Dear all,
First of all please accept my sincere apologies for this long delay in answering your questions. Actually I received a virus, which damaged our systems completely and ultimately forced us to format all the systems and you know the irritation of loosing all that important data and setting up your machine all over again. Anyways...
Thanks to all the people for asking these questions, below I am answering them one by one:
1.How close is XML@Whiz to real exam?
Answer - XML@Whiz contains most of the questions exactly on the pattern of actual exam, but I have also added some questions, which test your in-depth knowledge of the XML and related technologies. Though you may not find exactly similar questions in the exam but I am sure they will really help you learn XML well.
2.Comparison with IBM sample test.
Answer - I think IBM sample test is closer to the real exam than XML@Whiz. As I said above I have also added some questions, which test your in-depth knowledge of the XML and related technologies.
3.Resources
Answer - Please look at the following links and the links from these links
http://www.javaranch.com/ubb/Forum31/HTML/000268.html http://www.whizlabs.com/products/xmlwhiz/ibm-xml-faq.html I think these are more than enough.
4.Any other language required than Java?
Answer - As far as XML and related technologies are concerned they are platform and language independent. So it makes no difference whether you implement XML applications in VB, C++ or Java. But personally I think XML goes well with Java, as Java is also platform independent, so I would recommend Java and more so if you already know Java.
5.Is XML@Whiz harder or easier than the actual exam?
Answer - Questions in XML@Whiz are harder than the actual exam, but they are very helpful in learning XML and related technologies.
6.How well the sample test and real exam covers the objectives?
Answer - I think that XML Certification is relatively new and has a long way to go before it matures. Though all the objectives are covered in the real exam as well as the IBM sample test, they don't test the in-depth knowledge of XML and related technologies. Only the basic know-how of the XML and related technology can get you through in the real exam.
As far as XML@Whiz is concerned, I have deviated a little from the actual exam. I have put questions, which certainly test in-depth knowledge of XML and related technologies.
7.Are web-services included in the exam?
Answer - Though web-services are projected to be the hottest application of XML and related technologies, they are not part of the XML Certification Objectives.
8.Comparison with SCWCD.
Answer - Below I am comparing SCWCD with XML Certification point by point:
a)SCWCD covers a lot of technologies; so here XML Certification is quite similar as XML Certification also covers a lot of technologies.
b)SCWCD requires you to mug-up a lot of things, e.g. various interfaces etc., for XML Certification there is no mugging-up required.
c)Easier or tougher? - If we take SCJP as benchmark then I would SCWCD is easier and XML Certification is tougher.
d)SCWCD requires overall know-how of the various technologies involved rather than in-depth knowledge, XML Certification is quite similar to SCWCD in this sense as it also requires you to have overall know-how of XML and the related technologies rather than in-depth knowledge.
9.Where are mock exams questions coming from in XML@Whiz?
Answer - Below is the list of resources I used:
a)My own and my colleagues experience of taking the test.
b)Ajith's sample questions
c)Books - XML Handbook, XML Bible, Learn XML in 21 days, Inside XML
d)Sites - XML.com, XML.org, W3schools.com, topxml.com, xmlpitstop.com
e)Specs
f)Forums - I participate on various forums like Javaranch, which discuss XML and related technologies.
10.Learning XML fully and not just getting the certificate.
Answer - I am inspired by this. Actually that is and should be the purpose. Certification is just a validation or a milestone on the path of learning. I have deliberately deviated a little from the real exam keeping learning XML and related technologies in mind rather than just getting the certification.
I hope I have answered your queries to you satisfaction. It is my pleasure and honor to participate at this great place. I will be around, so just shoot your queries and I will try to answer them to the best of my capabilities.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.
All the best!!!
Purvesh Sharma
XML@Whiz - IBM XML Certification Test Simulator
http://www.whizlabs.com/jwhiz
