Please help me out in SCEA exam Preparation

[Parvathi Gontina]

Hi,

I am Parvathi and I want to prepare for SCEA exam. I need some suggestion on this exam preparation.
Before that I want to tell you about my experience at work. I have around 5 years of experience in Java.
I have completed SCJP1.4 (90%) in 2005 when I was about 2.8 years at Java Work. I felt it is very easy.
And I have passed SCWCD 1.4 (92%)i n 2006, I felt its also easy.
And I wrote SCBCD 1.3 (86%) in 2007. When I wrote SCBCD I felt it is bit difficult.
I have worked on Core, Servlets and Jsp and Session Beans.
But I dont have any experience on Entity Beans, CMP.
Now I want to go for SCEA exam.
I dont have any designing experience.
I tried a lot to work on a Java Project in a design phase, but till now couldn't able to get a chance.
Always I will get some enhancements or re-engineering works or maintenance kinds of work.
I Love Java so much and my goal is to become a Java Architect, thats why even I dont have a chance to work on the designing parts I want to go for SCEA.

Can any please suggest me some thing which helps me to reach my goal.

Thanks in advance for the help.


Cheers,
Parvathi.

[Mav Ricky]

Hi parvathi

even i am looking forward to write the SCEA exam in few months time .So it will be great if we prepare together by lending help to each other .i have got too much material for SCEA.i have 4 years of experience into Java .I cleared SCJP in 2004 and SCWCD in 2005.after that i havent given any cerification.now i moved in SAP.i got the Sun voucher for 4500 so i just thought befroe completely moving to other field i should complete this arcthitect exam as i have good development experience in all the aspects of this exam except for EJB's.i have 1 year designing experience and all .

please reply with your advice,

BBye
Ankur Srivastava

[Parvathi Gontina]

Hey Ankur,

I will be glad if I get this opportunity.
We can workout together for this exam.
But I am still in a state of confusion to take up this exam or not.
As I specified I dont have any designing expereince in J2EE.
I dont know how far I will fit, to take up this exam

Cheers,
Parvathi.

[ravi janap]

Hi Parvati

That is the good thing about SCEA certification is that you learn the design aspects of any typical J2EE based project in the process of preparing for this certification. There is SCJD certification too that I can advise will give you good exposure to design aspects.

Thanks
Ravi
[ May 25, 2007: Message edited by: Ravindra Janapreddy ]

[Gabriel Claramunt]

Hi,
If you already know java technology and want to take the SCEA, I'll recommend you to learn all you can about software architecture.
Probably you'll need to focus on patterns, UML, and OO analysis and design.
You'll need that for the 2nd part

Good luck!

[Mav Ricky]

Hi parvathi

Going by the course even if you are not clear with thE UML and OOAD.then i can help you out with the materials.it will be better if you take hands on the same.i have just undergone the whole lifecycle of framework designing related to the JMS framework integrating SAP Netweaver and Sun ONE JMS.so its very clear to me.the only achilles heel for me is the EJB Section.of the Exam.So i will be gratefull if you help me out on the same.
i have also the relevant exam simulators with me.so might be that will be a great help .........
take my id [e-mail] for any further corrospondence and exchange of knowledge.

take care,
Ankur

[Parvathi Gontina]

Hey....

Thanks all for the advice.

Finally I have decided to go for the SCEA.
But I need a lot help and guidence from you all.
I will start with Part -1. From the posts I have seen that so many people are suggesting to go for Mark Cade's book.
Can I get any soft copy of this book.
Please suggest me which is best for Starting Part-1 preparation.

Cheers,
Parvathi

[Pawan Shrivastava]

Hi Guys,

How your preparation is going? I am also planning to prepare for SCEA. Though i have around 8 years of experience in java and worked in design and architecture for around 4 years now, but never had enough time and motivation to go for the exam.

If you guys (Parvathi and Ankur) still around, can you please tell me how you have started preparing for the exam.

Thanks & Regards
Pawan
[ June 26, 2007: Message edited by: Pawan Shrivastava ]

[Gabriel Claramunt]

Pawan,
I had a similar experience profile and I think Cade's book is an excellent starting point, I used it as a roadmap and to find the areas I had to read further. There's also plenty of resources on the net, I wrote my choices in my blog: Sun Certified Enterprise Architect part 1

Good luck!
[ June 26, 2007: Message edited by: Gabriel Claramunt ]

[Andrew Monkhouse]

Hi Parvathi,

Mark Cade's book is available at many retailers. There has never been a soft copy produced that I am aware of - you will need to purchase a physical book.

Regards, Andrew

[michael yue]

Hi,

I guess I am also in same boat, around 4 years doing java but not much change in designing and architecture. So planning to go for scea to braoden my mind. Besides this Mark Cade's book are there any recommended books to read?
Also are there any time limit required to complete all the 3 parts of the exam like maybe 1 or 2 years?

[Bryan Aho]

I finished all 3 parts in about 5 months. I had already gotten my SCBCD and SCWCD, though.

I recommend Mark Cade's book, Martin Fowler's UML Distilled, Head First EJB, Head First Design Patterns, and the Whizlabs simulator.

SCEA group on yahoo is also helpful.