Did you use an IDE or a text editor (and javac/java) to write all these code snippets.Brian Brumpton wrote:wrote more code that I ever had previously
But what I don't really understand: why do you take the OCA exam if you fail 3 Enthuware tests in a row Second and third attempts don't count!
Based on just these numbers it's impossible to tell and give you some meaningful advice. So when you took the actual exam (and/or the mock exams), what are/were your impressions?
I'm very good at theory (ask me rules for method overloading/overriding and I give them you before you can blink your eyes) but I have difficulties to apply them on code snippets?
I assume Enthuware gives you a list of exam objectives which you have failed on (or scored very poorly). Any specific exam objectives which are mentioned on every failed 1st attempt?
Did you use an IDE or a text editor (and javac/java) to write all these code snippets.
Brian Brumpton wrote:Roel, I know this seems like a foolish thing to do. I was feeling a lot of pressure to get this exam done, to graduate, and to quit spending so much time away from my family. I don't work as a programmer, I'm a real estate agent. My income has suffered dramatically because of the amount of time I've spent studying. All those things amounted to an incredible level of guilt.
Brian Brumpton wrote:Always a text editor (JEdit).
Brian Brumpton wrote:The Oracle feedback is not very helpful as they send you back a list resembling all of the objectives.
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Instead for each one, write or say out loud a sentence on WHY that is the answer. This will get your brain focusing on finding the problems that come up on exams.
After that, take a mock you haven't seen before to see where you stand. There is a list of free ones here. One of which is the free 20 question assessment in my OCA 8 book. (a few questions won't apply to the OCA 7, but will be obvious as they cover topics not on the OCA 7 - dates and lambdas)
Study real hard and know the most intricate things (at the ocajp level), and more importantly recognize them in the code you have to unravel during the test. And focus, focus, focus during the test - see everything. We'll kick its ass sooner or later. If we don't run out of money.
In your score report Oracle lists the objectives for which you answered a question incorrectly. I checked my score report and I have just 3. You have in total +- 40 exam objectives for OCA 7. So it seems your score report lists plenty of them, which could mean your Java knowledge is still not at the desired level and you should keep studying and practicing.
Another possibility could be that you know the theory very well but you have some difficulties when you need to apply this knowledge on code snippets.
Brian Brumpton wrote:I don't know if I'm odd (actually that's not true, I know I'm odd) but in reviewing my results of the Enthuware exams, I seem to do much better on questions rated as tough and real brainer than I do on questions that are marked easy and very easy.
[OCP 17 book] | [OCP 11 book] | [OCA 8 book] [OCP 8 book] [Practice tests book] [Blog] [JavaRanch FAQ] [How To Ask Questions] [Book Promos]
Other Certs: SCEA Part 1, Part 2 & 3, Core Spring 3, TOGAF part 1 and part 2
Brian Brumpton wrote:You are correct. I have 27 objectives that I need to review. Obviously any one question could contain multiple objectives.
Brian Brumpton wrote:I don't know if I'm odd (actually that's not true, I know I'm odd)
Brian Brumpton wrote:but in reviewing my results of the Enthuware exams, I seem to do much better on questions rated as tough and real brainer than I do on questions that are marked easy and very easy.