Disappointing Performance - Test 486!

[Desai Sandeep]

Hi,
I am pretty disappointed with my performance for Test 486.I passed this test with JUST 73%.
This is the breakdown of my scores:
Development Process 12% 0%
Requirements Modelling 18% 71%
Architecture 12% 77%
State Modelling 22% 42%
Dynamic Modelling 24% 92%
Design and Implementation Techniques 12% 83%
It was two sections - Development Process and State Modelling which hampered my dreams of getting more than 80% in this test.
It is still hard to believe that I couldn't hit even one question out of the 12% of questions asked on Development Process.Is this a typo in the score card like State Modelling instead of Static Modelling?This is probably the easiest of the test sections and I always thought I deserved more than what I got (infact I didn't get any !).
This is one (should I say ONLY one) of the rare occasions in which the score that I expected when I pressed that dreaded "END" button was substantially different than what I got!I was literally shocked when I saw the score card.I can tell you that I was pretty confident while answering those questions and never felt like it is taking a toll out of me when I answered it - Was it overconfidence? - No, I donot think so - I made a sincere attempt to revise the answers with the spare time I had.It was just not my day !

I still feel one can get more than what I got.Caroline,Panagiotis and others have proved it!

Some test tips for future test-takers:

1. Read Larman and Fowler atleast two times (I read both the books 3 times - now you understand why I am disappointed!)
   
2. You will get 2 casestudies in the actual test.They are real big ones.Do not get rattled by it.Read and understand the various artifacts well, as most questions revolve around these artifacts.Remember, Time is not a constraint for this test.In other words, DONOT RUSH!
   
   
3. There are some questions with more than one exhibits.Just check if you can open one or more exhibits at a time.I didnot realise to do this.If you can do it,it will help you immensely, as the artifacts are large and require lots of scrolling.You can understand the importance of it particularly if you have to refer to 3 or more exhibits for answering one question !Also make use of the "Tile" button in the Exhibit generously.
   


With this test, the only "good thing" that I can think about is having completed the Oracle Jcert track and having earned the titles of Oracle Certified Enterprise Developer - Oracle Internet Platform and Oracle Certified Solution Developer - JDeveloper.

Good Luck,
Sandeep



• Oracle Certified Solution Developer - JDeveloper
  
• Oracle Certified Enterprise Developer - Oracle Internet Platform
  

[This message has been edited by Desai Sandeep (edited June 15, 2001).]

[Junilu Lacar]

Hi Sandeep,
I know how you feel. Don't worry though, most employers won't even bother about your actual score. Proving your skills happens on the job, not in the exam room. I use certifications merely as a way to get in the door and distinguish myself from others vying for the same position, not as proof of my skills.
Congratulations on passing the exam and I hope you hang around here to liven up the discussions.
Junilu

[Ram Kondawar]

Hi Sandeep
Congratulations on your completion of Enterprise Developer certification. Not to bother much about the results.
Infact you got around 6 questions correct in the Development Process that is 100% or 90%+ depending on whether you got 6 questions or 7 questions in the exam.
See 73% of 55 questions is 40 ie you have answered 40 questions correct. Now if you total the individual sections as per your module wise score, it works out to only 34 questions.
There is some problem with the reporting module.The first section of any test it shows 0%. This happened with my friends(3 fellows) who have taken WAS certification. We have reported this problem to the prometric people. Seems they may work with IBM towards rectification.
So atleast some relief. You could not perform upto your standards only in static modelling.
Good Luck for your future ventures.
Ram Kondawar

[vasuma puljety]

Congratulations Sandeep !

[Desai Sandeep]

Ram,
That is lots of relief.I could not help wondering what could have gone wrong in Development Process, because I never expected to miss any of those questions.
Now my score looks a bit realistic - may not be what I wanted to score - But I am feeling better - Atleast now I know for sure that Static Modelling was the section that let me down.That should help me to focus more.
BTW, does IBM propose to change the score card.Has IBM done anything on this front.
Thanks in advance,
Sandeep

[Ram Kondawar]

Hi Sandeep
Sandeep Quotes

---

BTW, does IBM propose to change the score card.Has IBM done anything on this front.

---

We did take the problem to the notice of prometric people.Let us hope they communicate with IBM guys and rectify the mistake.I dont know whether IBM will replace your score card.
regards
Ram

[Peter Hill]

I am relieved to see this. I sat the IBM 483 cert the other day ans amazed to see that I got 0% on J2EE architecture and scored a lowly 75%. The percentage of J2EE architecture questions meant there were about 9 questions. Excluded these from the exam and I would have scored 89% on all other subjects. Now I just cannot believe that a person that gets 89% for the rest of the exam (on more detailed questions) can get 0/9 on basic J2EE architecture.
I too did the same calculations as above and came up with questions short and so suspected that the reporting module must be wrong.
I had waited to see if this was something wrong with the J2EE cert but now it appears that there is something wrong with all of IBMs tests.
I am sitting 486 on Friday which gives me time to chase IBM about this.

[Junilu Lacar]

I found the following contact info on IBM's website:
If you have any questions, please contact IBM at [email protected]
Fax: [phone] (to the USA),
Mail:
Professional Certification Program from IBM
IBM Corporation
11400 Burnet Road, Mail Drop 3013
Austin, Texas 78758
USA

[Junilu Lacar]

Originally posted by Peter Hill:
> I am relieved to see this. I sat the IBM 483 cert
> the other day ans amazed to see that I got 0%
> on J2EE architecture and scored a lowly 75%.
Peter,
I admire your serenity about this. I would be mad as hell. For $175, I would expect at least a chance to re-take the exam on them. I sent an email to IBM requesting more information about this issue. If I hear from them, I'll post their reply here and I trust you will do the same.
Good luck!

[Ram Kondawar]

Hi friends
I have reported the error to [email protected] and I got a response to the same asking me to explain the problem.I did sent a detailed picture today only.Let's hope they rectify the problem at the earliest.

Regards
Ram

[Peter Hill]

I will also repost to them today. They are more likely to take not. see my new posting above

[Tariq Haque]

Hi Sandeep
Congratulations .

Tariq

[Ram Kondawar]

Hi friends
I have got the response from Prometric people regarding this.I am putting it here for all of you.

---

Hi Ram,
Thank you for bringing this to our notice.
We just discovered that there was a score report printing error that
affected a few IBM exams from the period of 05/23/2001 - 06/18/2001. We
have corrected the problem, and are mailing out corrected score reports to
the affected candidates today. You should be recieving your corrected
score report. However, since it will be mailed out of the US, you have to
allow a little time. ALSO, please be assured that this score report
printing error did NOT in any way affect your overall score, or your
pass/fail mark; only the section scores as they were displayed on the score
report.
We apologize for any inconvenience that this would have caused.
In case you want the corrected score report faxed to you, please let us
know.
Warm Regards
Juhi
Prometric

---

So Sandeep you shall be getting a correct report.
Regards
Ram

[Peter Hill]

Nice work RAM, the error was as I expected it seems. Hopefully from these dates, this means that I should be okay for Friday! I'll report my findings.
I sent emails to IBM, jCert, Sun and Sylvan Prometric and did not get a single reply.
All clearly gave evidence that the score report was wrong, it goes to show how much they are bothered by this.

[Desai Sandeep]

Hi all:
Thank you for your contributions to my post.I had just recieved a mail from Prometric highlighting the problem why there was a printing error in the Score Report.
Am quoting the reply I recieved from Prometric here

Reply to my mail on Errors in the Score Report for Test 486 by Tim Clay, Program Manager,Prometric Inc.
Hello Sandeep,
You recently completed an IBM certification exam at an Authorized Prometric Testing Center. The reason for this note is to apologize for a printing error on your score report. The "Section Title" and "Score" columns were not properly aligned, which caused the "Section Title" to correspond with the "Score" total one line below the proper line. For example, the first "Section Title" should correspond with the "Score " on the same, or first line. However, the first "Section Title" actually corresponded with the "Score " on the next, or second line. As a result, the first line of "Score" was incorrectly displayed as 0%.
We would like to assure you that this score report printing error did not in any way affect your overall score, or pass/fail mark; only the section scores as displayed on your score report.
We have mailed you a copy of the corrected score report. If you would also like this report to be faxed to you, please reply with your fax number, and we'll be happy to fax this to you. Please accept our sincere apologies for this inconvenience.
Please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions or comments.

Regards,
Tim Clay
Program Manager
Prometric, Inc.
4175 W. 76th. St.
Edina, MN
55435-5105
USA

So all the incorrect Score Report Holders are going to receive a corrected Score Report.
Thanks,
Sandeep
[This message has been edited by Desai Sandeep (edited June 20, 2001).]

[Qudsia Jaffery]

Great work guys ...Congratulations

[Caroline Iux]

Hi Sandeep,
Congratulations!!!

[Desai Sandeep]

Received my corrected Score Report today from the Prometric.It reads like this :
Development Process 12% 71%
Requirements Modelling 18% 77%
Architecture 12% 42%
State Modelling 22% 92%
Dynamic Modelling 24% 83%
Design and Implementation Techniques 12% 57%
Goofed up on easier topics...pathetic!
-- Sandeep