Incorrect statement by Devakas

[Stephen Davies]

Sorry to rip into Devakas exam simulator again, but there is a few niggly issues occuring which are a little frustrating. Since I know Devaka is a forum member I thought it may help to point out some issues.

In the practice exam Question 12 it is asked to choose three options which are checked exceptions: The following list is provided:

A iilegalThreadStateException
B illegalMonitorStateException
C ParseException
D NumberFormatException
E IOException
F RuntimeException
G ClassNotFoundException

I won't divulge the answer here, in case people are doing the exam. However in reviewing the answers for this particular question, and if one clicks on the expanation, the folowing statement is given:

"The Exception class which extends from the RunTimeException is a checked Exception...
..all others are compile time unchecked exceptions.."

I believe this to be an incorrect statement.

Firstly a disambiguation:
The RuntimeException is a subclass of Exception not the other way round.
However if it is meant classes which extend RuntimeException are checked exceptions, then this is also an incorrect statement, as checked exceptions are exceptions which extend the exception class EXCEPT for those which extend RuntimeException which are not checked exceptions.

I think this is a pretty glaring mistake

[sharon daze]

Yes you are right.

So what do you think which simulator should i use, for SCJP.

Thanks

[Stephen Davies]

I can't really say all have their pros and cons. For my SCJA i used WhizLabs and uCertify but there were also a few issues there and they are not cheap (nor do they run on any os except for Windows, this is the same for Devakas exam (I am running parallels Desktop on my mac to use them).

Devakas is free but as you see some errors, and in addition because he is from Sri-Lanka much of the english used is slightly incorrect, which is not a major issue, for native english speakers like myself, but for others who's first language is not english it can be very confusing(especially with some of the formatting used, but don't get me started!). Devaka also sets a exam-like environment which takes up your whole screen, which means you can 't cancel the exam in the middle you must either skip question by question to the end or use the task manager to quit! Each exam is also 72 questions long and a little more difficult in my opinion, which is unlike the normal exam which is around 50 questions, plus its Java 5.0 so if you are doing SCJP 6 you will need to keep in mind a few extras.'

Each of the other ones I have mentioned have free demo's so give them ago and see. I'm sorry if this doesn't help much but its a matter of personal preference. However, I would say make sure you get a hold of Sierra & Bates (Kathy and Bert) SCJP Book 5 or 6 depending on what your doing, its invaluable a total must have for the exam, it comes with a CD containing the book in PDF form and practice questions.

[Devaka Cooray]

Since I know Devaka is a forum member I thought it may help to point out some issues.

Yes, for sure.

"The Exception class which extends from the RunTimeException is a checked Exception...
..all others are compile time unchecked exceptions.."

I believe this to be an incorrect statement.

Don't know about when you downloaded your copy. However, this problem was discovered before, and I've corrected this on the latest version.

Devakas is free but as you see some errors.

Yes, there WAS some few errors, but now all of them are corrected, and at this time, there are no known errors in the product. So, what are the ERRORS you can see now? However, if you find any error, please report it to me in any way.

because he is from Sri-Lanka much of the English used is slightly incorrect, which is not a major issue, for native English speakers like myself, but for others who's first language is not English it can be very confusing(especially with some of the formatting used, but don't get me started!).

Well, you are correct that I'm from Sri Lanka and I'm not a native English speaker; therefore it is possible to have some errors/mistakes with the language on the product. While SCJP is not an exam about English language, I didn't highly concentrate on those slight lingual errors. However, I don't believe that it can be "very confusing" for someone, as you are the first one who is complaining about this as a problem. I've already got some valuable suggestions and justifications from many people around the world, but no one said that they cannot understand the English used in the product.

Devaka also sets a exam-like environment which takes up your whole screen, which means you can 't cancel the exam in the middle you must either skip question by question to the end or use the task manager to quit!

I don't think this as a disadvantage. Why does someone need to end the exam in the middle?

Each exam is also 72 questions long and a little more difficult in my opinion, which is unlike the normal exam which is around 50 questions, plus its Java 5.0 so if you are doing SCJP 6 you will need to keep in mind a few extras.'

If you didn’t know, there are 72 questions in the SCJP 5.0 version. The official web site of the ExamLab (www.examlab.tk) clearly specifies that this is designed for the SCJP 5.0 examination. If someone (or even you) doesn’t know how to use a SCJP 5.0 Simulator while preparing for the SCJP 6.0 exam, why does he need use it?


I've read your other topics in this SCJP forum. As I've seen, ALL of them are about ExamLab (yes, thank for using it). But in my view, it seems that you are discouraging ExamLab in many of your posts,... don't know why.

However, you are clearly and surely allowed to show up your own justifications and comments... for sure.

[Stephen Davies]

I apologize if my posts seemed to discourage examlab, this was not my intention at all, after all I am a user myself. However, in my 200+ posts on this forum they are certainly not all about examlab, here my friend you are strongly mistaken. I always strive at maintaining a certain level of decorum in my language and criticism (of which I always attempt to provide in a constructive manner. My personal perspective of some of the areas of examlab which I have found issue are not representative of the entire user base of Javaranch, they are my independent criticisms,which I choose to share with the community at large, either voluntarily or if so asked my opinion. Such is the nature of open fora like these.

I was certainly taken aback somewhat by your suggestion that because I did not know how to use 'an' SCJP 5.0 examlab, why should I use one. I shall at this point not get into a lengthy rebuttal on this, suffice to say, I found it of a slightly offensive nature, (at the very least I certainly and hope that the way it was phrased, was perhaps not intentionally rude).

There were areas of my original post(s) which I would like to explain more, to try to negate your obvious malaise, but I feel a general post such as this should suffice as to my intentions, and reduce any potential lengthy two and frowing on the forum, let us simply say I have my niggles about a great many tools and resources I have come across on my java learning experience, and examlab has been far less a muse for them as you seem to have taken them to be.

I would like to take this opportunity to also thank you for your free and professional simulator, which I shall continue to use in the run up to my SCJP exam, and I hope in the future if I have any issues or comments, I may share them with you with the intention to help you continue to provide the lab, perhaps with an SCJP 6 version soon? I hope we may move forward constructively, with my promise that I shall attempt to structure any future examlab comments in a clear and precise manner to be fully understood.

[Devaka Cooray]

I apologize if my posts seemed to discourage examlab, this was not my intention at all, after all I am a user myself. However, in my 200+ posts on this forum they are certainly not all about examlab, here my friend you are strongly mistaken. I always strive at maintaining a certain level of decorum in my language and criticism (of which I always attempt to provide in a constructive manner. My personal perspective of some of the areas of examlab which I have found issue are not representative of the entire user base of Javaranch, they are my independent criticisms,which I choose to share with the community at large, either voluntarily or if so asked my opinion. Such is the nature of open fora like these.

Well, I think you missed the point here. I didn't implied, all of your posts are about ExamLab (it is also impossible). What I mean is, all of the topics you created in this SCJP FORUM is about ExamLab. I really like it. Please understand that I did NOT mean you are at here only for the purpose of discouraging ExamLab.

The exact problem is, you are saying that there are SOME errors in the ExamLab only by words. You didn't specify the errors clearly. When talking about this topic, you got only one mistake on the explanation part (even though it is already corrected now), but your second post here SOUNDS like there are so many errors on this product.

I was certainly taken aback somewhat by your suggestion that because I did not know how to use 'an' SCJP 5.0 examlab, why should I use one. I shall at this point not get into a lengthy rebuttal on this, suffice to say, I found it of a slightly offensive nature, (at the very least I certainly and hope that the way it was phrased, was perhaps not intentionally rude).

Did I implied, 'YOU' don't know about using an SCJP 5.0 Exam Simulator? I apologize if it really sounds like that. What I mean there is, the user of the ExamLab must be aware of the difference between SCJP 5.0 and SCJP 6.0 versions.

I would like to take this opportunity to also thank you for your free and professional simulator, which I shall continue to use in the run up to my SCJP exam, and I hope in the future if I have any issues or comments, I may share them with you with the intention to help you continue to provide the lab, perhaps with an SCJP 6 version soon? I hope we may move forward constructively, with my promise that I shall attempt to structure any future examlab comments in a clear and precise manner to be fully understood.

Very glad to here that you are really like to help me on that Your comments and 'error reports' are highly appreciated and welcome. While I’m not earning from any party for this product (mmm… only few donations…), your 'free' helps are highly appreciated. Stephen, thanks for taking your time for the discussion here and sorry if any offense was perceived.


PS. ExamLab for SCJP 6 version will be released within next few months. It's very hard to manage the time to work on that as I'm quite busy nowadays.

[Stephen Davies]

I am looking forward to the SCJP 6.0 Version with much anticipation! Good luck

[Treimin Clark]

Stephen Davies wrote:I am looking forward to the SCJP 6.0 Version with much anticipation!

anticipation?

Even though I was born in US, I didn't know that word before

[Stephen Davies]

Then I'm glad to offer a new word for your vocabulary! he he

Have a look

an-tic-i-pa-tion


1. the act of anticipating or the state of being anticipated.
2. realization in advance; foretaste.
3. expectation or hope.
4. previous notion; slight previous impression.
5. intuition, foreknowledge, or prescience.

[Treimin Clark]

thank you

[Paul Anilprem]

Stephen Davies wrote:I can't really say all have their pros and cons. For my SCJA i used WhizLabs and uCertify but there were also a few issues there and they are not cheap (nor do they run on any os except for Windows, this is the same for Devakas exam (I am running parallels Desktop on my mac to use them).

Just so you know, there *are* other options as listed on the Mock exams page
You might want to give a try to JQ+ from Enthuware.

[Treimin Clark]

Paul Anil wrote:
Just so you know, there *are* other options as listed on the Mock exams page
You might want to give a try to JQ+ from Enthuware.

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