Failed 486 with 65% ...

[Ramon Gill]

Hi folks, I took the 486 exam yesterday and failed with 65% (pass is 67%). I thought I'd pass on my thoughts so as to help others.
For the exam itself, I followed a previous tip and made a first pass through the exam only answering non-exhibit questions (this was just over half of the total questions). This I did quickly, and I recommend everyone does this. I then did another pass looking for exhibits other than those about the main case study. Do not do this! There are not enough questions to warrant this! This wasted me valuable time. The reason I did this was because I had to scroll both ways on most of the main case study exhibits (I only had a small monitor), which irritated me. Once I started the main case study questions with exhibits I found them ok. However, I started rushing because I was running out of time. At the end, I totally guessed the last 4 questions due to only having 30 secs left.
Apart from the mistakes during the exam, I didn't spend enough time on Larman. Also, next time I might use whizlabs.
Usually I spent a lot more time studying for exams, but took this early due to the free voucher. I'm now leaving this to later in the year, and will try to get 287 before the 31/3 (a tall order, but its free).
Good luck to everyone else.
Ray
SCJP, SCWCD, SCBCD, SCEA (paer 1), IBM 484

[Axel Janssen]

... good luck next time.
For the 486-exam I prepared 6 weeks (after 50 hour job) and am using uml/rup-style for some time and am quite interested in the topic as such for some time.
For those who have short time budget, Whizlab might really be worth the investment. Its tougher than the real test, but you get good ideas about real test, when fighting the desperate uphill battle to reach 70% in Whizlab. After that, real test was easy.
Larman is the most important source for the exam.
This special offers makes people take quick shots. I am scheduled thursday, 9:30 MEZ for 484 and I am not sure if I am going ot pass.
regards Axel

[Theodore Casser]

Stick with it! 486 is a fairly hard test, and getting close just means that you almost have it down - just a little more studying and you'll ace it next time.

[Dave Cronin]

So close - almost there. The IBM OOAD exam does take some studying, it's worth reading a few books on the topic areas. The whizlabs study guide is useful as well. The exam includes some questions on use cases and the software process, not directly OOAD, but still useful to know. The next time definitely a pass!

[Ken Ho]

Ramon, how can you have those free vouchers from IBM? or when will be there any big discount on IBM exam fee? :roll:

[Theodore Casser]

Originally posted by Ken Ho:
Ramon, how can you have those free vouchers from IBM? or when will be there any big discount on IBM exam fee? :roll:

IBM has discounted testing at times through their testing engine. It pays to keep an eye on the news at http://www.ibm.com/certify for any details on upcoming exam discounts. (The discount most recently offered was $10 for each attempt at the self-test, but you got a free voucher if you passed it.)

[P Lu]

I passed IBM486 with 79 today, there was 15' monitor for me, it made me unconfortable, after follow the sequence for about 10 questions, I start to did non-graph first, it made me a litte confortable, the the case is base on ticket system, so when doing case study, it will be OK.(same content). whizlab help a lot.
I have a question, When will IBM mail the certificate to me? and Will prometric mail the invoice to me?( I pay online)?
Ping

[Ramon Gill]

Thanks for all the comments. I've decided to stick with 486 and leave 287 until I've passed. I'm going to spend a lot more time on Larman, and will also use Whizlabs for the first time. I might try to find an exam centre with 17" monitors.
Ray
SCJP, SCWCD, SCBCD, SCEA (part 1), IBM-484

[Vivek Viswanathan]

Hi
I am giving the 486 exam tomorrow afternoon, I have given 2 whizlab exam and I have failed both of them now I have about 3 practicee exams to give before tomorrow afternoon. I didnt spend much time preparing for the exams since these vouchers are expiring really soon and I also have 3 more IBM certifications to give. As I uderstand by the posts over here that the Whizlabs exams are tough as compared to the actual exams..I really hope I pass this exam. It is kind of a pain stuying for this exam since most of the questions that are asked can have more than one ans depending on the context of question ( which varies from one persons interpertation to another). I hope my interpretation matches with that of the exam.
Any last minute tips before the exam ?
Vivek

[Ramon Gill]

Vivek,
Do all the non-exhibit questions first. This is just over half the total questions. For the exhibits, show patience. You will have to scroll on nearly all of them. I found it irritating.
On a separate point, I won't be using my free voucher for 287. I don't feel there's enough time. I'm carrying on with 486 until I pass before taking 287 (expensive, but hopefully wise decision). I've just bought whizlabs (first time) for 486 again expensive).
Best of luck.
Ray
SCJP, SCWCD, SCBCD, SCEA (part 1), IBM-484

[Vivek Viswanathan]

Originally posted by Ramon Gill:
Vivek,
Do all the non-exhibit questions first. This is just over half the total questions. For the exhibits, show patience. You will have to scroll on nearly all of them. I found it irritating.
On a separate point, I won't be using my free voucher for 287. I don't feel there's enough time. I'm carrying on with 486 until I pass before taking 287 (expensive, but hopefully wise decision). I've just bought whizlabs (first time) for 486 again expensive).
Best of luck.
Ray
SCJP, SCWCD, SCBCD, SCEA (part 1), IBM-484

thanks for all the luck guys, since I passed with 84%, which I feel is really good since I didnt study more than 2 weeks on it, I just read through UML Distilled and the Larman 2nd Ed, I have read the 1st Ed about 2 years back when I was working on SCEA but the second edition seems to be really good, I am thinking of getting that book for myself and also another book by Fowler about Refactoring since I really liked one of his articles on Refracting that I read somewhere on the net.#
Whizlabs was really usefull since it really helped me work against something rather than aimlessly studying, I failed the 1st 2 exams and passed the next 2 on whizlabs ( 29, 36, 38, 43), but after reading through all your posts I had a feeling that I would pass the actual exam since most of you said the Whizlabs are a bit more tougher than the actual exam.
Now I just have 2 more exam more to give before the end of this month, I really hope I have the patience for these exams
IBM 141 and IBM 484
I will be giving the 484 first since I have exprience in J2EE so it should be a lot easy as compared to the 141 which I may just scrape through...well let us see how things go..I have about 2 weeks more.
Vivek
SCJP, SCJD, SCWCD, SCEA, MS.NET 70-316, IBM 486

[Axel Janssen]

congrats.
84%/2-weeks-of-prep is really good value.

[Vivek Viswanathan]

I think it was because I have been using UML and I also did my sun enterprise architect exam, and moreover I also had whizlabs...all of these together helped me a lot.......but as you were saying 84% in 2 weeks is really good

[Phanindra Nayani]

Hi Ramon,
Unlike other certifications, OOAD needs to apply your knowledge on case studies. Also it is not like reading something and puting it there directly. It is not straight forward. Since you have felt what the exam is like, I am sure you will make it next time. Along with 2 prescribed books, try WhizLab software. Whizlab software will give good number of practice questions , that will help you to align your thinking in the way exam expects.
Thanks,
Phani

[Ramon Gill]

Phani,
I agree with you. I have purchased Whizlabs (excellent) and have been spending a lot of time on the questions. I'm also still reading Larman. I'm using a 17" monitor, although I don't think a smaller screen will phase me as much next time.
Being able to do some example 'exhibit' questions like the real thing, is making a difference.
Ray
SCJP, SCWCD, SCBCD, SCEA (part 1), IBM-484