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SCJP 1.2 vs SCJP 1.4

 
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Hello friends
Can somebody explain me the rationale behind some of the changes made in the exam objectives from SCJP 1.2 to 1.4?
.. especially like strengthening the objectives on Wrapper classes and Collections and removing the AWT objectives. Is it more important for a Java Programmer to know each and every method defined in the Wrapper classes and Collections as opposed to understanding the basics of AWT & Event Handling?
Now, I could be a SCJP 1.4 without knowing a thing about AWT ... and unfortunately, that's what I'm gonna be
As a beginner (in Java Programming), I would rather prefer to have a broader perspective of the language rather than concentrating on minute details.
Moreover, I hate questions which test my memory rather than my ability to understand the concept. I have seen such questions in various mock exams. I wonder how many questions in the exam would really be testing a person's ability to memorize things as against understanding them. I can understand that a Java programmer should be able to identify all (or should I say most) keywords in Java but is it really important to understand each and every method defined in the collection classes? Is it not too much to memorize?
I can also understand the addition of new features like "assertions" but the other things I mentioned above are beyond me.
I am new to this language and this is the first time I'm working towards SCJP certification. When I compare the exam objectives, in my *personal* opinion:
System.out.println ((SCJP1.2 + assertions) > SCJP1.4); // prints: true
Any thoughts/comments/suggestions?
Cheers
Harwinder
 
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Hi, Harwinder -
The 1.4 exam does not test you on memorizing method signatures and the like. You do need to know how collections work, and the fundamentals of using them. Same with the fundamental classes, like String, Math, etc.
I used many of the mock exams out there, and I found JavaCertificate a good place to start, because you can test by exam objective, and polish your skills in one objective until you score well on all of them. As for books and other exams, I found the Sierra/Bates SCJP/SCJD prep book the best, and the practice tests were very close to the real thing.
Because you're new to Java, I highly recommend visiting Sun, downloading the Java Tutorial (it's free), then practice practice practice writing code, compiling code, breaking code, and fixing code. If you do that, then polish your skills with the Sierra/Bates book, you'll understand the concepts of Java, and you'll ace the exam.
Hope that helps!
 
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Hi Harwinder,
I think Kalid's book explains assertions very well.
It is available at this site if you do not have the book.
http://www.ii.uib.no/~khalid/pgjc/jcbook/JC2_Ch05-assertions-excerpt.pdf
I hope this helps.
Good Luck.
 
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Hi
Also they decided to remove topics that are not used too much by all developers. Many programers newer uses AWT for anything since they do
client-server type apps. However you can be SCJD where those slils
are tested.
 
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