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Passed with OCAJP - 8

 
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Hello all !

Took the OCAJP - 8 exam today and passed with 88 %

But considering the mock exam scores I got, and on seeing mock and real the scores of others who took up this exam ,  I feel my score is a little low !

My enthuware exams scores are :

FOUNDATION TEST : 85%
TEST 1 : 80%
TEST 2 : 89%
TEST 3 : 90%
TEST 4 : 83%
TEST 5 : 81%
TEST 6 : 89%
TEST 7 : 87%
LAST DAY TEST (UNIQUE) : 86%

REAL EXAM : 88%    

With these scores I thought I would at least cross 90. Not that I am not satisfied with the results, I know that a pass is  a pass and % might not really matter. But still its just bothering me a bit about what went wrong !

Its commonly said that the real exam is easier than the Enthuware tests, but I felt that the difficulty level of both were the same ! Infact I faced a time constraint in the real exam , and had only 1 minute left for the last question ! But in my mocks, I managed to complete the tests either 5-7 minutes before or 1-2 minutes  before.


I would like to know your views on this , from you all ! Is it that there are certain exams sets that are quite hard and so it may not always be possible to score higher than the Enthuware mock average ?

PS: I WILL BE POSTING MY EXAM PREPARATIONS PROCESS AND OTHER DETAILS SHORTLY FOR OTHERS TO BENEFIT FROM IT !





 
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Congratulations Lilou   I have my exam scheduled this weekend. My Enthuware average is 70%  
I have a deadline to clear this exam soon. what are my chances of clearing the exam considering my enthuware score ?
I believed it would be lot easier than enthware but now worried
 
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First of all Congratulations Lilou for your success. Great Score!!!. Don't bother about scores 88% is really great.

Lilou Laure wrote:

Its commonly said that the real exam is easier than the Enthuware tests, but I felt that the difficulty level of both were the same ! Infact I faced a time constraint in the real exam , and had only 1 minute left for the last question ! But in my mocks, I managed to complete the tests either 5-7 minutes before or 1-2 minutes  before.



This is maybe because in mock exams we have nothing to lose so thats why we give mock exams freely. But Real exam is real that's why we emphasize more on each and every questions. this also happens with me. I took  only 1.5 hours to complete 80 ques but in Real exam I took 2 hours to complete 70 questions. Seems to be strange but the reality is that a REAL EXAM is a REAL EXAM that's why emphasize more on each and every questions even we know that we mark correct answer.

Lilou Laure wrote:

I would like to know your views on this , from you all ! Is it that there are certain exams sets that are quite hard and so it may not always be possible to score higher than the Enthuware mock average ?



I didn't know about it since there are sets of questions and each person is given a single set out of those sets. Maybe I think this is the procedure but didn't know surely about it.

And ya lastly, don't bother about it much , 88% is a good score just take your time and relax a little bit.
Once again Congratulations on your success.


 
O Shea
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Vidya Shivram wrote:I have my exam scheduled this weekend. My Enthuware average is 70%  
I have a deadline to clear this exam soon. what are my chances of clearing the exam considering my enthuware score ?
I believed it would be lot easier than enthware but now worried



Don't bother Vidya. Enthuware exams are just for practice exams , in the real exams you should know concepts . So just focus on concepts and ya learn from the mistakes which you have made in the Enthuware.
If you have not yet book your exam and you are thinking that you are not yet prepared that you can extend your exam since voucher lasts for 6 months.
 
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Congratulations Lilou Laure.

Now you can take a moment without the pressure with the exam and hopefully you can relax.

Vidya Shivram wrote:My Enthuware average is 70%. I have a deadline to clear this exam soon. what are my chances of clearing the exam considering my enthuware score ?


Here is a possible answer to this problem:

Enthuware Software wrote:If you are able to pass all the tests comfortably, you will pass the real test with flying colors!


You are passing the standard tests with a 70% average, so according to Enthuware Software you should be fine.
I would be concerned if on one test you got something like 50% and then on another you got 90%, but I do think that is the case here.

There are many stories of people not doing that well with the Enthuware mock exams and then doing considerably better on the real exam.
Here are a couple examples:
  • https://coderanch.com/t/680805/certification/Passed-OCAJP
  • https://coderanch.com/t/683117/certification/Passed-OCA

  • Currently I'm working my way through this process and I've completed the first three standard tests plus the foundation test and my average is about 70% as well.

    Vidya, if you do feel that you are still unprepared then please note the following:
  • You are able to reschedule your exam for free, providing you make the arrangements at least one business day before the exam.
  • Rescheduling may also be affected by the testing facility's availability.


  • Edit: Grammar/spacing fixed
     
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    Hi Lilou,

    Congratulations champion! Great achievement Now it's time to relax a bit and have a (well-deserved) (or 2 or 3). And if you want to spoil yourself have a Belgian beer, our beers are the best of the world

    Thanks for sharing your experiences. Other ranchers will definitely benefit! Have a cow!

    Don't forget to add your name to the OcajpWallOfFame!

    Kind regards,
    Roel
     
    Roel De Nijs
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    Lilou Laure wrote:I would like to know your views on this , from you all ! Is it that there are certain exams sets that are quite hard and so it may not always be possible to score higher than the Enthuware mock average ?


    I don't think there are actual exam sets. I think there's a question bank with e.g. 500 questions. And for every exam the number of questions are chosen randomly from this question bank but with enough coverage for each exam objective. So you might have been a bit unlucky and have gotten a few harder ones or maybe you had one or two weaker areas and got 5-6 questions on these topics (while the guy/girl next to you got only 3).

    When I took the SCJP 6 certification exam (a long time ago), I noticed more questions than usual were "do not compile" ones. Probably the easiest Java certification exam of the three SCJP exams I have taken. You'll find more details if you click on the corresponding link in my signature.
     
    Lilou Laure
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    Vidya Shivram wrote:Congratulations Lilou   I have my exam scheduled this weekend. My Enthuware average is 70%  
    I have a deadline to clear this exam soon. what are my chances of clearing the exam considering my enthuware score ?
    I believed it would be lot easier than enthware but now worried



    Vidya , I would suggest , check if you are clear with all the topics and the extras from enthuware that you might have noted down. if you feel confident, then go for it ! if not, make your stuff strong and then attempt the exam. do not feel low that your mock average is 70% . there are many with a similar mock score who have cleared the exam with flying colors .

    IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW WELL YOU HAVE LEARNT FROM YOUR MISTAKES, AND HOW WELL YOU APPLY IT AT THE TIME OF THE EXAM, HOW CALM YOU ARE THROUGHOUT AND  OF COURSE A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK !

    IF POSSIBLE TRY TO  THOROUGHLY GO THROUGH AND UNDERSTAND YOUR WEAK AREAS IN THE MOCK EXAMS, SO THAT YOU CAN IMPROVE IN THE REAL EXAM!
    DON'T WORRY , YOU WILL CLEAR IT !  
     
    Lilou Laure
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    O Shea wrote:First of all Congratulations Lilou for your success. Great Score!!!. Don't bother about scores 88% is really great.

    Lilou Laure wrote:

    Its commonly said that the real exam is easier than the Enthuware tests, but I felt that the difficulty level of both were the same ! Infact I faced a time constraint in the real exam , and had only 1 minute left for the last question ! But in my mocks, I managed to complete the tests either 5-7 minutes before or 1-2 minutes  before.



    This is maybe because in mock exams we have nothing to lose so thats why we give mock exams freely. But Real exam is real that's why we emphasize more on each and every questions. this also happens with me. I took  only 1.5 hours to complete 80 ques but in Real exam I took 2 hours to complete 70 questions. Seems to be strange but the reality is that a REAL EXAM is a REAL EXAM that's why emphasize more on each and every questions even we know that we mark correct answer.

    Lilou Laure wrote:

    I would like to know your views on this , from you all ! Is it that there are certain exams sets that are quite hard and so it may not always be possible to score higher than the Enthuware mock average ?



    I didn't know about it since there are sets of questions and each person is given a single set out of those sets. Maybe I think this is the procedure but didn't know surely about it.

    And ya lastly, don't bother about it much , 88% is a good score just take your time and relax a little bit.
    Once again Congratulations on your success.




    Thanks !  
     
    Lilou Laure
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    Roel De Nijs wrote:Hi Lilou,

    Congratulations champion! Great achievement Now it's time to relax a bit and have a (well-deserved) (or 2 or 3). And if you want to spoil yourself have a Belgian beer, our beers are the best of the world

    Thanks for sharing your experiences. Other ranchers will definitely benefit! Have a cow!

    Don't forget to add your name to the OcajpWallOfFame!

    Kind regards,
    Roel



    thanks roel , for your constant support to most of the posts !
     
    Lilou Laure
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    Roel De Nijs wrote:Hi Lilou,

    Congratulations champion! Great achievement Now it's time to relax a bit and have a (well-deserved) (or 2 or 3). And if you want to spoil yourself have a Belgian beer, our beers are the best of the world

    Thanks for sharing your experiences. Other ranchers will definitely benefit! Have a cow!

    Don't forget to add your name to the OcajpWallOfFame!

    Kind regards,
    Roel



    thanks roel , for your constant support to most of the posts !
     
    Lilou Laure
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    Roel De Nijs wrote:

    Lilou Laure wrote:I would like to know your views on this , from you all ! Is it that there are certain exams sets that are quite hard and so it may not always be possible to score higher than the Enthuware mock average ?


    I don't think there are actual exam sets. I think there's a question bank with e.g. 500 questions. And for every exam the number of questions are chosen randomly from this question bank but with enough coverage for each exam objective. So you might have been a bit unlucky and have gotten a few harder ones or maybe you had one or two weaker areas and got 5-6 questions on these topics (while the guy/girl next to you got only 3).

    When I took the SCJP 6 certification exam (a long time ago), I noticed more questions than usual were "do not compile" ones. Probably the easiest Java certification exam of the three SCJP exams I have taken. You'll find more details if you click on the corresponding link in my signature.



    Hmmm..... May be .... I didn't get a single question on lambdas ......  
     
    O Shea
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    Lilou Laure wrote:
    Hmmm..... May be .... I didn't get a single question on lambdas ......  



    Really!!! That's horrible. The OCAJP8 exam is meant for Lambda Expressions and you haven't got a single question on Lambdas. That's really unbelievable.
     
    Lilou Laure
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    Exactly !!  I was surprised too !      
     
    O Shea
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    Date API questions are there or not??
     
    Lilou Laure
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    Date API questions were there ......
     
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    Don't worry about the score, also because it doesn't appear on the certificate, so the important is to pass ;)
     
    Roel De Nijs
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    OP has shared her experience about her journey and preparation for the certification exam in this topic. Very detailed and definitely worth reading!
     
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    Congratulations!
     
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    O Shea wrote:

    Lilou Laure wrote:Really!!! That's horrible. The OCAJP8 exam is meant for Lambda Expressions and you haven't got a single question on Lambdas. That's really unbelievable.


    Lambdas are actually a minor part of the OCA. And only as applied to Predicates for a few APIs. By contrast, lambdas are all over on the OCP.

    Given that questions are randomized, it is possible to not get any questions on them for the OCA. Not terribly likely, but still possible.

     
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