if you are ready for the real exam or need more preparation.Here you find that on some you score 100% and on some you get your pride deflated!(Dan's mock is very famous for doing this
)
3.As you complete each topic you can take a mock or two and check if you understood the topic well.
Again there are mock exams aimed at getting you prepared to take the actual exam.At this stage it is assumed that you have completed your preparation and almost ready for the exam.Marcus Green mock exams falls into this category as his exam comes very close to the actual thing.
On the other hand Dan always insists that his exams are for learning! So if you are in learning stage then it is good to do Dan's excellent topic wise mock exams.(Consider yourself a java guru if you can score more than 70% in this mock exam
:roll: )
I should mention that there are many other superb mock exams available free on the net written by very intelligent and well meaning people and they fall between Dan's and Marcus' exams.
On conclusion I would say do not compare scores from different mock exams. Take each mock on its own merit.
My advice,for whatever it is worth:Start with Dan and end with Marcus and do all the rest in between.
One question: Why are you preparing for 1.2?
[ July 09, 2003: Message edited by: La Vish ]
The practice exams or mocks,as they are generally referred to ,actually reflects the personality of the person who created it and the purpose for which it is created.
You can take a mock at various stages of your study -for example
1.Before starting your studies to see how you fare and how much you should study and the topics you need to concentrate on.
2.Complete all your studies and then keep taking mock after mock to check if you are ready for the real exam or need more preparation.Here you find that on some you score 100% and on some you get your pride deflated!(Dan's mock is very famous for doing this
)3.As you complete each topic you can take a mock or two and check if you understood the topic well.
Again there are mock exams aimed at getting you prepared to take the actual exam.At this stage it is assumed that you have completed your preparation and almost ready for the exam.Marcus Green mock exams falls into this category as his exam comes very close to the actual thing.
On the other hand Dan always insists that his exams are for learning! So if you are in learning stage then it is good to do Dan's excellent topic wise mock exams.(Consider yourself a java guru if you can score more than 70% in this mock exam
:roll: )
I should mention that there are many other superb mock exams available free on the net written by very intelligent and well meaning people and they fall between Dan's and Marcus' exams.
On conclusion I would say do not compare scores from different mock exams. Take each mock on its own merit.
My advice,for whatever it is worth:Start with Dan and end with Marcus and do all the rest in between.
One question: Why are you preparing for 1.2?
[ July 09, 2003: Message edited by: La Vish ]
La Vish
SCJP 1.4, President 60s Club
Bert Bates
author
Sheriff
Sheriff
Posts: 8945
17
posted 13 years ago
My two cents:
I agree with the above advice and would like to add that almost everybody finds that Dan's mocks are MUCH tougher than the real exam. You will *probably* score 10-15% higher on the real exam than you do on Dan's.
I agree with the above advice and would like to add that almost everybody finds that Dan's mocks are MUCH tougher than the real exam. You will *probably* score 10-15% higher on the real exam than you do on Dan's.
Spot false dilemmas now, ask me how!
(If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much room.)
Tim Moore
Greenhorn
Posts: 17
posted 13 years ago
Actually I was referring to Dan Chisholm's exams, specifically at http://www.danchisholm.net/apr18/guide/index.html. I have been studying from "The Complete JAVA2 Certification Study Guide", by Simon Robert's, Philip Heller and Michael Ernest. This book comes with a CD from Sybex that has some test exams. I did pretty well on those exams and other similar type exams, but on the Dan Chisholm exams that I have taken so far, I have failed misserably. Based on that I am just not sure how prepared I am. I am not sure if I have taken any from Marcus Green, but will do so.
Thanks,
Tim
Thanks,
Tim
Tim Moore
Greenhorn
Posts: 17
Brian Joseph
Ranch Hand
Posts: 160
Anupam Sinha
Ranch Hand
Posts: 1090
posted 13 years ago
Hi Tim
Don't be upset. I also didn't do greatin the Dan's exam. I answered wrongly for many questions. I guess that my average was less than 70% and I passed. But what's really important is whether you understand the question or not. That is even if you have answered it wrongly did ou find out why you answer wasn't correct. The reason why Dan's exams are my personal favourite is his explaination to the question.
Don't be upset. I also didn't do greatin the Dan's exam. I answered wrongly for many questions. I guess that my average was less than 70% and I passed. But what's really important is whether you understand the question or not. That is even if you have answered it wrongly did ou find out why you answer wasn't correct. The reason why Dan's exams are my personal favourite is his explaination to the question.
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