SCEA Part 1: A Narrow Escape

[Adesh Bharti]

Hi Friends,

Last year, In my PMP exam , I didn't score 'BELOW PROFICIENT' in any of the section.
But For SCEA Part 1, yesterday it became an unforgotten experience for me.


I have 10 years of Java/J2ee experience, even though I prepared regularly 2-3 hrs for last 3 months. 15 days back, I purchased Epractize lab exam to baseline my score, which always has been between 65%-80%. In WizLab Free mock test I scored 80%, so I decided to appear on 4th MAR 2011.

=========Delhi, India 16:00 Exam Starts ==================

I sat on the HOT seat, clicked on the Start as told by Instructor, the exam starts showing 8 questions to complete within 15 min. The clock started running.....
I got scared , what is this I didn't get a screen saying It s a DEMO EXAM or so, neither it said whether it will be COUNTED or not.

Question 1: What level of knowledge you have for "Application Design Concepts and Principles"
A) Expert
B) Advanced
C) Intermediate
D) Novice

So being in J2ee for 10 years, I opted "B" , Then 2nd Question appeared

Question 2: What level of knowledge you have for [/u]"Common Architectures "[/u]
A) Expert
B) Advanced
C) Intermediate
D) Novice

Again I selected "B"
...Now I started thinking, is this exam ADAPTIVE to my answers to demo questions, so having answered Advanced Knowledge will I get DIFFICULT Questions. So for security and pattern I selected "INTERMEDIATE" i.e. option "C", since I feared to fail this exam by now..

Then After Demo exam I clicked to start main exam....But what it is I got a clock running.... but no question, instead it had some long write up like "Terms & Conditions" asking me to accept them. I again got confused
Can anyone read "Terms & Conditions" when you clock is running....for which you paid?

Any how finally I called instructor to check why my clock is running without any questions displayed, but he could not help.
So quickly I accpted what ever it was. But by then got late by a few minutes???


Now again it is the time for thrills
Question 1-7 all long question, mostly to select multiple options...
It was the 8th question I was sure about the answer.
But again I started getting long question, a lot to read in all question even with 6/7 options all of 1&1/2 lines. By now I was utter confused what I have done in my demo test ADVANCED level knowledge.

I was sure to fail this exam, so now I decided to skip VERY VERY lengthy question for the last. Doing so I skipped 15 questions I was able to finish 1st pass with 25 minutes to spare. Then in the 2nd pass, I was just able to finish these very long 15 question with no time review any question, though I was not sured in 70% of questions, all answered in so hurry I tried to start review but it said, no time remaining......

RESULT:
On executing display report, "No Congratulation" it didn't say anything, only 25%, 50%, 50% 50%, 55%, ......
I was very disappointed......, I flushed my money...by opting ADVANCED level of knowledge in demo exam....otherwise why so many lengthy questions.

During this exam I prayed to GOD twice to save my money / effort given to it.

And finally the instructor said, "Why 'r you so said sir, you managed to pass", So my confusion is

1) Why the demo exam started in unexpected way without telling that it's a demo exam. Nor it's purpose.
2) Did my selection as ADVANCED level in demo really resulted in a adaptive exam which was difficult to pass for me, no time for review.
3) Why a long Term & Condition writeup appeared when clock started running 1:59:53........
4) Why 90% question of my exam was so lengthy, and why all simulator has short questions. All condition posed by a requirement scenario can be said in 2/3 lines, there is no need to deviate a person from actual constraints/requirement posed.
5) Why some question were poorly written.
6) Even the result display POP-up doesn't tell you that you 'r passed/failed on SCEA Part 1.


7) And finally did it happened to me, or is there someone else who felt the same.??
8) answering NOVICE level to all DEMO questions, would have secured me a very good score???
9) And finally the most important one, will these ADVANCED level knowledge will affect my Part -2 & Part -3 difficulty???

I 'm still confused...any clue...........???

Thanks & Regards,
Adesh

[David Byron]

Adesh Bharti wrote:And finally the instructor said, "Why 'r you so said sir, you managed to pass"

Uhm... congratulations?

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

1) It's a survey not a demo exam.
2) The exam is not adaptive.
3) Don't know. This is how they do things. I did read the Terms & Conditions. I also had more time then I expected so it was ok. The reason I read them is because I planned to blog about the exam and wanted to make sure I wasn't sharing anything that goes against the rules. But I always have extra time at the end of exams so I wasn't worried about a time shortage.
4) A lot of SCEA questions are scenarios. They tend to be lengthy. They also want to give you extraneous info to see that you can find the important criteria. If the question was 2/3 lines, it would be much easier.
5) Poorly written is subjective.
6) I got the score report while I was sitting in front of the computer. This must be exam center or country specific.
7) n/a - it was fine for me
8) Definitely not. It's not an adaptive exam.
9) No. There's a finite set of questions for part 2 and you get one at random. For part 3, the questions are vague. And short. You get to write a lot of words then.

And congratulations for your pass.

[Adesh Bharti]

David Byron wrote:

Adesh Bharti wrote:And finally the instructor said, "Why 'r you so said sir, you managed to pass"

Uhm... congratulations?

Thanks David.

[Adesh Bharti]

Jeanne Boyarsky wrote:1) It's a survey not a demo exam.
2) The exam is not adaptive.
3) Don't know. This is how they do things. I did read the Terms & Conditions. I also had more time then I expected so it was ok. The reason I read them is because I planned to blog about the exam and wanted to make sure I wasn't sharing anything that goes against the rules. But I always have extra time at the end of exams so I wasn't worried about a time shortage.
4) A lot of SCEA questions are scenarios. They tend to be lengthy. They also want to give you extraneous info to see that you can find the important criteria. If the question was 2/3 lines, it would be much easier.
5) Poorly written is subjective.
6) I got the score report while I was sitting in front of the computer. This must be exam center or country specific.
7) n/a - it was fine for me
8) Definitely not. It's not an adaptive exam.
9) No. There's a finite set of questions for part 2 and you get one at random. For part 3, the questions are vague. And short. You get to write a lot of words then.

And congratulations for your pass.

Thanks Jeanne.