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How to prepare for this exam?

 
Greenhorn
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My background... I have a computer science bachelor's degree and have been programming in J2SE for 8 months for work, and I consider myself quite familiar with all aspects of J2SE, OOP and the Java language itself.

How should I prepare for the SCJP exam? Book suggestions? Should I be attending classes?

Thanks,
Eric
 
Ranch Hand
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Eric,

With your background you may not need to attend classes. You'll need to get a hang of the kind of questions asked in the SCJP and the way to approach the same. However, believe me, just the work experience does not translate into a sound score.

Head First Java is a good book. There are a whole lot of resources available; just checkout the SCJP FAQ's on the Ranch here.
Dan Chisholm has terrific stuff that no serious learner can afford to miss!

Good luck,
Saket
 
Ranch Hand
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hi Eric

You can check out this article and SCJP tutorial by Pradeep http://www.whizlabs.com/articles/scjp-article.html
http://www.whizlabs.com/tutorial/scjp/index.html

Cheers,
Seema
 
stable boy
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I do agree with Saket, there is no need to attend extra classes or instructor led training with your kind of background.

The only way you will get to the bottom of the fundamentals of the Java language is by practising a lot. And I mean a lot.

You can try some of the mock exams online some gives a good indication of your weaknesses and strengths in each area which are mandatory for the SCJP exam.

Book wise: Kathy Sierra is a good choice.

In any case all the best luck with your studies and the exam.
 
Greenhorn
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I'm also preparing for SCJP. One of my elder brother (Ashikuzzaman), who had read 55 books before getting SCJP. He told me to read book named Kathy Sierra and to visit JavaRanch regularly. I think, for good preparation we should give mock exams regularly. It will help us to find our weakness. Wish you all the best. Thanks everyone for their valuable advise.

regards

Atiq
 
Ranch Hand
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Hi,
Yes, so far you got the best suggestions. The book from Kathy and WhizLabs exam simulator will surely help you to be certified. I lecture students to get through this exam and I am sure you can pass the exam with the help of these two resources. Perticularly I have analyzed that the mark that you get in the final exam of the whizlabs simulator is mostly what you will get in the real exam. So don't worry just go ahead and use these resourcs and pass the exam well. Good Luck!
 
Greenhorn
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Originally posted by Atiquzzaman Nayeem:
I'm also preparing for SCJP. One of my elder brother (Ashikuzzaman), who had read 55 books before getting SCJP. He told me to read book named Kathy Sierra and to visit JavaRanch regularly. I think, for good preparation we should give mock exams regularly. It will help us to find our weakness. Wish you all the best. Thanks everyone for their valuable advise.

regards

Atiq




Hey,

Firstly, a big hi to everyone in this community.

Your brother read 55 books before doing the SCJP exam?!? Surely just reading a couple of books will give you enough coverage to complete the SCJP 1.4?

I am a Universisty student studying Business Information Systems (GUI, SSADM, DSDM, Databases, Business etc.). I am currently started studying for the SCJP in my spare time and would really appreciate clarification of my study plan to pass the SCJP 1.4.

I have read "An Introduction to Object Orientated Programming with Java" by C. Thomas Wu; which is a great book that has given me a great insight into OOP and Java. I am currently reading "How to Program Java", fifth edition by Deitel & Deitel. What do people think of this book? After I have read this book, I will be buying the "A Programmer's Guide to Java Certification: A Comprehensive Primer" book for preperation for this exam.

Is this plan of attack any good? Will I need to read more books?

- James
 
Greenhorn
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Sun provide a SJCP training CD - it costs about �90 ($160) and is available from the Sun site. I've used this and it's excellent - am looking forward to the exam (with some trepidation).

Also, if you want some hands-on training, there'a a company called koenig-solutions who provide training courses in India - they're much cheaper than courses in the UK, even when flights to India have been included.
 
arch rival
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The shortest route between where you are and passing the exam is to study material that directly addresses the exam criteria. If you read general books you will be using mental bandwidth on topics not covered. For example It would be unfortunate to enter the exam room with a good working knowledge of the Swing classes (not covered by the exam) and then miss out on all the tricky Threading stuff that comes up in the exam. In addition to the excellent resources that have been recommend in the earlier replies you might benefit from taking a look at some of my exam specific material at

http://www.jchq.net/certkey/index.htm
[ December 08, 2004: Message edited by: Marcus Green ]
 
Gabe Newell
Greenhorn
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Thanks a lot for the input - it's appreciated. Do you have any further details about the SCJP exam in India? I could kill two birds with one stone: take my SCJP while visiting India, which I've always wanted to do!
 
Ranch Hand
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Hello James,

You can find many prometric testing centers in majority of the Indian cities. The key to find prometric center is to locate NIIT center
Or you know how to find the centers for SCJP (visit the sun site )

Regards,

Manny
 
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