Passed OCA7 Java Programmar 1Z0-803 with 83%

[Rakesh kumar Gupta]

Hi,
I passed OCA7 exam today with 83%. I am so happy to crack this certification exam in only 2 months with good score.

How i start my preparation?

I am 21 year old, studing B.Tech(3rd year) in college where i have to go daily college. I learned Java core in last semester
only for passing the semester exam. I never think that i can pass such type of great achievement. Sometimes, I used to
read certification result forum on coderanch initially because i got interest in it.
One day i was reading a thread in certification result forum and sudden realize that a condition and knowledge of a passed
exam student was same like me then i take it on me at his startup and continue reading after reading complete thread i think if he can
do then why i not? This thread motivate me to prepare for exam.

What i did next ?

I start collecting information regarding java certificaton from Google and other resource but i got right information only from
coderanch. Then i search only on coderanch, that which exam i can take and got only i have 2 right option OCAJP7 and OCAJP8
from here . And after getting all information i found study material. And i decided to pass exam anyhow within 3 months.

Exam Preparation:

i got sufficient information from Certification Result and made a plan and time table.

1. Study Schedule:
Firstly i started reading each objectivewise section from OCA/OCP Java SE 7 Programmer I & II Study Guide (Exams 1Z0-803 & 1Z0-804)
- Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates, when i got some problem in concept then i open OCA Java SE 7 Programmer I Certification Guide -
Mala Gupta(this book gives some practical example on concepts), and read carefully. After reading a complete objective i used to solved
review questions from these book.And made a notes on tough concepts.

2. Practicing Mock exam:
And then i buy practice mock paper in ebook format of JA+ V7 for Oracle Certified Associate - Java SE7 Programmer I (1Z0-803) from
Enthuware. I made a big mistake that i don't start a mock test, i think mock exams with be different from objectivewise practice solution.
After attempting each section of objectivewise i start first mock exam. I found that all questions from objectivewise is same as test mock
paper, i again solve all mock paper and score was best but this was useless because i already have seen each question in objectivewise
section. Then i ask on coderanch, and found another book Sun Certified Programmer for Java Platform, SE6 Study Guide by SYBEX
publication(only sections which are in OCAJP7 syllabus). This book have a large no. of questions and their solutions.

3. Final touch:
In last i revise my notes and attempt a mock paper from Mala Gupta OCA7 and got 84%. And i attempt two mock paper from OCA7 1Z0-803
and got 75% and 78%.

My Experience:

I would like to suggest some tricks on how to prepare for exam who are beginner.
1. First purchase OCA/OCP Java SE 7 Programmer I & II Study Guide (Exams 1Z0-803 & 1Z0-804) - Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates and
OCA Java SE 7 Programmer I Certification Guide - Mala Gupta.
2. And read each objective line by line and made a notes on tough concepts and solve only review question given in last of
each chapter.
3. Watch a free videos for OCA preparation available on Youtube
This will create a level of your understanding on single topic from the videos, and you will be able to solve any question describes in
these videos lecture. Once your level of understanding will be set to high then you will try to learn any concept at that level.
4. After reading each section atleast one times of exam syllabus, purchase OCAJP Practice Exams - Hanumant Deshmukh
of simulator format not ebook.
5. Now start taking mock exams like as exam situation mean exam period exact 2 hours, without any notes or material help,
and way of attempting questions.
6. If any problems in getting good score(atleast 75%) then solve only review questions from Sun Certified Programmer for
Java Platform, SE6 Study Guide by SYBEX publication(only sections which are in OCAJP7 syllabus). And continue untill you
got atleast min 75%.

Tricks:
This is my tricks to learn may not apply on all.
1. Sometimes i got confused on some concepts as '==' and '=' then i made a tricks as
if '=' then read it as 1 means assign
if '==' then read it as 2 means equality test
by this way when you will face '=' and '==' then you will never do wrong answer.
and many more, my intension is to tell that don't mug it.

2. If you are solving any question and you have already know that concept, And you are unable to trigger your mind at that time.
then make a master notes(max 2 page) and mention serialwise your mistakes. as-
everyone know that keyword can not be identifier but when i encounter it a lebel name as keyword in a block of loops
then i can not remember my concept then, i mention this in my master note as 1. keyword and label name.
and maintain you master notes, in last day read each carefully.

Thanks to coderanch team who develop such a great forum and Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates and Mala Gupta for complete materials.
And special thanks to Roel De Nijs for helping such a quick response,
Paul Anilprem (Enthuware support team) for providing great
preparation kit and with clear concept before purchasing kit or after purchasing, and my dear Ranchers for asking cross
questions and telling himself, which help to others a lot.

[Paul Anilprem]

Congratulations, Rakesh!
Glad to know that you found our s/w useful in your preparation

And then i buy practice mock paper in ebook format of JA+ V7 for Oracle Certified Associate - Java SE7 Programmer I (1Z0-803) from
Enthuware. I made a big mistake that i don't start a mock test, i think mock exams with be different from objectivewise practice solution.
After attempting each section of objectivewise i start first mock exam. I found that all questions from objectivewise is same as test mock
paper, i again solve all mock paper and score was best but this was useless because i already have seen each question in objectivewise
section.

When you start any objective wise test, a warning message is displayed that tells you the implications of using it. (See attached image). I just want to confirm whether you received this warning or not.

[Rakesh kumar Gupta]

As i mention in my above post that :
i buy practice mock paper in ebook format of JA+ V7 for Oracle Certified Associate - Java SE7 Programmer I (1Z0-803) from Enthuware.

I don't purchase simulator. I buy from amazon.in in pdf format.

a warning message is displayed that tells you the implications of using it. (See attached image). I just want to confirm whether you
received this warning or not.

I was unknown about simulator s/w at purchasing time of practice set. If i know about simulator s/w then i never purchase pdf format.
At the last preparation from practice set was better. So there is no effect of my mistake on exam.

[Paul Anilprem]

Rakesh kumar Gupta wrote:

As i mention in my above post that :
i buy practice mock paper in ebook format of JA+ V7 for Oracle Certified Associate - Java SE7 Programmer I (1Z0-803) from Enthuware.

I don't purchase simulator. I buy from amazon.in in pdf format.

a warning message is displayed that tells you the implications of using it. (See attached image). I just want to confirm whether you
received this warning or not.

I was unknown about simulator s/w at purchasing time of practice set. If i know about simulator s/w then i never purchase pdf format.
At the last preparation from practice set was better. So there is no effect of my mistake on exam.

Oh, ok.
thank you!