What is the best way to prepare for the SCJP exam?
Familiarize yourself with Sun’s exam process, including objectives, registration, testing, etc. See Sun’s SCJP page for details.
If you are new to Java programming, start with a good introductory book such as Head First Java or Thinking in Java. Check the JavaRanch Bunkhouse for additional recommendations and reviews. Refer to the API documentation and the Java Language Specifications along the way. (See links in this FAQ.)
Once you have a foundation, study at least one good (and current) certification preparation book. (See recommendations in this FAQ.)
Use the SCJP forum to post questions, and reinforce your own understanding by answering other people’s questions.
Take as many mock exams as possible. (See links in this FAQ.) Use these to determine where additional study is needed, and as a guide to when you are ready.
Contributed by Mike Van…
In my dark and horrid past, I ran an organization that prepared newcomers for the Java Cert exam. As such, I have some insight you may find useful.
Go through one book at a time, don’t skip around between books because it will confuse you. Specifically with regard to the certification objectives, areas like Threads may be taught differently in different books. As such, its best to have one teacher at-a-time instead of numerous. Learning it multiple ways AT THE SAME TIME, will lead to confusion.
If you’re brand-spanking new to Java, don’t go directly to a Java Cert book. These books were not created for beginners, they were created for people who understand the basics of Java programming. Instead, spend a month or so getting to know the language with a “Learning Java” type book. If you are new to programming altogether, you may want to precede the learning java type book with a basic computer programming book.
Code Code Code. There is a lesson to be learned in every code example of every book you read. Learn the lessons and learn to code at the same time. The difference between someone who has spent the time to code and someone who is merely memorizing answers is immediately apparent in thier test progress. Someone who codes regularly will quickly pick-up on the intricate questions being asked on the exam. Someone who is memorizing answers will get lost easily once the questions deviate from what they’ve memorized. On the job, the memorized-no-coding person will be quickly fired, while also proving the test to be inneffective in the minds of the employer who f/hired them.
Study with friends. There’s an old axiom that goes: “if you put 100 programmers in a room and give them 1 problem, you’ll get 100 different answers, and most will work.” By studying with others you’ll be able to see how others approach the questions and exercises you’ll be studying. When I study for a certification, my initial approach to a problem is rarely the best one. But if I’m studying with others, I can see many approaches and find out which one is best for me.
Use Mnemonic Devices. The thing about memorable mnemonics is that they help put information into your long-term memory instead of your near-short term memory. This means you won’t be “brain-dumping” your newly learned lessons after the test. My favorite mnemonics are acronyms. Its amazing how memorable a lasciviously written acronym is. Make ‘em dirty to make ‘em last.
Don’t try to learn the entire language in a week/month, take your time. There’s the French cognitive psychologist name Piaget who postulated that adults learn sequentially and cumulatively. Basically what this means is that before you can learn how to write an inner class, you first need to learn how to write a regular class. You can try and skip right to the inner class if you want, but you won’t learn the “whys” of it. Its just as important for us human beings to learn the background of something as it is to learn the thing itself. Now, if you’re a martian, venusian, or uranusian, that may not apply. if you are a venusian learning Java, I say welcome to our new Venusian Overlords!
Learn “why” something works a given way, not just that it works one way. Other psychologists have postulated that there are three stages to learning. There’s recognizing something, rote memorization, and being able to create something new from your memorized material. This is usually applied to the learning of human languages, but it applied to Java Certification prep as well. Here’s how they differ. Being able to recognize that something is written in Java is nice, but you have to know how to use the language also. Recognizing but not really being able to use is the first level. Not really useful. Being able to recite all parts of the Java Language is certainly better than just recognizing it. Unfortunately, being able to recite the number of bits in an Integer doesn’t mean you’ll be able to use it in code. Finally, being able to create algorithms in the language, that’s where you want to be before you take your Sun certification exam. That’s what employers are looking for. That’s why K&M ask you questions that make you think. And that’s why the people that can use the language most effectively are the ones who don’t get laid off.
Certay is the online Certification Experts which provide Test King and Pass4sure the real questions and accurate answers since 2001, and Certay SCJP is designed to take advantage of specific skills and enhance your ability on practice.
List of Certay SUN SCJP Certification Exams Practice Engine
310-055 Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 5.0
310-025 SUN CERTIFIED PROGRAMMER FOR THE JAVA 2 PLATFORM 1.2
310-035 Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform 1.4
310-056 Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 5.0 Upgrade Exam
310-036 Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform Upgrade Exam
Contributed by Rahul Bhattacharjee, SCJP1.4…
Apart from the programming questions one should also concentrate on the theory (encapsulation…) also. As the basic theory questions would also have the same weightage.
Check this link for the features new to JDK 1.5.
Please use the SCJP forum to post your own question - ScjpWallOfFame
from
http://exam-test-blog.org/the-best-way-to-prepare-for-the-scjp-exam/
