General Questions

[Melanie Parker]

hello..
I passed SCJP 1.2 a while back, like a year or so. Now I'm thinking of taking either SCJD or SCWCD. I have very little knowledge of J2EE so I feel that SCJD is more appropriate for me. Is the skill level of SCJD really more attainable than SCWCD?
And I'm reading about a new exam here on the SCJD forum (posts prefixed with 'NX'). Is this an update as 1.4 was for 1.2 SCJP? If so does it have new objectives? I read the FAQ but it didnt mention a new exam.
Also since SCJD has no time limit, can i still continue working on an assignment even if a new SCJD exam comes out from sun?
I would really appreciate help. Thanks in Advance.

[Andrew Monkhouse]

Hi Melanie
Welcome to JavaRanch

Is the skill level of SCJD really more attainable than SCWCD?

I feel that the skill sets are different, because with the SCJP and SCWCD the exams are more theoretical in nature. With the SCJD it is more practical.
This post discusses several peoples views on what exam to take following the SCJP exam, and what the skill levels are. The people in this forum are friendly, so hang around and enjoy the discussions.

And I'm reading about a new exam here on the SCJD forum (posts prefixed with 'NX'). Is this an update as 1.4 was for 1.2 SCJP? If so does it have new objectives? I read the FAQ but it didnt mention a new exam.

There is no new exam for SCJD - it is still the same exam. What has changed is that there are now two new assignments that can be given to you. There is nothing specific to Java 1.4 that needs to be done to complete the new assignments (that I am aware of). You can however use the 1.4 features if you want to )
This topic discusses when you should use "NX" in your topic subject line, and gives a one line description of the assignements.
For the most part, the assignments are pretty much the same, the only real differences being the type of business, and therefore the data field to be modified by the client. But the code you write would be almost identical no matter which assignment you got.
This thread discusses the marking between the old and new assignments, and compares the changes in emphasis in where marks are deducted.

Also since SCJD has no time limit, can i still continue working on an assignment even if a new SCJD exam comes out from sun?

Several of us found ourselves in this situation when the new assignments were released. We had downloaded and started work on the old assignments, heard about the new assignments, went to download our assignment a second time and received the new assignment.
Some people asked Sun what they should do, and they were told that they may continue with the old assignment if they wished. Presumably if any new assignments came out, then the same situation would apply.
Regards, Andrew

[Melanie Parker]

Thanx a lot for the answers Andrew...
I was wondering, are there any actual real assignments of SCJD on the net? I mean should I look for assignments? Is it legal for them to be on the net?
I read there are 3 assignments, Fly By Night and another 2 which are the new ones. Does that mean that they are exactly ONLY three assignments possible for SCJD? If so, then wouldnt people given the same assignment just help each other out?
If you or someone else could please explain this to me...
Thanx again.

[Andrew Monkhouse]

Hi Melanie

I was wondering, are there any actual real assignments of SCJD on the net? I mean should I look for assignments? Is it legal for them to be on the net?

As with all Sun exams, you have to (electronically) sign an agreement stating that you will not disclose the assignment to other people. So it would not be legal for them to be on the net.
I suspect that Sun staff might also have access to the net, so if your assignment ended up identical to one on the net, they might notice.
Personally, I think you really should try and work through the assignment yourself, rather than looking at how someone else has done it. What is the point in getting the certification if you dont know how to do the work yourself? And from a practical point of view, if you copy someone else's assignment, then when you go to the exam and get given a question like "why did you use 'swing' instead of 'awt'" you wont know the answers, because you wont have done the work. (That is not a real question, but it is indicative of some of the questions you will get asked).

Does that mean that they are exactly ONLY three assignments possible for SCJD?

That we know of so far. There is nothing to stop Sun bringing out a new assignment tomorrow.

If so, then wouldnt people given the same assignment just help each other out?

Well, that is one of the reasons for JavaRanch But you will get help here - you will not be given a complete assignment.
This is similar to how people behave in a work place: when you don't know one particular aspect of the task you have been given, you go to a subject matter expert, or your boss, and ask for help, and they will help with a particular aspect of your task - they will not do your task for you.
If you are asking whether people (either here or elsewhere) would either collaborate totally on an assignment, or divide the assignment into sections between people - it could be possible. But then they would have to find someone who is also doing the same assignment, and who dont feel that doing this is cheating. And then they would have the same problem as noted before: they would not know how to answer the questions in the exam.
Regards, Andrew
[ June 15, 2003: Message edited by: Andrew Monkhouse ]

[Melanie Parker]

I was only thinking of finding a real assignment question to practice on.. not finding it already done with a ready solution... I'm not that lazy
Thanx...

[Andrew Monkhouse]

Hi Melanie
Sorry, I didnt mean to cause any offence. I obviously interpreted your post the wrong way.
I dont think it is necessary to get an assignment to practice on - you can practice on the real assignment! There is no time limit, and you can always go back and rewrite different sections if you find a better solution (having a practice assignment implies you will write two complete solutions).
However if you do want a practice assginment, you could take a look at the book "The Sun Certified Java Developer Exam with J2SE 1.4". From what I understand, it walks through an assignment that has most of the same issues as the real assignment. Many people in this forum have this book and can answer questions if you don't understand something, and Max Habibi is a moderator in this forum and a great educator.
Regards, Andrew

[Melanie Parker]

Thanks for the tips Andrew.. I'll check the book.