SCJP - Sun Certified Java Programmer - for Java version 5.0:
Statutory Warning: The following is strictly not advised for people who want Question Paper Dumps to clear the exam. This is for people who want to get certified [not to get vomitified or memory testified :-(]
Introduction: I am Veeraraagavan R. I got my Sun Certification (SCJP5.0) on 11th of May 2007. This post is to ease me in helping out the many people who are contacting me for help on their certification :-)
Question 1 - Why?
If you need your resume to talk, rather than you selling yourself.
Easier for people who try to employ you.
Last but not the least. It helps you touch most of the concepts you will actually use in real time coding and maintenance :-)
Question 2 - How? (I am also giving you some important advice to prevent bloopers by avoiding commonly committed errors by people)
Buy the SCJP 5.0 Exam Study Guide by Kathy Sierra & Bert Bates (It costs around 400 bucks only, so buy it. Don't borrow it!)
Study it with a steady pace, start giving half an hour daily at first. But don't even skip a
word. I am not asking you to mug the book, but to read it thoroughly.
Realise and understand the sentences, rather then assuming something else by reading it fast.
Pause at the commas, and semicolons; because the author wants to change the focus to tell you something else at these places.
Don't start assuming things at the start of the sentence itself. Consume it properly (as you would do for a CAT/GMAT Verbal question!)
No we will see the basic strategy to employ:
Read the book thoroughly (slow,steady) once, by giving the Self
Test at the end of each chapter. For the questions that you get right in the Self Test, the reason given by the authors and the reason you actually selected them must match. This is to make sure that you are on track.
Note:
The important thing to note here is, generally if you are reading and understanding the proper way, without assuming things, "you will get at least 60-80% of the questions right in every self test". If you are not getting the above, it is either because of silly mistakes, or because you are assuming when you are reading through the text.
2. Do the two minute drills of all chapters once after finishing the book. Give the Master Exam included in the CD. Before taking the test remember for example, if you have a question using generic code, don't just see for Generics related errors. It may be a simple question on for loop or OO.
Note:
You should be getting anywhere between 45-70% atleast in the test.
3. You would be knowing your weaker areas by now. Concentrate on them. I find most of the people have problems with the 6th and 7th chapters(that is Strings,formatting,I0 and Generics,Collections).
4. After concentrating on your weaker areas, refresh the two minute drills once again nad give the bonus master exam. This you have to download as per instructions given in the CD. If you are getting 65% and above, you can are ready to give the actual exam. Try to maintain the speed of atleast 25 -30questions per hour.
Last Resort: If you are failing badly (that is without counting the silly mistakes), then you might need the help of SCJP 5.0 Whizlabs exam simulator software. This will cost you 650 - 750 bucks depending on dollar-rupee rates of that particular date. Buy it online using credit card from the whizlabs website. Note that this software works on only one system. You cannot keep on installing in different systems since you get a unique single system license.
Around 10-20% of the Whizlabs Simulator is not necessary for the exam, they are just to toughen you up :-)
I feel that the above is more than enough of tips for you to clear the exam.
Last Minute - Voucher: You can get the voucher from
www.niiteducation.com/aptc You can get the voucher from any authorized prometric testing centre in India (NIIT,Aptech etc)
Please Note That the Free Retake offer is not available in India. Sun India is promoting the Rs. 4500/- offer currently. This voucher is valid for a year. Earlier it was being promoted as being valid till August 31st 2007, but may be due to public demand, they have started giving vouchers of 1yr validity. Check at
https://www.suntrainingcatalogue.com/eduserv/client/welcome.do?l=en_IN for latest info on certifications and promotions
I have posted the following as a reply down below in this topic. But i think I must edit the main post for everybody to see.
This is to the notice of all that the Rs. 4500 offer for vouchers in India is over as of June 30. Now you can get the same for Rs. 7200. I confirmed this from an authorized prometric testing center in India in the first week of July. For people who get receipts but not actual vouchers, the validity starts from the date of receipt. [ July 08, 2007: Message edited by: Veeraraagavan Rajachandrasekhar ]
