I took the new
Java Web Component Developer Certification a week ago. I received a 91%.
My advice:
>>> Wait for the Head First
Servlets and
JSP. <<<
I primarily used the specs for study and I took many of the quizzes at the online examination sites. Shortly into the exam, I felt that I was taking the wrong exam. The terminology of the questions was quite a bit different than what I had expected. During an exam, this can generate one really bad feeling.
History
I am have done a lot of web development with servlets and JSP.
Preparation
Specs. I read both the JSP and Servlet specs twice.
Core Servlets & JSP
More Servlets and JavaServer Pages
Jason Hunter's Servlet book. First edition when it first came out.
SCWCD Exam Study Kit (Remember it is for 1.3)
JWebPlus exams
I really concentrated on the web.xml and taglib.tld. I had to carefully study EL, because I do not use it.
Quizzes
I usually got in the 90s on the online quizzes. They were good in predicting my final score, but I feel that I was ill prepared for the terminology used in the exam..
Time usage
I took the full amount of time to finish.
My advice would be to wait for and read Head First Servlets and JSP. If it is anything like Head First
EJB,
you should be well prepared for the exam. One of the little ingredients that helped me with EJB was the reference to the appropriate page in the spec in examination questions. I hope they kept that.
Now what am I going to do? Maybe I should start work on the Sun Certified Enterprise Architect. One day, in 10-15 years, maybe I will catch up to this Nicholas Cheung character. How has he amassed such an alphabet soup of accolades?
Thermond Adams