FREE: SCEA 5 Beta Certification Exam (Three Parts)

FREE: SCEA 5 Beta Certification Exam (Three Parts)

Are you an architect who is responsible for architecting and designing Java Platform, Enterprise Edition compliant applications, which are scalable, flexible, and highly secure? If so, this is your opportunity to get involved in the creation of the Enterprise Architect certification exam!!!

As a beta tester, you officially "test the test" and will be able to provide Sun with valuable comments and technical feedback about the Enterprise Architect questions, assignment and essay. The Sun beta exam counts toward official SCEA Certification!

Registration Start Date: September 26-27, 2007

Multiple Choice (Part I) Beta Dates: September 27 � October 22, 2007

Candidates will have four (4) hours to complete 160 questions, which should allow you time to respond to all questions and provide your valuable comments while taking the exam.

This beta exam is offered Worldwide at any Authorized Prometric Testing Centers!

Assignment (Part II) Beta Dates: November 21st - December 26th, 2007

In order to proceed to Part II you must have passed the multiple choice part. Prometric will send you an email, if you passed, on how to proceed with Part II, the assignment. You will have 25 days to complete the assignment. After you have completed the assignment, please do NOT hesitate to take Part III, the essay, to complete your beta certification.

Short Essay (Part III) Beta Dates: November 28th - December 26th, 2007

Prometric will also be sending you a voucher number for this part of the exam. It will be included in the email that will have the instructions on how to proceed with the Part II - Assignment.

Recommended Prerequisites:

The Sun Certified Enterprise Architect exam is designed for candidates with experience in the following areas (typically 5 or more years):
-Application design: concepts and principles
-Common architectures
-Integration and messaging
-Business-tier technologies
-Web-tier technologies
-Java� EE technology
-Patterns
-Security

Candidates MUST pass all three (3) parts of the beta exam in order to receive your certification kit.

BETA EXAM REGISTRATION PROCEDURE

Unlike other SUN Microsystems certification exams, Part 1 (multiple choice) of this exam does NOT require a voucher. Part II (assignment) is an architecture assignment, and Part III (short essay) requires a voucher, which will be emailed to you if you pass Part I (multiple choice).

To register for the "Sun Certified Enterprise Architect for the Java Platform, Enterprise Edition 5" Beta exam, you may register online at http://www.prometric.com/Sun/default.htm, and follow the prompts. Or, you may register by phone, by calling your regional Prometric registration office, listed at http://www.prometric.com/ContactUs/TestTakers.

Asia/Australia 61-2-96405830
Europe 31-320-239-800
Japan 81-0120-107737
Latin America Contact your local Prometric testing center, listed at www.2test.com
USA/Canada 1-800-795-3926

SCEA 5 Multiple Choice Testing Objectives "DRAFT"

Section 1: Application Design Concepts and Principles

1.1Explain the main advantages of an object oriented approach to system design including the effect of encapsulation, inheritance, delegation, and the use of interfaces, on architectural characteristics.
1.2Describe how the principle of �separation of concerns� has been applied to the main system tiers of a Java EE application. Tiers include client (both GUI and web), web (web container), business (EJB container), integration, and resource tiers.
1.3Describe how the principle of �separation of concerns� has been applied to the layers of a Java EE application. Layers include application, virtual platform (component APIs), application infrastructure (containers), enterprise services (operating system and virtualization), compute and storage, and the networking infrastructure layers.

Section 2:Common Architectures

2.1Explain the advantages and disadvantages of two tier architectures when examined under the following topics: scalability, maintainability, reliability, availability, extensibility, performance, manageability, and security.
2.2Explain the advantages and disadvantages of three tier architectures when examined under the following topics: scalability, maintainability, reliability, availability, extensibility, performance, manageability, and security
2.3Explain the advantages and disadvantages of multi-tier architectures when examined under the following topics: scalability, maintainability, reliability, availability, extensibility, performance, manageability, and security.
2.4Explain the benefits and drawbacks of rich clients and browser-based clients as deployed in a typical Java EE application.
2.5Explain appropriate and inappropriate uses for Web Services in the Java EE Platform

Section 3:Integration and Messaging

3.1Explain possible approaches for communicating with an external system from a Java EE-based system given an outline description of those systems and outline the benefits and drawbacks of each approach.
3.2Explain typical uses of Web Services and XML over HTTP as mechanisms to integrate distinct software components.
3.3Explain how Java Connector Architecture and JMS are used to integrate distinct software components as part of an overall Java EE application.

Section 4: Business Tier Technologies

4.1Explain and contrast uses for Entity Beans, Entity Classes, Stateful and Stateless Session Beans, and Message Driven Beans and understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
4.2Explain and contrast the following persistence strategies: Container Managed Persistence (CMP) BMP, JDO, JPA, ORM and using DAOs (Data Access Objects) and direct JDBC-based persistence under the following headings: ease of development, performance, scalability, extensibility and security.
4.3Explain how Java EE supports the deployment of server-side components implemented as Web Services and the advantages and disadvantages of adopting such an approach.
4.4Explain the benefits of the EJB3 development model over previous EJB generations for ease of development including how the EJB container simplifies EJB development.

Section 5: Web Tier Technologies

5.1State the benefits and drawbacks of adopting a web framework in designing a Java EE application
5.2Explain standard uses for JSP and Servlet technologies in a typical Java EE application.
5.3Explain standard uses for JSF technology in a typical Java EE application.
5.4Given a system requirements definition, explain and justify your rationale for choosing a web-centric or EJB-centric implementation to solve the requirements. Web-centric means that you are providing a solution that does not use EJBs. EJB-centric solution will require an application server that supports EJBs.

Section 6: Applicability of Java EE Technology

6.1Given a specified business problem, design a modular solution implemented using Java EE which solves that business problem.
6.2Explain how the Java EE platform enables service oriented architecture (SOA) -based applications.
6.3Explain how you would design a Java EE application to repeatedly measure critical non-functional requirements and outline a standard process with specific strategies to refactor that application to improve on the results of the measurements.

Section 7: Patterns

7.1From a list, select the most appropriate pattern for a given scenario. Patterns are limited to those documented in the book - Alur, Crupi and Malks (2003). Core J2EE Patterns: Best Practices and Design Strategies 2nd Edition and named using the names given in that book.
7.2From a list, select the most appropriate pattern for a given scenario. Patterns are limited to those documented in the book - Gamma, Erich; Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, and John Vlissides (1995). Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software and are named using the names given in that book.
7.3Select from a list the benefits and drawbacks of a pattern drawn from the book - Gamma, Erich; Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, and John Vlissides (1995). Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software.
7.4Select from a list the benefits and drawbacks of a specified Core J2EE pattern drawn from the book � Alur, Crupi and Malks (2003). Core J2EE Patterns: Best Practices and Design Strategies 2nd Edition.

Section 8: Security

8.1Explain the client-side security model for the Java SE environment, including the Web Start and applet deployment modes.
8.2Given an architectural system specification, select appropriate locations for implementation of specified security features, and select suitable technologies for implementation of those features
8.3Identify and classify potential threats to a system and describe how a given architecture will address the threats.
8.4Describe the commonly used declarative and programmatic methods used to secure applications built on the Java EE platform, for example use of deployment descriptors and JAAS.

SCEA 5 Assignment Objectives "DRAFT"

Section 1: Application Design Concepts and Principles

1.1Document a given system architecture by creating UML diagrams for it.
1.2Explain the main advantages of an object oriented approach to system design including the effect of encapsulation, inheritance, delegation, and the use of interfaces, on architectural characteristics.
1.3Describe how the principle of �separation of concerns� has been applied to the main system tiers of a Java EE application. Tiers include client (both GUI and web), web (web container), business (EJB container), integration, and resource tiers.
1.4Describe how the principle of �separation of concerns� has been applied to the layers of a Java EE application. Layers include application, virtual platform (component APIs), application infrastructure (containers), enterprise services (operating system and virtualization), compute and storage, and the networking infrastructure layers.

Section 2:Common Architectures

2.1Explain the advantages and disadvantages of two tier architectures when examined under the following topics: scalability, maintainability, reliability, availability, extensibility, performance, manageability, and security.
2.2Explain the advantages and disadvantages of three tier architectures when examined under the following topics: scalability, maintainability, reliability, availability, extensibility, performance, manageability, and security
2.3Explain the advantages and disadvantages of multi-tier architectures when examined under the following topics: scalability, maintainability, reliability, availability, extensibility, performance, manageability, and security.
2.4Explain the benefits and drawbacks of rich clients and browser-based clients as deployed in a typical Java EE application.
2.5Create a logical and physical model of a system infrastructure architecture

Section 3: Integration and Messaging

3.1Explain possible approaches for communicating with an external system from a Java EE-based system given an outline description of those systems and outline the benefits and drawbacks of each approach.
3.2Explain typical uses of Web Services and XML over HTTP as mechanisms to integrate distinct software components.
3.3Explain how Java Connector Architecture and JMS are used to integrate distinct software components as part of an overall Java EE application.
3.4Given a scenario, explain the appropriate messaging strategy to satisfy the requirements.

Section 4: Business Tier Technologies

4.1Explain and contrast uses for Entity Beans, Entity Classes, Stateful and Stateless Session Beans, and Message Driven Beans and understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
4.2Explain and contrast the following persistence strategies: Container Managed Persistence (CMP) BMP, JDO, JPA, ORM and using DAOs (Data Access Objects) and direct JDBC-based persistence under the following headings: ease of development, performance, scalability, extensibility and security.

Section 5: Web Tier Technologies

5.1Given a system requirements definition, explain and justify your rationale for choosing a web-centric or EJB-centric implementation to solve the requirements. Web-centric means that you are providing a solution that does not use EJBs. EJB-centric solution will require an application server that supports EJBs.

Section 6: Applicability of Java EE Technology

6.1Given a specified business problem, design a modular solution implemented using Java EE which solves that business problem.
6.2Given a specified business problem, identify and prioritize the main technology risk areas that must be addressed by the technical design and architecture.
6.3Explain how the Java EE platform enables service oriented architecture (SOA) -based applications.
6.4Identify how the Java SE and Java EE platform supports the internationalization and localization of applications.
6.5Explain your rationale for choosing build versus buy for a given Java EE component.
6.6Explain the typical challenges associated with the design and implementation of large scale enterprise software systems and how Java EE technology addresses those challenges.
6.7Explain how you would design a Java EE application to repeatedly measure critical non-functional requirements and outline a standard process with specific strategies to refactor that application to improve on the results of the measurements.

Section 7: Patterns

7.1From a list, select the most appropriate pattern for a given scenario. Patterns are limited to those documented in the book - Alur, Crupi and Malks (2003). Core J2EE Patterns: Best Practices and Design Strategies 2nd Edition and named using the names given in that book.
7.2From a list, select the most appropriate pattern for a given scenario. Patterns are limited to those documented in the book - Gamma, Erich; Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, and John Vlissides (1995). Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software and are named using the names given in that book.
7.3Select from a list the benefits and drawbacks of a pattern drawn from the book - Gamma, Erich; Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, and John Vlissides (1995). Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software.
7.4Select from a list the benefits and drawbacks of a specified Core J2EE pattern drawn from the book � Alur, Crupi and Malks (2003). Core J2EE Patterns: Best Practices and Design Strategies 2nd Edition.

Section 8: Security

8.1Given an architectural system specification, select appropriate locations for implementation of specified security features, and select suitable technologies for implementation of those features
8.2Identify and classify potential threats to a system and describe how a given architecture will address the threats.

[ September 10, 2007: Message edited by: Evelyn Cartagena-Meyer ]
[ September 10, 2007: Message edited by: Evelyn Cartagena-Meyer ]

Thanks for the info, Evelyn! That's awesome

Evelyn,

Can we register for part I immediately or only on Sept 19 & 20th?
Also after taking the part I exam when will the results be declared?
Is it possible to take parts II & III earlier to Nov 21st?

Thanks.
Neeraj.

Can we register for part I immediately or only on Sept 19 & 20th?

Registration will be started on 9/19

Also after taking the part I exam when will the results be declared?

Normally, 6-8 weeks after the exam concluded. But since we have Part II beta, so, you will know whether you pass or fail before 11/21.

Is it possible to take parts II & III earlier to Nov 21st?

No. You can only start part II after you passed Part I.

Nick

Wow. Something new for me to study for...

Regarding experience details.. is it compulsory to have 5 years of exp to take the exam ...

Originally posted by Aditya Adep:
Regarding experience details.. is it compulsory to have 5 years of exp to take the exam ...

There's no way for them to enforce that you have to have been in the field for five years, obviously. It's just a good recommendation, based on the amount of experience they expect you'll have to successfully complete it.

Though, I now (having had time to think about it) have a new question - for those of us who (in the unlikely event) do not pass and are prior SCEAs... will there be an upgrade path? Or, if we simply don't pass Part II/III, will this be eligible for resubmission?

Hi Evelyn,

Could you please elaborate on what you mean about "receiving your certification kit"? Will we get a free voucher to take the real test, or do we become SCEA 5 certified, or something else?

Candidates MUST pass all three (3) parts of the beta exam in order to receive your certification kit.

Thanks,
Jim

P.S. I have also passed along this announcement to my local JUG and will post it to Sun's JUG-Leaders list soon as well.

Jim, to answer your question - the "kit" is a certificate and wallet card to show that you were certified. Beta testers who pass the exam receive the certification as if they took it when it was generally released.

Will there be a limit to the number of testers or will anyone who registers on 9/19 and 9/20 get in?

Thanks,
Dave

Hi Evelyn,

If one clears the Part I will he get the certificate of Part I, or is it necessary to clear Parts II and III as well?
I mean are you issuing individual certificates for each Part or is there a combined certificate for the three parts?

Its an excellent news. What are the recommended books for the study? and which versions will be covered?

If one clears the Part I will he get the certificate of Part I, or is it necessary to clear Parts II and III as well?

Yes

I mean are you issuing individual certificates for each Part or is there a combined certificate for the three parts?

All 3 exams will conclude 1 certificate

Nick

Originally posted by Jim Bethancourt:
Hi Evelyn,

Could you please elaborate on what you mean about "receiving your certification kit"? Will we get a free voucher to take the real test, or do we become SCEA 5 certified, or something else?

Candidates MUST pass all three (3) parts of the beta exam in order to receive your certification kit.

Thanks,
Jim

P.S. I have also passed along this announcement to my local JUG and will post it to Sun's JUG-Leaders list soon as well.

Hi

I cannot find the registration page on 2test.com.
Can any provide a direct link to the page for a UK user?

TIA

Good News for me too. I was thinking of taking the old version of this exam in September. I think now I will look forward to this beta exam.

I hope this is available for people in India also. Can some one confirm?
[ August 30, 2007: Message edited by: Nagendra Inuguri ]

Hi Evelyn and Theodore,
I can't seem to find the SCEA 5 Beta test listed on the 2test website in Sun's list of tests. What is the test number we should look for?

Thanks,
Jim

Hi Jim,

Please, read the thread from the begining. They'll be available only on Sept 19-20 on that site.

Thanks

Aurelio

I dunno why everyone looks at me like I know anything official. I'm just the resident certification-whore.

(Which is to say, I do these for fun as much as I do them for professional reasons, and I work for someone other than Sun. Though, Evelyn, if you guys want to offer me a job as a professional certification tester...

)

Ah!!! A big thanks to everyone for the clarification. I misread and only thought that the test started on September 20th.

Cheers,
Jim

Any pointers for the materials and how to prepare for this exam.

Also Will having SCBCD beta 5 knowledge , help for this certification ?

Thanks and Regards,
Suchitra

Originally posted by Theodore Casser:
I dunno why everyone looks at me like I know anything official.

Hi Theodore,
Everyone looks up at you because you are always around and provide answers to the queries.

Hi Theodore,
My apologies -- I'm new on the forum and didn't know your role.

Thanks so much,
Jim

Hi All,
I have created the google group for people preparing for this exam, can share thoughts and discuss about preparation material there

http://groups.google.co.in/group/scea5?hl=en

People who are preparing for this exam can join the group

Hi Evelyn,

Can you let us know what weightage each objective will carry for Part I?

Thanks Nick & Theodore!

Thank you.

If I only passed part I beta exam, can I take official SCEA 5 part II&III?
[ August 30, 2007: Message edited by: Kengkaj Sathianpantarit ]

Hi All,

Is any one having the following info abt SCEA beta 5

1) Exam code
2) Number of questions in part 1
3) Duration for part 1
4) Can people in India register online on 19th Sep ?

Thanks and Regards,
Suchitra

Originally posted by Vedhas Pitkar:
Hi Evelyn,

Can you let us know what weightage each objective will carry for Part I?

Thanks Nick & Theodore!

From my previous experiences, such information is never disclosed. Even you dont know this for offical exams.

Hi All,

Is any one having the following info abt SCEA beta 5

1) Exam code
2) Number of questions in part 1
3) Duration for part 1
4) Can people in India register online on 19th Sep ?

Thanks and Regards,
Suchitra

1) 311-052
2) around 180-220 (based on previous beta test experiences)
3) 4-5 hours (based on previous beta test experiences)
4) Cant help for this as I am not from India

Nick
[ September 03, 2007: Message edited by: Nicholas Cheung ]

Originally posted by Suchitra Bhat:
Hi All,

Is any one having the following info abt SCEA beta 5
4) Can people in India register online on 19th Sep ?

Thanks and Regards,
Suchitra

In Mumbai, You can call up any Prometric center and register for it.

Hi,
I think 19/20 are staring date due to time zones all over world. I think, registration is available onwards from this dates.

Thanks

Has anyone received the voucher yet?

Originally posted by Vijay S. Rathore:
Has anyone received the voucher yet?

You should try reading the original post more carefully. The registration hasn't begun yet and the first part, once registration has begun, doesn't require a voucher.

Dear Ranchers,

As i have a voucher which is expiring on 31st Dec 2007,which i wish to utilize for SCBCD,I was intrested in knowing that can i write my SCBCD exam,in between of the Multiple Choice and Assignment or the Assignment and Essay,are there any rules regarding writing of two exams on the same date,or related to the same.

dear anand,
i don't think there is any restriction .. and you can give both exam together... as for scea, its a independent exam...

and scbcd is independent [

]

Dear Amit,

I hope you are confident on this point,otherwise i might lose my voucher,and so do not wish to take the risk,hope for the best to happen,waiting for others to reply.

When is the Registration Start Date? September 19-20, 2007
[ https://www.suntrainingcatalogue.com/eduserv/client/learningPath.do?p=/training/certification/java/beta_architect.html ]

or
September 26-27, 2007?

Originally posted by anand phulwani:
Dear Amit,

I hope you are confident on this point,otherwise i might lose my voucher,and so do not wish to take the risk,hope for the best to happen,waiting for others to reply.

Relax. There's no penalty for doing another exam during your SCEA. I did it.

I have coupon for SCEA 1.1 which is valid till August 2008.
can i use this coupon for some other exam as the new version of the SCEA exam is coming up...
Taking up the old exam will be a waste and also i do not want that the 200$ which i had spent on voucher for 1.1 should go in drain...

pls advise.

Originally posted by Martin CHOW:
When is the Registration Start Date? September 19-20, 2007
[ https://www.suntrainingcatalogue.com/eduserv/client/learningPath.do?p=/training/certification/java/beta_architect.html ]

or
September 26-27, 2007?

It has been changed to September 26-27, 2007.

Do check the SUN US website.

http://www.sun.com/training/certification/java/beta_architect.xml

Nick
[ September 19, 2007: Message edited by: Nicholas Cheung ]

Originally posted by Ashutosh Dogra:
I have coupon for SCEA 1.1 which is valid till August 2008.
can i use this coupon for some other exam as the new version of the SCEA exam is coming up...
Taking up the old exam will be a waste and also i do not want that the 200$ which i had spent on voucher for 1.1 should go in drain...

pls advise.

I think you can use voucher for other exam.

Hi Kengkaj,
Any Idea where i can get more information on this.
Thanks
Ashutosh