First Steps To Java Certification (Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform.)

Member Name: campb3ll

Product:	Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform.
Date:	28/10/01 (1029 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Certification status and recognition of your hard work

Disadvantages: Hard work and a scary exam

So you want to be a Java Programmer? Well, if you don't know how to program in Java then I *can't* help you. If you do know how to program in Java, then I can definitely give you some pointers.

About The Exam
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To earn your Java certification, you'll have to pass the Sun Microsystems exam 310-025. It's sounds scary but it isn't really! The exam consists of 59 multiple choice and short answer questions, to be completed within 2 hours. If you've prepared well for the exam, then you should be okay.

Exam Preparation
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Even if you've been programming away merrily for several months/years, that doesn't mean you should cut corners on your exam prep. At the very least, you will have to check the exam objectives - there's no point revising material that won't be included in the exam.

You will find information about the exam (including objectives) here:
http://suned.sun.com/GB/images/certification_p rogj2se_07_01.pdf

If you're fairly new to Java programming, then you'll definitely want to read at least one good text book. Personally, I used Programmer's Guide To Java Certification by Mughal et al and Complete Java 2 by Roberts et al but you should use whichever books you feel most comfortable with.

A Programmer's Guide To Java Certification, by Mughal et al, ISBN 0201596148
- Best for all levels, beginner to advanced
- Definitely my favourite text book, lots of detail

Complete Java 2 Certification Study Guide, by Roberts et al, ISBN 0782128254
- Best for folks with some Java programming knowledge
- Brief and to the point (if it's not in the exam, it's not in this book)

Java 2 Exam Cram, by Brogden, ISBN 1576102912
- Best for folks with a C or C++ background
- Does exactly what it says on the tin (a la Roberts et al)

If you've got the money (or a nice employ
er) then by all means take some Java courses. However, they will be staggeringly expensive (you're looking at over £1,000 GBP for up to 5 days, ex VAT of course) and you *can* prepare for the exam without attending a fancy course.

Sun Educational Services has a catalogue of courses here:
http://suned.sun.com/GB/catalog/java.html

Booking The Exam
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You must purchase an exam voucher from Sun Education Services at a cost of £100 GBP plus VAT i.e. £117.50 GBP. The phone number in the UK is 01276 416520. If it's the first time you've contacted them, you'll have to give them your contact details. Otherwise, you can just confirm who you are and purchase the voucher. The exam code is 310-025 and you must pay by credit card.

You can note down your voucher code over the phone, or wait for the voucher to arrive through the post. Once you have the code, you must contact Prometric to schedule an exam time. The phone number in the UK is 0800 592873. If you've contacted Prometric before, you can just give them your ID number. Otherwise, they'll assign one to you. (Keep it safe, as you'll need it in the future!)

The Prometric rep will walk you through the booking procedure. Make a note of the details e.g. venue, time. There are test centres throughout the world, so I'm sure you'll find one near you! Once the exam is booked, you can cancel and reschedule up to two business days before the exam date.

Taking The Exam
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Arrive at the test centre at least 15 minutes before your exam time. (Sometimes, if you're early and the centre is quiet, they'll let you start early.) Bring two forms of ID with you - one with a photo and one with a signature e.g. photo driving licence and credit card. Sign in at the test centre with your Prometric ID, leave your belongings at the reception area, and take a deep breath. This is it. Go into the test room w
ith the centre rep, who'll sign you on to the computer.

You'll have the option of doing a short sample test to get the feel of the exam layout. It will not be related to your exam and will not show up on your transcript! It is just to give you an idea of how the exam will be conducted.

The exam is very straight forward. You can select the answers using the mouse or the keyboard - except short answer questions, which obviously have to be typed. There'll be code snippets with most of the questions. If they're longer than about 10 lines, you'll have to press the 'exhibit' button to display the code in a seperate window. (Which reminds me ... Yes, the exam is all Windows based. The Microsoft Corp have their sticky tentacles everywhere.) Although you can't take anything into the room, you are allow some paper to scribble on - you must hand this back at the end of the exam.

You must get 61% in the exam i.e. 36 out of 59 questions correct. Once you've gone through all the questions, you'll have the chance to review your answers. Questions that are incompleted or unanswered will be flagged for your attention but you can review all the questions if you want to. I strongly recommend you review all your answers at least once, to make sure you've completed them all and to check for errors. Keep reviewing them until you feel sure you've got at least 36 right.

If you haven't run out of time, you can now end the exam. (If you have run out of time, the exam will automatically terminate.) Swoosh, swoosh. You'll hear the soft sounds of a printer irritating all the other exam candidates in the room. Toddle over to the printer and pick up your transcript. Dah da dah dah! You've passed! (Hopefully.) Take your transcript and the scribbled on notepaper to the test centre rep (probably back in the reception area). The rep will whip the paper off you (in case you were planning to sell notes on y
our exam questions!) and emboss your transcript, to validate it.

Congratulations! Now go home ...

After The Exam
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Assuming everything went to plan and you passed, you should now be at home basking in the praise of your nearest and dearest and eagerly awaiting your exam certificate. Well, you'll be waiting a long time as it's going to be shipped out from the USA.

Within about 3 to 5 business days (after your exam) you can log on to the Sun certification website to check your personal details. The first time you log on, you'll need to answer questions from your personal exam transcript and create a password. Thereafter, you can use your password and Prometric ID to log on.

http://www.galton.com/~sun

This secure website contains your contact details, which you keep updated, and your certification details. You can check your grades, which exams you've taken, and the 'fulfillment' details i.e. when your certificates have been posted out to you. Depending on where you live, certificates can take up to 30 days to arrive. For regular surface post from America to the UK, I would estimate up to a fortnight. Your certificate will be part of a 'welcome' pack including a cute badge/pin and a certification agreement to be signed and returned (this will give you access to official SCP logos).

That's All Folks
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So there you go - full details on how to prep, plan and pass your Sun Certified Programmer exam. So, go on: you *can* do it.

--- Best wishes to all exam candidates from: An official Sun Certified Programmer! (I passed October 19, 2001.)



http://suned.sun.com/GB/certification/ - Sun Education Services
http://www.galton.com/~sun - Sun Certification
http://www.2test.com/ - Prometric

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