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Afraid of OCAJP

 
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Hi All,

I took Java in university around 10 years ago and i always loved Java and still do - however I am having trouble passing Enthuware mock tests from the first time. Are they really much harder than the real exam ? How close are they to the real exam ? I am afraid of attempting the OCAJP exam in fear that i might lose the 300 plus dollars - I always get a score of 55 % and sometimes even 40%. I understand all of the concepts but fail to catch the errors in the code. I also miss out on the questions with analyzing loops . Its really hard to be a "human compiler". Usually when i code, i rely on the compiler to tell me whats wrong - and coding is really a Trial and Error activity in my opinion. Every time i book the OCAJP exam , i cancel at the last minute in fear that i might fail.
 
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Rami,
Welcome to CodeRanch!

Those scores aren't enough to guarantee a pass. Have you read a study guide yet? I recommend stop taking mock exams (lest y ou use them all up) until you have read a book to prepare you for the exam. Also, write a lot of code without an IDE. You'll get better at finding these types of things.

Coding is not trial and error. I think you need a stronger foundation so coding no longer feels like trial and error for you.

disclaimer: I am the author of a study guide
 
Rami Mik
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Hello,

I did read Mala Gupta's book and always code using notepad only for this test preparation.  I just fail to see whats wrong with the code and get tricked by the code shown in the exams. I guess ill just keep studying till im better at it.
 
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Rami,
Another way to get better at this is to keep explaining the book questions to yourself. Even out loud. This will teach you to look for the tricks.
 
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Hello Rami,

Sometimes our understanding depends on the way things are explained to us. Try Jeanne and Scott's book. I highly recommend it since i used only this book to pass the exam 4 months ago.
Go through the book at least two times before taking the mock exam. Definitely you will see improved result.

Salemikael A.
 
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Welcome to the Ranch

Salemikael Kebede wrote:Hello Rami,

Sometimes our understanding depends on the way things are explained to us.

Good point

Try Jeanne and Scott's book. I highly recommend it . . .

Please supply more details of the book; we who have been here a long time know exactly which book you mean, but RM might not.
 
Rami Mik
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Greetings!

Happy New Year.

Actually I got hold of the online version of the book (Safari books) so I started reading OCA: Oracle Certified Associate Java SE 8 Programmer I Study Guide: Exam 1Z0-808 by by Jeanne Boyarsky  (Author), Scott Selikoff  (Author). I am now on chapter 4. Just filling up the missing details in terms of my knowledge with the OCA exam material.

Thanks




Campbell Ritchie wrote:. . . Please supply more details of the book; we who have been here a long time know exactly which book you mean, but RM might not.

 
Campbell Ritchie
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Rami Mik wrote:. . . by Jeanne Boyarsky  (Author), Scott Selikoff  (Author). . . .

That is exactly the sort of information I was after thank you

I removed part of the quote from old posts from your post; there is usually no point in quoting the whole of an old post.
 
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You can refer My Story of people who passed the exam in OCAJP Wall of Fame. It will let you know how they prepared for the exam, problems they faced and how tackled etc. See if that helps.
 
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Absolutely differently than most, I found real exam experience (not necessarily the test itself) to be harder than Enthuware mock tests as one is a real exam and other is a home exam. Regardless, I would forget all that topic about harder/easier, personally myself didn't find it useful to know. It is a fairly relative thing.

Your main and only aim is to be correct on each and every question. Once you feel you know enough (i.e. few mistakes slip in due to lack of concentration, but not knowledge) - you go an sit an exam, as the concentration is most important probably here in order not to overlook something. Obviously, if you don't understand why correct answer is one and not another, then to play on the easier/harder card is a risky thing, I certainly wouldn't.

The worrying part is that you feel desperate about the exam with all these cancellations and opt-ins again, hence bringing more chaos to a whole process. It isn't a major life event even if you fail. I think thinking along those lines help you to reduce stress and look at all this simpler.

Anyway, good luck.
 
Rami Mik
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I think the main issue I am having in general is KNOWLEDGE RETENTION (memory issue). There are simply too many "laws" or "rules" to be followed and its hard to retain all of them in my head. Even worse is to "apply" those RULES when the time comes in the exam. Ill keep reading / practicing tests for some more time till im comfortable.
 
Liutauras Vilda
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Rami Mik wrote:I think the main issue I am having in general is KNOWLEDGE RETENTION (memory issue). There are simply too many "laws" or "rules" to be followed and its hard to retain all of them in my head. Even worse is to "apply" those RULES when the time comes in the exam. Ill keep reading / practicing tests for some more time till im comfortable.


I think it would be much easier to remember all those if you'd use Java on a daily basis in your recent career, simply because you wouldn't need to remember most of the things as they would flow into your head naturally over the time, so really you'd need to remember only the corner cases and train yourself on the speed. Having touched Java 10 years ago and try to get back on the track quickly could be and probably is a hard task indeed. That is why I personally think that most of the preparation for such exam supposed to come in a natural way, and then reading the book and practicing with mock tests software supposed to be just like a last "month's or so" warm up session before the exam.
 
Liutauras Vilda
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Rami Mik wrote:Even worse is to "apply" those RULES when the time comes in the exam.


For that one, in Jeanne's and Scott's book I found one tip particularly helpful, as the very first activity is to scan the code snippet whether it compiles or not, and look for "doesn't compile" answer in the given answers, as opposed to going and verifying each and every answer from let's say 4 or more options (i.e.: answer is 4, answer is 7... etc). Note: tip worded somehow differently, but if I remember correctly it goes along the similar line.

Anyway, you'll get there sooner or later, so read the book once again, slowly, make sure you understand the concepts, that is most important, regardless whether person has certificate or not. Put stress away completely and take it as a fun activity. If you fail - nothing to worry, give yourself more time and you'll get there. Everybody gets good luck once again.
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