Overview

Sun Java Certification consists of two main exams—the programmer certification and the developer certification. Programmer certification is a prerequisite for the developer certification. This guide is only about the programmer certification. These exams are currently available for 1.1.6 and 1.2 versions of jdk. They cover only language fundamentals and basic packages like lang, awt and util. The test consists of 59 multiple choice questions to be answered in 2 hours. To my knowledge, there is no limit on number of attempts. Also once certified, always certified – i.e. you don’t lose your certification when a new version of jdk comes out.

First you procure an examination voucher from Sun and then this voucher can be used to appear for the test at any ‘Authorized Prometric Testing Center’ (APTC). After the exam, you will get a raw score sheet from the APTC and the actual certificate will come from Sun in 4 to 6 weeks.
 

Admininstrative

Getting the voucher

To appear for the test, you must first obtain the voucher from Sun. In India, you should send a DD for an amount equivalent to $55 (Rs. 2420/- approx) to Sun’s office in Bangalore drawn in favour of ‘Sun MicroSystems India Pvt Ltd’. If you are posting/couriering it, you also need to send a self addressed postage paid envelope for the voucher. A better option would be to ask a friend in Bangalore to personally get a voucher for you and then mail it to you. Note that the voucher does not hold any identity of the candidate. If you lose it , anybody who finds it can go to an APTC and register for the exam. The voucher is valid for 1 year from the date of purchase.
 

Registering at an APTC

These are centers authorized by Sun, among others, to conduct certification exams. In India, some NIIT centers are APTCs’ , for example. You go to them 2 weeks before the date you want to appear for the test. Show them your voucher and tell the exam number of the exam you want to appear for. For the Java 1.2 programmer exam, the number is 310-025. They will note down this information with your particulars like name address etc and give u a receipt. You may be asked to submit the vouchers at this point of time itself.
 

Appearing for the exam

The people at the APTC will send your particulars and voucher number to Sun for registration. Then, one day prior to your scheduled date, they will download the question paper from a secure Sun server . Each new candidate is also given a sun candidate id. This will be your id for subsequent sun tests.

When you go there the next day, your id and paper will be waiting for u. You need to carry 2 photo identities of yourself (license , passport , company id card ) to check impersonation.

Note: If for some reason, you want to postpone your exam date, you must do so at least 3 working days before the scheduled date.
 
 

Resources for Preparation

Books (Hardcopy)

1. Java 1.1 Certification Study guide – Phillip Heller and Simon Roberts (indian edn ,bpb publ Rs.450/- with cdrom) ( note: the reviews at amazon.com for the 1.2 version of this book are not favourable. Besides, only the topic on Collections in new in the syllabus for 1.2)
2. Java 1.2 Certification Training Guide with Cdrom -- Jamie Jaworski (check out if Indian edn availble)
3. Java 1.1 Certification Exam Guide -- Barry Boone (check out if Indian edn availble)

Online Resources

General ‘must have’ resources

1. Java Development kit , Documentation and Tutorial from Sun’s site
2. ‘Thinking in Java’ – the great free online Java book by Bruce Eckel

http://www.software.u-net.com/javaexam/javaexam.htm

http://www.software.u-net.com/jcertfaq/jcertfaq.htm

http://www.learnjava.com/newtest.html (60 Questions)

http://www.aber.ac.uk/~jjh/Java/certification/javacert.html (65 Questions)

http://www.lanw.com/java/javacert/default.htm (21 from a database of 72)

http://members.theglobe.com/apoddar/questions.html (42 Questions)

If you roam about these links, you will find some more referred to by them. Also there are some free downloadable exam simulators available.

http://www.software.u-net.com/JTest/JTest2.htm

http://eddiemcnally.hypermart.net/ (138 Questions)

http://www.sarga.com/java/jac.htm
 

Caveat : If you are strongly in doubt about answers to some of the questions in these pages, the best and only way is to try out the code on your machine. Don’t accept everything as it is.
 
 

The official syllabus

Is availabe at : http://suned.sun.com/usa/cert_test.html?content=scpj2_obj
 

Contacts in India
 
 

Sun MicroSystems India Pvt Ltd. India Liason office 11th floor, Du Parc Trinity 17 M.G. Road Bangalore 560001 ph: 5599595              fax: 5599598

NIIT’s Authorized Prometric Testing Center in Pune 1st floor (above CIRRUS LOGIC) Mutha Chambers Senapati Bapat Road Pune – 411 016 ph: 5651679/5659627

Disclaimer
Information on this page is presented on an as is basis. For up to date information please visit the parent sites.