Jack Moore Iii

Ranch Hand
+ Follow
since Jun 07, 2012
Merit badge: grant badges
For More
Cows and Likes
Cows
Total received
0
In last 30 days
0
Total given
0
Likes
Total received
2
Received in last 30 days
0
Total given
0
Given in last 30 days
0
Forums and Threads
Scavenger Hunt
expand Ranch Hand Scavenger Hunt
expand Greenhorn Scavenger Hunt

Recent posts by Jack Moore Iii

Jeanne Boyarsky wrote:The enthuware mocks cost $10 (for 500 questions) and are good.



Oh! That was it! Thanks. Maybe I can redownload the old tests I bought now that I know the site again. Though 10 bucks is probably worth getting the OCAJP7 ones too.
I've actually bought a few of them at one point. Can't really remember which ones as I've been dragging my butt to get certified for a while. Are there any current mock tests that are a cut above the rest these days for the associate test? The ones I got were like off of amazon for $10, and they were the e-version instead of a book. I think they were for SCJP6 anyway, though. But I have read through the K&P book chapter 1-5 quite a lot and I'd like to mock test it up with the most accurate questions possible. To my dismay, there are a LOT of spam sites to wade through in looking for decent mock tests of any type.

Roel De Nijs wrote:

Jack Moore Iii wrote:It's just that I can barely stay focused enough to read a few pages before I start wandering. Was thinking associate might be "enough" with my lazy study habits to have a certification to show, then boost it up later once I have a job or a more solid understanding of Java.


I have to say I don't like the attitude at all. I would expect from any developer a certain eagerness to learn. You will be working in a continuously changing/evolving environment and you will be faced with new technologies (e.g. we are talking about the new features of Java 7 and Java 8 with its lambdas & default methods in interfaces is already officially released a few months ago). So you'll definitely have to study to keep up. Otherwise you'll be a dead duck (very) quickly. If you are reluctant to learn/study, you should choose another occupation!

My personal story: started my 1st job in January 2004 and got my 1st certification in October 2005. It was my own initiative to become certified (I thought it would make me a better developer and it definitely did) and paid all expenses myself. It certainly helped to have some experience with java programming while preparing for this certification. So I can understand why someone would opt to take the OCAJP7 certification to start with and after having more experience and hands-on experience go for the more advanced/valuable OCPJP7 certification.

Just my 2 cents.



Some people learn by reading books for their entire life, and some learn by doing. I learn by doing. I'd rather get my foot in the door and start getting experience. It seems to me a real developer is going to learn and do research along the way rather than shoving their head with as much knowledge as possible at one given time to pass a test. Granted, these are the words of someone who just can't do that very well, but I am at my best when I'm coding, not taking tests. Yet I still need something to put on my resume, and soon.

Jeanne Boyarsky wrote:Since you have the version 6 book, I recommend taking that exam. You can always take the upgrade exam from OCPJP6 to OCPJP67 later if you want a 7 cert. And in the meantime you have a stronger "first" cert. (OCPJP6 is better than OCAJP7 as Roel noted)

Keep in mind that the OCPJP 7 added a number of new topics like JDBC and Concurrency that aren't covered in the book you have in your hands.



Yeah, but are all those additional chapters covering the 6th test worth avoiding those few topics? Not that I don't want to have a better certification. It's just that I can barely stay focused enough to read a few pages before I start wandering. Was thinking associate might be "enough" with my lazy study habits to have a certification to show, then boost it up later once I have a job or a more solid understanding of Java.
Ugh, maybe I'll just check with the programming department and see which one they'd prefer to see. It's looking like OCAJP7 is more my speed with the attention span I have. I'd be more prepared for the second test if I was actively programming every day instead of endlessly reading books about it. Thanks for the info.
9 years ago
I see that 6 is still the better choice as far as hiring goes. Maybe I just need to go with the K&P book and just keep taking mock tests every day. There are only so many questions that can be asked.
So OCPJP7 is only after I take OCAJP7 and it looks better than OCPJP6? Or is 6 just superior?
9 years ago
Well the supervisor at the government job I'm an intern at seems to think the programming department likes any and all certifications anyone has on top of my CS degree. So if 7 is the best, is the K&P book the best possible prep for it at the moment, along with the Java 7 changes that are listed elsewhere?
Which is the certification where you put it on your resume and you actually do the coding work? I'm looking to get an entry level job with something official as my certification, and I'm taking too long to do it.
9 years ago
I'm not really sure, which is equivalent to a certification which gets me a job programming java? Because that's the one I'm referring to.
I was under the impression that regardless of skill level, everyone had to pass the associates exam before they could take the programmer exam. Is that outdated info?
9 years ago
I've been reading on the SCJP6 cert prep book for a long time now and dragging my butt about taking the test. I know version 7 has long since come out, and there are minor differences they add. Now I hear version 8 is on the way? Is there any extra material that I should be reading up on and just take the OCJP7 test instead of the 6? Or is it even worth re reading everything that's in 6 with those few changes that are made? I'm sure changes are well documented by now. I seem to have a giant problem with studying and taking horridly long tests. Would be nice if I could get the job first, then cram my brain full of stuff I'll be looking up anyway on the job.
I was going to go for SCJP6 first, but damned if I'm not stupid as hell. Kind of humbling trying to take these certification mock tests. If you're starting from scratch, it looks like the OCAJP7 is the way to go since they are sticking it to you for 2 tests up to OCP level anyway. I am scoring a good amount higher on the OCA mock tests than the stuff in the K&B book which looks to be way more involved...
Yeah, I've been reading the SCJP6 K&B book forever now. I thought it might be helpful to take the first test and know exactly what I should read up on, but of course I was also hoping I'd do better. And that 61% is not even counting the ones I got right but had no idea of the real reason it was the correct answer. So now I'll review those 90 questions and read up on my weak areas. Some people say certifications don't mean a thing to employers. But I say to them, take the friggn test yourself if you don't think it's hard or are not impressed! This is probably the hardest test I've ever taken, counting all of high school and college, and it's only at kindergarten level compared to the rest of the Oracle exams. I wish I was doing this while working as a Java developer already. It's gotta be a bit easier to recall things you mess with every day...
These questions are suppose to be harder than the actual test, so is starting out with a 61% on the first test about normal? I've been doing the cattle drive and random assignments for quite some time now, so I have a decent knowledge of Java, but I guess I would have liked to score closer to NOT throwing away $300 bucks if I took the test now. I suppose it's a better score than I've gotten on some SCJP6 mock tests in the past, but they are even harder for the professional level...