How to improve more?

[Vidhya Senthilkumar]

Hello friends.

Just now I started (one week back) for preparing SCJP 1.4 Exam.
I am preparing with k&B Book. The book is very good.

I can understand the concepts. But while answering the Self-test questions,
I did lot of mistakes and I can score 30% to 40%.

How can I improve scoring?
How can I read effectively?

Is it necessary to read some other books?

Those who are completed SCJP, Please Help me in this regard.

With regards,
Senthil.

[Kai Witte]

hello,

I recommend to continue from your point with plenty of mock questions in a Leitner system. If you have plenty of mock questions in printed form, for example in a book, keep track of the current box in the system by writing the corresponding number next to the question.

Understand all your wrong answers, using the JLS and the API documentation and whatever you like.

Kai

[Kai Witte]

Also learn about effective reading. I don't know a good source for that which is still available, but the JCU Effective Reading article comes close to what I would recommend. Instead of the "Reading and Studying" section I highly recommend to work with a text marker and Mindmaps, though. Learning about such reading techniques (takes only a few hours) and about Mindmaps (takes a couple of hours and some practice) improves your general skills enormously. If you don't believe in it, don't worry: It works just as good for people who don't believe in it as it does for others.

Kai

[Jay Pawar]

I would say just reading the concepts is not sufficient. You need to write small programs based on those concepts. Break the code, understand the compiler error and tweak the code in all possible way.
HTH

[Vidhya Senthilkumar]

I am very happy by seeing replies to the forum.

Ok. I will apply ur tips. Continue to post ur tips.


With regards,
senthil.

[Higgledy Smith]

Vidhya this is an excellent topic.

I too am in your EXACT situation, accept I am 2 weeks into reading the Sierra SCJP book. I must tell you that practicing the code has helped my scores on the Java Ranch roundup. After the second week, my scores on the JavaRanch Roundup, went from a 63% avg to an 80% avg. So I am making progress, it is just slow. So don't be discouraged.

[Higgledy Smith]

Kai: What is the Leitner system?

I have heard of Mindmaps when planning a project or event but not for learning a concept. Can you post an example of using Mindmaps to study for the SCJP?

Thank you.

Higgledy

[Kai Witte]

hello Higgledy,

no, I don't find a forum appropriate to get into this in more detail.

The Leitner system is so simple that almost any resource about it will do.

Regarding Mindmaps, how to use them for learning, and how to use them to make notes while reading a text I didn't find a good resource online yet, and I don't know any good book that is still in print.

Kai

[Roopa Chitradurga]

Vidhya,
Iam also in the same situation as you are.I too just started to prepare for sjcp1.4.While reading each chapter,I take notes of all important points.This is little time consuming but it helps me alot in remembering the concepts very well and also my scores are improved by 80-90% in self test using this approach.and of course code work has to be done to understand the concepts.


Thanks,
Roopa

[Srirambhatla dileep kumar]

hai iam alsopreparingforthe SCJP 1.4 and iameading k&B now..
ihavecompletely studied KhalidMughalbook
and iamdoing asindleortwo mistakes..
but stilliwant toreadsomemore books
and takesomeexams
soplzsuggetsmeforany booksplz

[Roopa Chitradurga]

Srirambhatla dileep kumar,
Try "Begining java 2" by Ivor Horton.It also covers jdk 1.2.


Thanks,
Roopa

[peter cooke]

Originally posted by Vidhya Senthilkumar:
.... stuff deleted...
I did lot of mistakes and I can score 30% to 40%.

How can I improve scoring?
How can I read effectively?

..... stuff deleted....

I learned java by studying for the exams. Starting with 30% is not bad.

I found the best way to learn from my mistaken questions is to limit the practice exam to no more than 20 questions at a time. Try to keep the practice exam time to less than 30 minutes. This lets focus on a few questions and anwers and absorb why the answer is what it is. Take 2-3 mini-practice exams a day. Ensure you understand what you did wrong.

Read about JAVA in your spare time(I chose to work for someone with a long commute so that I can study to and from work). Lots of people will recommend different books to read.

Ask yourself "what is it that I need to learn/do, so that I can get/stay HAPPILY employed", learn and do that. It may not even be related to coding java.