SCJP 5.0 BETA Certification Exam

[Evelyn Cartagena-Meyer]

Programmer 5.0 Beta Certification Exam

Are you a developer who is experienced in the basic syntax and structure of the Java programming language and in creating applications using the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE), especially the new J2SE Development Kit 5.0 and the J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0? If so, we invite you to help set Java technology industry standards and have your skills certified at the same time by taking the beta version of the revised Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 5.0 exam.

Beta Dates: Janaury 13 � February 13, 2005
Registration Start Date: January 3, 2005

From January 13 through February 13, 2005, a beta version of the new Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 5.0 exam will be available at all worldwide Prometric authorized testing centers at a reduced cost of $49 (US). Exam registration begins on Janaury 3, 2005.

Candidates may only schedule and take the exam once during the beta test period.

Beta Cost: $49 US
Exam Number: 311-055
Passing the exam provides you with full Sun certification status, and you will receive a "certification kit".

Candidates will have four to five (4-5) hours to complete 138 questions. The time allotted should give you time to respond to all questions and provide your valuable comments while taking the exam.

Beta exam is offered at all Worldwide Prometric Centers!
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Beta Exam Sign-up Registration

Unlike other SUN Microsystems certification exams, this exam does NOT require a voucher.

To register for the SUN Microsystems "Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 5.0" Beta exam, you may register online at www.2test.com, and follow the prompts.

Or, you may register by phone, by calling your regional Prometric registration office, listed at www.prometric.com/ContactUs/TestTakers.

Asia/Australia 61-2-96405830
Europe 31-320-239-800
Japan 81-0120-107737
Latin America* Contact your local Prometric testing center, listed at www.2test.com
USA/Canada 1-800-795-3926

Sun Employees ONLY: Please send an email to [email protected] with your full name, employee number, and Sun email.

Note: It is strongly recommended that beta test takers have 6-12 months Programmer experience.

Thank you.

PS If you have any problems registering, please send an email to [email protected]

I will post the testing objectives on Monday, December 20.

[Mark Spritzler]

Good Luck to everyone taking the Beta, you'll need it.

It is well-worth the reduced price to be able to help Sun, beta this new exam and experience the exam of your life.

Mark

[Shourya Kalinga]

There must be official notification in Sun's website about this. Could you please point us to some related link. I'm curious about this.

I visited www.2test.com, but I couldnt find that exam number anywhere in the listings. Are South Korea and India are included in Testing center list ?

Thanks

Shourya

[ December 15, 2004: Message edited by: Shourya Kalinga ]
[ December 15, 2004: Message edited by: Shourya Kalinga ]

[Evelyn Cartagena-Meyer]

This will be up on Sun's website next week.

[Nicholas Cheung]

Evelyn,

I am currently studying in an unversity which registered in SAI programme, would we have any discount offer?

Thanks.

Nick

[Martin CHOW]

Beta need $$$ NOW!!!

[Mark Spritzler]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:
Evelyn,

I am currently studying in an unversity which registered in SAI programme, would we have any discount offer?

Thanks.

Nick

The discount offer is the reduced price of $49, instead of the normal $150.

Mark

[Nicholas Cheung]

The discount offer is the reduced price of $49, instead of the normal $150.

For Oracle exams, the beta exam fee is of $50, however, OAI members could further get discount, thus, I took 1z1-042 and 1z1-043 at $30 only.

Nick

[Ferdinand Chan]

Will there be any upgrade exam avaliable? ( Just like from Java1.2 to Java 1.4)

Also am I certified if I pass the exam???

[Nicholas Cheung]

Beta need $$$ NOW!!!

In fact, I feel need to pay is better, because this avoid people who did not prepare (or prepare well) to join the test, which affect the passing rate.

If the exams are free, then even I fail without studying any materials, I have no lost at all!

Nick

[Bert Bates]

If you pass the beta, you will be certified

You guys will really have to study for this one... it's very different than the 1.4, and it's hard

- Bert

p.s. It's very likely that there will be an upgrade exam, but that won't come until later

[Kai Witte]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:

I am currently studying in an unversity which registered in SAI programme, would we have any discount offer?

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:

SCJP 1.2, OCP 9i DBA, SCWCD 1.3, SCJP 1.4 (SAI), SCJD 1.4, SCWCD 1.4 (Beta)
ICED (IBM 287, IBM 484, IBM 486), SCMAD 1.0 (Beta), SCBCD 1.3, ICSD (IBM 288)
ICDBA (IBM 700, IBM 701), SCDJWS, OCA 10g DBA (Beta)

1z1-043 Oracle Database 10g Administration II Beta Exam (waiting for the result)
311-055 SCJP Tiger Beta Exam (in progress)

You MUST stop now. You ARE addicted.

Conan

[Nicholas Cheung]

You MUST stop now. You ARE addicted.

I cannot stop, otherwise, I will be fired.

Nick

[Nicholas Cheung]

You guys will really have to study for this one... it's very different than the 1.4, and it's hard

Bert, how hard is it?

Any hints for better preparation?

Nick

[Joyce Lee]

You guys will really have to study for this one... it's very different than the 1.4, and it's hard

Why is it very different than the 1.4? Is it because of the new features in Tiger or the question format has been changed drastically?

Joyce

[Ko Ko Naing]

I saw Kathy's post in the past that it may contain the real code... We have to type and code according to the requirement in the exam question...

Is it really implemented in this exam?

[Barry Gaunt]

Ko Ko, real programmers don't go when they have to write code, they go:

[Pradeep bhatt]

What about blueprint survey takers? I had recd email saying that free vouchers will be sent. Does that stand cancelled?

[Tomas Conway]

Originally posted by Shourya Kalinga:
I visited www.2test.com, but I couldnt find that exam number anywhere in the listings.

The registration doesn't start until January 3rd, so presumably the exam won't appear in the listings before that date.

Originally posted by Evelyn Cartagena:
This will be up on Sun's website next week.

Thank you for the advanced notice.

[Jeroen Wenting]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:

I cannot stop, otherwise, I will be fired.

Nick

If the only reason your boss doesn't fire you is because you are constantly taking certification tests you should be looking for another line of employment...
He's driving you into a burnout.

[Joyce Lee]

Originally posted by Pradeep Bhat:
What about blueprint survey takers? I had recd email saying that free vouchers will be sent. Does that stand cancelled?

I sent an e-mail to Evelyn asking her about this. She said that those who participated in the blueprint survey would receive a voucher next week.

[flye rosal]

hi,

do you have any info for a good J2SE5.0 study guide?

(unnecessary quote of original post - snipped out)
[ December 16, 2004: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

[Nicholas Cheung]

do you have any info for a good J2SE5.0 study guide?

I found Cay's Core Java series 7th edition is quite good for learning Tiger. If you could, you might also read JLS for the new sections added to Tiger.

Nick

[Nicholas Cheung]

If the only reason your boss doesn't fire you is because you are constantly taking certification tests you should be looking for another line of employment...

He wants not only a smart guy, but also a guy that allows him to show off in front of the clients. Moreover, it is not easy to find a job with my current salary, and it is very difficult to find a good IT job nowadays.

He's driving you into a burnout.

That's ok still. At least I dont have to do system support, and thus, I dont need to take MCSE, LPI and CCXE.

Nick
[ December 16, 2004: Message edited by: Nicholas Cheung ]

[Mark Spritzler]

How hard? Hmm.

Let's just say you will really have to know your stuff. Not the trivia stuff, but how things really work. The principles will really need to be ingrained.

For studying you should really write as much code as you can to see the results. You will find you will be surprised by the results, in your grade, and what you get back from the compiler and JVM. Enjoy!

For Oracle exams, the beta exam fee is of $50, however, OAI members could further get discount, thus, I took 1z1-042 and 1z1-043 at $30 only.

Nick

Unfortunately, Sun does not have such a fee schedule.

In fact, I feel need to pay is better, because this avoid people who did not prepare (or prepare well) to join the test, which affect the passing rate.

Exactly, you hit the nail on the head. Those that aren't prepared because it is free bring the quality down, and they want the best test you have ever seen, and I think they are there.

Why is it very different than the 1.4? Is it because of the new features in Tiger or the question format has been changed drastically?

posted by Joyce

There is not a single question on the exam that is not performance based and requires a strong knowledge of the subject to get it correct. There are no trivia questions, or stuff that is on the fringe of "do we really need to know this"

I saw Kathy's post in the past that it may contain the real code... We have to type and code according to the requirement in the exam question...

Is it really implemented in this exam?

Yes, but not how you think. You won't actually type in the code, it will be those task drag and drop type questions where you will need to fill in the blank spaces with corresponding boxes that you drag over the open box space.

do you have any info for a good J2SE5.0 study guide?

Unfortunately, there aren't any books out yet that fully cover the exam. Soon HF Java will be out and it will cover a lot. I suggest reading the beta JLS and Javadocs for 5.0 and write code that tests the stuff out.

Mark
[ December 20, 2004: Message edited by: Mark Spritzler ]

[Nicholas Cheung]

Merk,

Did you perform any reviews on Cay's Core Java series 7th edition?

If so, how do you feel? I feel that it is quite good for Tiger beginners, and it could enhance our knowledge on Tiger. I am currently seeking for better resources (other than JLS, Javadocs and Core Java series), but still, seems there are really lack of resources.

Nick

[Pradeep bhatt]

Originally posted by Joyce Lee:


I sent an e-mail to Evelyn asking her about this. She said that those who participated in the blueprint survey would receive a voucher next week.

Thanks for the info. I am very happy.

[Pradeep bhatt]

Originally posted by Jeroen Wenting:


If the only reason your boss doesn't fire you is because you are constantly taking certification tests you should be looking for another line of employment...
He's driving you into a burnout.

In my friend's company, people were forced to take up certifications. OfCourse the company sponsored.People were scared to death- What will happen if they fail etc. If someone failed they would have to retake the exam with their own money. After they got certifications (some had to pay from their pocket for the 2nd attempt) people started to look out for job and many quit. The management realised that it would be better to stop this certification business. Now it is the employees (who are still working there)to demand for more certification exam. The managers are avoiding talking about this.

[Nicholas Cheung]

The managers are avoiding talking about this.

Not really, some companies enforce you to take certs and trainings, and at the same time, they request you to sign a document that you will not leave the company in a certain period. In such sense, if you are resigned, you need to pay the company 2 months of your salary, etc.

Nick

[flye rosal]

Can anyone help please?
Where can I find a good reading or reviewer for the J2SE5.0 beta exam?

I know it's still a beta release, but I am hoping somebody knows a good link...

[Nicholas Cheung]

Where can I find a good reading or reviewer for the J2SE5.0 beta exam?

You might try Cay's Core Java series, 7th edition. I am using these books to prepare for the exam.

Nick

[Arun Prasath]

What about Brett McLaughlin's "Java 1.5 Tiger Developer's Notebook". Has anybody following this book? How much does it help for certification?

[Pradeep bhatt]

Originally posted by Arun Prasath:
What about Brett McLaughlin's "Java 1.5 Tiger Developer's Notebook". Has anybody following this book? How much does it help for certification?

I have the book and I found that there are errors with regards to how tiger compiler works. It may be because he has written the book before tiger was released. A good read though.

[Nicholas Cheung]

I guess, as the book is too thin, it might not cover exam topics deeply, and thus, I wonder it might not be enough.

Nick

[Joe Wilson]

Hi,

where can I find the "beta JLS" for Tiger. I just searched
sun.com and didn't find it...

[Nicholas Cheung]

where can I find the "beta JLS" for Tiger

You could find JSRs from:
http://jcp.org/en/jsr/all

Nick

[Pradeep bhatt]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:

You might try Cay's Core Java series, 7th edition. I am using these books to prepare for the exam.

Nick

This book is not available in India.

[Martin CHOW]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:

You could find JSRs from:
http://jcp.org/en/jsr/all

Nick

What JSRs are needed in this exam? (901?JLS3?)

[Nicholas Cheung]

What JSRs are needed in this exam?

You might find that there are 15 new JSRs added in Tiger:

JSR-003 JMX Management API
JSR-013 Decimal Arithmetic
JSR-014 Generic Types
JSR-028 SASL
JSR-114 JDBC Rowsets
JSR-133 New Memory Model
JSR-163 Profiling API
JSR-166 Concurrency Utilities
JSR-174 JVM Software Monitoring and Management
JSR-175 Metadata
JSR-199 Compiler APIs
JSR-200 Pack Transfer Format
JSR-201 Four Language Updates
JSR-204 Unicode Surrogates
JSR-206 JAXP 1.3

Nick

[Joe Wilson]

Hi Folks,

thanks for your help

I found it via JSR 901 at

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/jls-proposed-changes.html

Greetings from the cyberspace, Joe