First 400 Candidates?

[Dushy Inguva]

All,
I got the voucher. But i am confused on when i have to write the exam. Though the voucher is valid until May 23, is it possible that the first 400 candidates already take exam by May 10th or something?
I dont want to go to the exam center and findout i cannot take the Beta exam for free anymore. (Or am i getting too anxious? :roll: )
Dushy

[Eduardo Rodrigues]

Hello Dushy
I think that you are very very anxious...
Remember the last beta, Sun extended the test to get enough candidates...
I think that there isn't any risk to miss the voucher...
My 2 cents...
:-)
Bye

[Karthik Guru]

I dont see any references to first 400 candidates / whatever in Sun's Email.
Does this still hold good? Can Evelyn or someone confirm if i w'd be eligible to take the exam as long as I take it before May 23, 2004?
thanks!

[Pradeep bhatt]

Dont worry guys. I am taking the exam on 15th May.
For SCBCD and SCWCD I had taken the exam on the very first day.

Any one brave enough to take the exam in April? :roll:

[zheng shu]

I applied on 14th of April, but have not received the voucher yet.
When did you apply?

[Marc Peabody]

I applied on the 14th as well and still don't have it. You're not alone.
...update! it came today
[ April 19, 2004: Message edited by: Marc Peabody ]

[Nicholas Cheung]

In fact, the exam takers' behaviour are different each time, especially when you compare it with SCMAD.
I feel most people took SCMAD becos it is free. Some people said they are really new (new means totally with no J2ME experiences), and thus I feel, if SCMAD beta is not free, they may not take the exam. At least, they may choose SCWCD or SCBCD instead of SCMAD.
So, I would say, try your best to take the test as soon as possible. In case the 400 seats are filled, you can be sure that you are one of them.
Nick

[Theodore Casser]

Originally posted by Nicholas Cheung:
I feel most people took SCMAD becos it is free.

Well, I think that's true for any certification exam that has a free offer suddenly - look at IBM and the history of how free vouchers work in their program. I suspect it's why they recently switched to requiring you to pay $10 to attempt the mock exam to earn a voucher - to weed out folks who are only taking it because it's free.
Not that there's anything wrong with taking it because it's free - it makes us learn new technologies, hopefully, which lets us help evangelize at our offices...

[Nicholas Cheung]

I am not saying that, people with less experiences who take a beta exam for free is wrong.
I am just wanna point out that, since there is a large portion of people who are with less experiences, thus, we can expect that the passing rate is low.
However, I just read other posts from SCMAD that people keep complaining a lower passing score. I just feel that, in such case, in fact, SUN does not need to carry out beta exams, becos the passing rate reflected from the beta test does not being accepted. So, why not SUN set each test with a passing rate 70%?
Nick

[Dushy Inguva]

Nicholas,
Yupp. Actually i was pretty surprised to see the SJCP 1.4 passing score at 52%. Comeon!!!
70% is regarded as decent in most of the places across the world.
So, the grade should be fixed at 70-75%, to preserve any value for the exam.
Dushy

[Dhiren Joshi]

Hi All,
I am confused about the figure 400 .Where did this figure come from?
I havent seen or heard any reference to this figure in Evelyn email which I received with the electronic voucher.
Can some one please clarify this detail about the first 400 candidates. !!
From the on going posts ,it implies that even if I register for the exam at prometric and give it and I am the 401 st person ..then my beta-exam would be invalidated by sun and not marked. Is this a TRUE !! assumption .. .
Some one aware about this please clarify this issue.

Thanks
Dhiren

[Nicholas Cheung]

Bert, a developer of SUN's exam, has mentioned this during SCWCD 1.4 beta:

Hope to clear up any confusion...
There is a certain number of beta exams that Sun will provide for free. Call that number X.
Because not everyone who gets a voucher actually shows up for the exam, Sun gives out more than X vouchers. The first X people to show up and take the exam will be the sample group to help Sun determine how to fine-tune the test for its live debut. Once X people have showed up to Prometric and actually taken the test, the beta is over. It could take 1 week for enough people to show up, or it could take 6 weeks. On another thread I *guessed*, (and it really is just a guess!!! ), that most everybody who goes to prometric within the first two weeks will probably get in, and that by the third week it's more likely that if you go, you may be too late. Remember, it's just a guess!!!
If you are amoungst the first X people to take the beta (the only ones who will), then it doesn't matter whether you take it early or late - Sun wants the entire sample population of test takers! So if you're in you're in!
Good luck!!

The detail can be found:
https://coderanch.com/t/167208/java-Web-Component-SCWCD/certification/Voucher-Status
Thus, you need to decide whether you take such risk.
Nick

[shadow liu]

For anyone still interested in this question, here is the link: (I got it from another thread in this group)
http://training.sun.com/US/certification/beta.html
Since the content may change later, here is the copy
----------------------
If you have been creating and developing with web services applications using Java technology components, including those provided as part of the Java 2, Enterprise Edition 1.4 to build new Web services applications, you have an opportunity to both help set industry standards and have your skills certified by taking a free beta version of the new Sun Certified Developer for Java Web Services (SCDJWS).
Free vouchers for the first 400 candidates
Passing the exam, entitles you to a full certification kit
Candidates must already be a Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform (any edition)
Candidates will have four and a half (4.5) hours to complete 174 questions, the time allotted will give you time to respond to all questions and provide your valuable comments while taking the exam.
Beta Exam offered at any Worldwide Prometric Centers!
----------------------

Good luck.
Shadow
[ April 27, 2004: Message edited by: shadow liu ]

[Praveen Kondaka]

Hello Dushy
If you got free voucher means your below 400 ppl.
so your valid till 23rd May
Don't worry