SCJP Sun Certified Java Programmer 1.6 Tips and Tricks

This week I took the SCJP Sun Certified Programmer for Java 6 Exam 310-065and cleared it with 73%. The SCJP 1.6 exam is little tricky in that Sun has raised the bar a little to pass the exam, you should get 65% to pass the SCJP 1.6 exam, you will have 72 questions and should answer atleast 65% of them right or atleast 47 right responses.

Ok, why should anyone go for Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) 1.6 exam, the reason varies, if you want to have a career in Java but need a strong foundation then its for you, I took it because I wanted to refresh the latest java features, to master some key OO concepts, assertion mechanisms, object oriented concepts like polymorphism, overloading, inheritance, object serialization, inner classes/nested classes, threading/synchronization, get hands on with new features of java 1.5 and above like Generics, etc, I should say I am quite satisfied with the way it went.

A word of caution though, SCJP 1.6 is not only for beginners of Java programming language but for seasoned Java programmers too, although I knew Java before, but I really learnt a lot from the SCJP 1.6 preparation and you will too realize that once you go through the SCJP 1.6 objectives, it's most likely that it will clear some of the misconceptions may have had in java and will set a firm foundation on Java programming language and its important concepts with its potential use in real world applications.

The following may be some useful tips and tricks for those who are planning to take SCJP 1.6.

1. Reference for SCJP 1.6

The only reading I went through till date for SCJP 1.6 preparation was SCJP Sun Certified Programmer for Java 6 Exam 310-065by Katherine Sierra, Bert Bates, if you grasp the contents in this reading and take the practice tests which includes tricky questions and lucid explanation of answers, you WILL sail through for sure, but make sure that you go through all the chapters even if you are a good java programmer because its likely that you will learn something new in some section of this book, NEVER ignore any sections on reading.

2. Time for preparation

Ideally it will take a month and a half to prepare for the exam including the two practice tests, but if you want to get the best of of the SCJP 1.6, give a couple of months, its not that getting through SCJP which should matter, but its where you take your Java skills through SCJP preparation which really matters, in that case to get the best worth out of it, it may take a couple of months as was the case for me.

3. Key Concepts

The objectives of SCJP 1.6 is to test your skills on Java fundamentals, Object Oriented concepts like polymorphism, overloading, overriding, Generics concepts, Inner classes, Threads and Synchronization, differences between abstract classes & interfaces, packaging, rudimentary concepts like flow control, declarations, etc. However the most important concepts which is likely to stump you would be on sections in

1. Thread Programming and Syncronization
2. Generics
3. Inner Classes, use of static classes and methods
4. OOPS Concepts like polymorphism
5. Garbage Collection features

One needs to be vary sharp in answering questions in these sections.

Therefore to start with learn simple, fundamental concepts of java like declaration, looping constructs, flow control, etc, then look keenly on the core features of java mentioned above, its likely that every rule you learn on generics, OOPS concepts and other important features of java will be crucial to your success on SCJP 1.6.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice....

Give a months time for going through the contents of the book, learn all chapters page by page, my advice is never give the tests at the end of each chapter till you finish your reading although you may go through the two minute drills in the above reading at the end of each chapter which summarizes the key points for that chapter.

Reserve the second part of the preparation completely on practice tests, go through the individual practice tests at the end of each chapter, learn the key concepts which require additional focus, then take the the sample exams, again the best way to go through the sample exam is to attempt individual questions and then look the answers for them even if they are right or wrong, learning in this way would ensure that you will never forget the key concepts you will be tested on in SCJP 1.6.

Last but not the least repeat your practice tests at the end of the chapter and sample tests, its most likely that you may have some minor mistakes even if you take them twice or more, but the more you learn from mistakes, the stronger you will be on the SCJP 1.6, best of luck!

I will also be blogging on some useful java code and key java concepts for my reference and also for your reading, you will find themselves useful for sure to clear your doubts and learn new concepts, keep visiting :).