Guidance regarding SCJP 1.4

[M Sharma]

Hi Ranchers,
I am planning to give my SCJP 1.4 exam on 27th of sept. I have prepared using Java Certification study guides by Philip Heller and the one by Khalid Mughal. Both these exam guides are for 1.2 so i haven't studied anything which is specific to SCJP 1.4.
As far as i know Assertions is the only new topic introduced in for SCJP 1.4 exam. I have also seen the objectives on the Sun's site, and assertions was the only new topic which i could make out.
Please provide me some good source where i could learn about assertion in a short span of time as i have very less time left (depth which is enough for giving the SCJP 1.4 exam) and i also want to know if there is any other topics which needs to be stressed for giving SCJP 1.4 exam.
I am finding Collections very difficult at this last moment, specially in remembering which method belongs to which collection, any good resource which explains the topic from exam point of view. I also wanted to know which points are stressed in exam from each topic.
I have one week left and i have already started giving mock exams. Any guidance on last days preparation is welcome.
[ September 20, 2003: Message edited by: Manish Sachdev ]

[shweta mathur]

Hi Manish,
For assertions read http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/guide/lang/assert.html
and
http://www.ii.uib.no/~khalid/pgjc/jcbook/JC2_Ch05-assertions-excerpt.pdf
Also Linked Hash Maps/Sets are added in 1.4
Refer link http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/j-mer0821/
If you can afford some time, this is an excellent guide for that last minute preparation A concentrated guide by Ashraf Faoud- http://www.valoxo.ch/jr/scjp2v1final.zip
[ September 20, 2003: Message edited by: shweta mathur ]

[M Sharma]

Thank you shweta for your suggestions and for providing me such valuable resources.
Ranchers,
Any suggestions or resources related to SCJP 1.4 are welcome.

[Valentin Crettaz]

You can find excellent articles by Thomas Paul on the Collections Framework in the Javaranch newsletter

[Gaurav Sahni]

Manish,
i gave the exam last week end and cleared it sucessfully with 74%. i also used the 2 books u mentioned, and feel that they are pretty adequate. For specifically 1.4, u need to read only two things, assertions and new classes added to collections package - the LinkedHashSet and LinkedHashMap. The links provided by shweta are perfect. For assertions, the link to the Khalid document http://www.ii.uib.no/~khalid/pgjc/jcbook/JC2_Ch05-assertions-excerpt.pdf is wonderful, and i think sufficient. Also http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/j-mer0821/ provides u about the later stuff ( classes in collection package).
Apart from these, a very good link on tips and traps to be aware of for the SCJP exam - http://www.javaranch.com/maha/Discussions/Other_interesting_Discussions/Traps_to_be_aware_of_in_any_SCJP_test_________-_JavaRanch_Big_Moose_Saloon.htm

Read the Carl Notes: http://www.javaranch.com/maha/Resources/CarlsNotes.txt . I read them in the morning, just before leaving for the exam center.
and take up the Javaranch Roundup game (both part 1 and 2) on the day before u are giving the exam. it provides a quick revision and memory check!
and lastly, don�t panic. and sleep well!

All the best. (and inform us, whatever is the result!)
Gaurav.
(Remember, every thing started from an Object!)

[M Sharma]

Thank you gaurav and Valentin for providing me the resources and guidance.