Passed OCAJP 7 with 81%, Still can't believe it

[Sarmad Thebo]

Hello All,

This is I think my 2nd post on code ranch.. I passed OCAJP last week, but due to a very busy schedule couldn't make a post until now.
This was the toughest period of my life preparing for the certification exam. The tension.... finally the relief...

It took me more than 5 months.. (inconsistently) and only in last 2 weeks I took the preparation to the next level..

I bought Enthuware Mock first of all, after making a lot of searches on the internet and reading reviews here on the forum... I failed the standard exam miserably.. 43%
Then I started checking for all the explanations of correct and incorrect answers..
feeling "only enthuware" is not enough .. I started a journey on google to find a perfect book to prepare and then test myself with enthuware mocks..
I came across "Edward Finegan and Robert Liguori's" book ... studied from it .. the book was good... no dis respect to the authors.. but I was bored off
and it was more like basic stuff than actual exam tricks... so I only studied up to chapter 3 ..
after that My friend (who was preparing for SCJP 6) he gave me .. actually I borrowed ..
the book "SCJP Sun Certified Programmer for Java 6 Study Exam 310-065 Guide" by Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates..
This book is the best, very fun to read .. I studied up to chapter 1-5 and some String/StringBuilder classes
I hope they finish their new book for ocpjp 7.. My new target .. !!
After finishing chapters 1 - 5 .. I started taking enthuware mock exams again ..
and I saw a gradual increase in my progress..
2nd Test 51%
3rd Test 62%
4th Test 70%
5th Test 70%

Actual Exam result 81% ...
I just thought that I should make a post regarding my success .. because I too read others success, their experience as how they prepared etc
so its only fair to help others who are planning to attempt for this exam ..
Exam was difficult .. but I managed to finish with 15 minutes remaining ... to check the marked questions ..
The passing score has decreased but the level of difficulty has increased .. yes They were almost as difficult as enthuware mocks .. but I was more focused attempting the actual exam.
p.s : I couldn't sleep the night before the exam

[K. Tsang]

congrats

[Kondwani Chipeta]

Congratulations Sarmad.

[ssiva raman]

first of all congratulation.
i admire your attempt to help others.by the way i'm trying to register for the ocajp7 exam but i couldn't.could you help me .

[Jhonson Fernando]

Congratulations Sarmad!

[Sarmad Thebo]

first of all congratulation.
i admire your attempt to help others.by the way i'm trying to register for the ocajp7 exam but i couldn't.could you help me .

Thanks, well good luck with that.. It took me more than 4 months to get the voucher because I was told to buy it from the Oracle authorized Re-sellers.. the day I made the payment, two days later Oracle and that company's annual agreement/license expired .. so my Order was hanging in the middle until their agreement was renewed .
Just inquire from your local oracle helpline service, they will guide you and tell you the names/locations of the Legit Oracle Authorized Re-sellers. You will get the voucher through email once you make the payment after 7-8 working days.

[Animesh Nath]

Congrats for passing!!!

Please can you clarify that can I really prepare with scjp 6 book for OCJP7-1(1Z0-803).

Are the syllabus same for both of the exams.

[Sarmad Thebo]

Congrats for passing!!!

Please can you clarify that can I really prepare with scjp 6 book for OCJP7-1(1Z0-803).

Are the syllabus same for both of the exams.

Well scjp has more topics than actually required for OCAJP 7 .. so you will have to study up to chap 1 to 5 .. skipping the "Assertions"
after that only go for the String, String builder classes, its methods etc
and most important don't forget about our old buddies, Vector, ArrayList, HashMap and some other collection framework classes... Don't go too deep , just some important methods.
I'm sure there is a thread here regarding the topics to study from scjp 6 book.. for OCAJP 7.
Hope this helps..

[Sarmad Thebo]

Thanks everyone

[Joe San]

Congratulations!