Disappointed In the SCJP Exam

Hello friends,

I took the SCJP5 exam and I missed it with only 1%

. I still am a rookie at JAVA,i suppose. I took another coupon for the exam. I did understand where the whole thing went wrong,and it is lack of proper practice. I took the exam in a hurry and hence the result. Friends, as here in these forums there are so many experienced persons answering, I please need your help. As i take the exam again and soon please help me. I am in desperate need for suggestions.

What should I start practicing with, codes, examples .Where should I pick the questions from? I think theory part is over and I need practice and help.I would be very grateful to you all.

Sudipto, have you solved Devaka Cooray's Exam Questions???

Yes I did and I got only 31%. And also I face the problem of screen resolution with the exam simulator,it is set for computers with a resolution 1024X768 but I could not set my screen to that resolution,so with very difficulty i solved the exam. Please suggest me what to start with and where to start with my coding and practice again.

I think the explanations given in Devaka's Simulator are very good. Just go through them. Solve the MasterExam that comes with K&B.

Don't get disappointed Sudipto, you can make it...try to do this

* Read and understand the sections.
* Do a lot of coding..play around with code based on the topics you finished.
* Do the questions at the end of each chapter
* Revise all the chapters once more (at least read the certification summary) before you take a practice exam.
* Try to sit tight and do the practice test keeping an eye on the watch.

Yes i solved the master exam and i got 71% in the first attempt. Please suggest what to start wit would be appropriate..

Don't be too upset, Sudipto. How long do you have to prepare?

Yeah I am a little disappointed. I had prepared totally but did not understand where did it go wrong. I had gone through the K&B book twice.As you all have enough experience you might be able to figure it out where i did wrong. I have a coupon that has enough validity but I want to take the exam as soon as possible ,may be by the end of February. And also I don't have any industry experience. Can you tell what went wrong. And I am all geared up to practice again to get a better score this time as crying over what has already happened can not give any solutions. So please guide me.

The best advice that I can give you is:
Read the K&B book again (1-2 chapters every day.) Do 1 mock every day. Take notes of things you don't understand, and try to figure them out on your own. Check the API if you have any doubts, and ask questions here to clarify doubts. Most importantly, don't rush through the material. Go slow and build up your knowledge with a solid foundation. If you attempt to go too fast that will be counterproductive.

Good luck with it!

Thank you very much Ruben. What went wrong? Is it lack of practice?

Sudipto,

What went wrong is that you didn't have enough knowledge to pass the exam. Most often, it takes a lot of practice to really understand the materials. So yes, I think lack of practice is probably the main problem. But practice is not enough, you must also be able to fully understand what's going on. That's why I think it is better to go at a slow but steady pace. I wouldn't set a firm deadline like you are doing now. Just put a few weeks into it and then see how you feel. Then, when you feel confident, schedule your exam.

Ok I got what you say. Thanks for the help,very very much.

No problem, Sudipto! Take your time, and when you achieve victory it will taste sweeter.

Yes the best way to get it is practice and practice. As I don't have any industry experience I think I need to practice more and more. Ruben keep helping and supporting me. You have a nice time.

hi sudiptoyou can go for scjp 6 and prepare from kathy sierra best practice book 4 scjp 6

Yes this time I am doing the same.

Bad luck Sudipto

. Failing by just 1% is very harsh. But don't loose hope and prepare harder this time and you will come out with flying colors

Sudipto, I noticed you are very much concerned with practice here. IMO, understanding is far more important to pass the exam, and practice will get you higher marks. Thus, both are important, understanding of concepts is the key.

I remember when I appeared in the exam - in my lunch time and had to finish it in one hour because needed to get back to work - with very little practice, and no SCJP reading material. I managed to pass that with no good marks, less then 75%. I have no intention to belittle you, I just want to say, understanding and the concepts are of very much importance.

Wish you all the luck.

Hi sudipto,

Don't lose hope. Understanding the concepts is very important. Don't rush for the exam, just practice
and pay a lot of attention on the concepts. So good luck.

Ben

Sudipto, do lots of mocks and read instantly where you get confusion but after answering that question to be honest. You have to clear all your doubts on basics, and important thing is try to discuss and reply the post of others in javaranch, it will clear greater doubts of Java like Generics, collections, GC, String literal pool, exceptions, these are the key parts of SCJP.

Just hang over javaranch with your mocks, just try to be most active ranchers you will gain a lot everyday, I have felt this during my 2 months preparation and I think Ruben and Sachin have also the same feelings.

Yes Ankit it's harsh but I got what I did.

Hey sudipto,
its very bad luck because of just 1% percent the entire exam turned into fail...
so dont get dispointed....
learn from the mistake and come up with solution to them..
Study hard now ...............
you can do it........
best of luck....................

sandeep muley wrote:Hey sudipto,
its very bad luck because of just 1% percent the entire exam turned into fail...
so dont get dispointed....
learn from the mistake and come up with solution to them..
Study hard now ...............
you can do it........
best of luck....................

Thanks dear, i'll sure take this into account

Adeel Ansari wrote:Sudipto, I noticed you are very much concerned with practice here. IMO, understanding is far more important to pass the exam, and practice will get you higher marks. Thus, both are important, understanding of concepts is the key.

I remember when I appeared in the exam - in my lunch time and had to finish it in one hour because needed to get back to work - with very little practice, and no SCJP reading material. I managed to pass that with no good marks, less then 75%. I have no intention to belittle you, I just want to say, understanding and the concepts are of very much importance.

Wish you all the luck.

Yes Mr. Ansari I too think the same now. But I had done a lot of hard work,but now i think that might not have been enough. I have changed I way i used to study doing more mocks that i can grab and do a lot of reading on the topics.
This time I am not going to miss it.

Punit Singh wrote:Sudipto, do lots of mocks and read instantly where you get confusion but after answering that question to be honest. You have to clear all your doubts on basics, and important thing is try to discuss and reply the post of others in javaranch, it will clear greater doubts of Java like Generics, collections, GC, String literal pool, exceptions, these are the key parts of SCJP.

Just hang over javaranch with your mocks, just try to be most active ranchers you will gain a lot everyday, I have felt this during my 2 months preparation and I think Ruben and Sachin have also the same feelings.

Yes tihs time i am going for more mock exams. Can you tell me about the mock exams? Where can i find more of them? The one that comes in this site is more that enough i think!

Yes they are more than enough, and be active with this forum, and discuss a lot with us.

Ben Zaidi wrote:Hi sudipto,

Don't lose hope. Understanding the concepts is very important. Don't rush for the exam, just practice
and pay a lot of attention on the concepts. So good luck.

Ben

Yeah I was in the wrong direction the last time, i think so. But i'm working harder this time.
Thanks for your support.

Falling is not a defeat, defeat is when you don't get up.

Regards
Ananth Chellathurai

I did my SCJP like 3 times before I passed it. The very first time, I really didn't do much study and failed horribly (out of my expectation). Then I code alot for about a year. The 2nd time, guess what ... I failed too by 4 questions. Then given what I already know, doing practice tests is the key. Understanding those tests' answers reinforce your concepts. Sometimes, I even code out those questions and compile/run them to see why they fail.

Most of the time, at first glance, you assume the program to compile/run especially when there isn't a major hole left out. It is these questions you must look out for.

The K&B is a must I think. Good luck.

Ananth Chellathurai wrote:Falling is not a defeat, defeat is when you don't get up.

Regards
Ananth Chellathurai

Thanks for the support Ananth. I hope to give my best this time.

K. Tsang wrote:I did my SCJP like 3 times before I passed it. The very first time, I really didn't do much study and failed horribly (out of my expectation). Then I code alot for about a year. The 2nd time, guess what ... I failed too by 4 questions. Then given what I already know, doing practice tests is the key. Understanding those tests' answers reinforce your concepts. Sometimes, I even code out those questions and compile/run them to see why they fail.

Most of the time, at first glance, you assume the program to compile/run especially when there isn't a major hole left out. It is these questions you must look out for.

The K&B is a must I think. Good luck.

Thanks Mr. Tsang. Yes I too think I rushed for the exam and I practiced a few mock exams before taking the test. As Adeel said, and I know, I have to increase my knowledge through reading and practice. I went thorugh K&B twice and once before taking the exam. I don't know what went wrong. I'll try harder this time. Thanks again for the tips and for sharing your experience.

Hey Sudipto,

Don't get disappointed dear. Sometimes you need luck as well to pass the exam. Even i failed inmy first attempt at scjp5, missing by 4%. I guess the reason of my failure earlier was my nervousness during the exam rather than my preparation. I re-attempted the exam after almost 1.5 years and with confidence, and passed sucessfully last month itself. so just keep your cool during the exam and practice some more mocks.

Regards,
Namit Puri
SCJP 6.0

Thanks Namit. I too was nervous and it was my first online exam too(i did not make much difference though

). I really was disappointed at that time as I failed but then many people told me that they took more than one attempt to clear the SCJP exam but they did it. I too am determined now and i'll do it. Thanks Namit for sharing your experience and the support , i appreciate it.

Can somebody tell me how is the score calculated?
I got 58%. My individual score was:

Declarations,Initialization and Scoping -- 75%
FlowControl -- 80%
API Contents --60%
Concurrency --60%
OO Concepts --60%
Collection/Generics--45%
Fundamentals-- 40%

i believe your score is just number right/number questions.

You can't calculate it from just the percentages, because you don't know how many questions were in each section. For example, if the breakdown was like this:

Declarations,Initialization and Scoping -- 75% 3/4
FlowControl -- 80% 4/5
API Contents --60% 3/5
Concurrency --60% 3/5
OO Concepts --60% 3/5
Collection/Generics--45% 9/20
Fundamentals-- 40% 2/5

your total would be 27 out of 49, for a score of 55%.

However, it could be like this:

Declarations,Initialization and Scoping -- 75% 3/4
FlowControl -- 80% 4/5
API Contents --60% 3/5
Concurrency --60% 3/5
OO Concepts --60% 3/5
Collection/Generics--45% 9/20
Fundamentals-- 40% 40/100

for 65 out of 144, giving a score of 45%.

May be you are right but I got 58%. Anyway it's no more a matter now.Thank you very much

hi you have understood theory part but still review once
do practice mock exams and validate and note down the wrong answers.
every evening compare wrongly selected options to correct answers by that you will know what is wrongly understood.what is correct.

and finnally before the exam prepare your mind that you are going to take THE EXAM.

Hi sudipto

I know how you feel. But what I can say to you is not to give up. Think about what you could have done better in your preparation.

Also, check out the "My Path to SCJP Certification" link in my signature. It highlights what I found useful when I was preparing for the SCJP

Good luck!

Santiago Bravo wrote:Hi sudipto

I know how you feel. But what I can say to you is not to give up. Think about what you could have done better in your preparation.

Also, check out the "My Path to SCJP Certification" link in my signature. It highlights what I found useful when I was preparing for the SCJP

Good luck!

Thank you very much Mr. Bravo. The link is very helpful.

sudheer kiran wrote:hi you have understood theory part but still review once
do practice mock exams and validate and note down the wrong answers.
every evening compare wrongly selected options to correct answers by that you will know what is wrongly understood.what is correct.

and finnally before the exam prepare your mind that you are going to take THE EXAM.

Yes this time I practice more mocks. Have a nice time.Thank you.