Customer Reviews

SCJA Sun Certified Java Associate Study Guide for Test CX-310-019, 2nd Edition - Incredible Update to the former ExamScam Book

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is fine, readable, and since there isnt much competition, its good to prepare for the exam.

However, I cant believe the author is a Java/programming expert. At some point he says that it is easier to parse strings by kicking off an external Perl program. And he frequently discusses StringBuffers, Vectors, etc which good Java programmers in this decade would not champion (should use StringBuilders and ArrayLists). Also, as some others have said, his language is not precise and the editing/proofreading is really bad.

I dont really think it is 1 star, I think it is worth purchasing (maybe 2 or 3 stars), but the average score is too high. :)

Chris

I just really enjoyed the format and style of the book. It was straight to the point - easy to read - filled with pertininent information - and in the end it was the reason I passed the SCJA exam.

I just passed the SCJA exam this morning, with the following scores.

Fundamental OO Concepts : 100 %
UML Representation of OO Concepts : 83 %
Java Implementation of OO Concepts : 100 %
Algorithm Design and Fundamental : 100 %
Java Development Fundamentals : 100 %
Java Platform and Integration Technologies : 100 %
Client Technologies : 83 %
Server Technologies : 100 %

This book, and the SCJA Exam Questions Book were the only two resources that I used to study. They're definitely all you need to pass the exam.

These books are awesome!

This book was recommended reading for a course at Western Governor's University. I have to say, that while I am not generally one to go out and buy extra "text" books, I am very glad I bought this one.

Not only is the book chocked full of invaluable information regarding the areas covered on the SCJA exam, the information is presented in a very easy to follow and humerous fashion.

There were many times while reading that I actually found myself laughing out loud at the analogies the author used to illustrate his point.

This is actually the first "text" book that I have read in it's entirety. It's also one that I don't plan to resell as I can see it being a useful reference for quite some time to come.

Bottom line: If you are studying for the SCJA exam - or just want to learn a little more about Java -- this is a great book to add to your reading list.

This book has several errors which sometimes make me confused. I have to try the question in a real project to test whether the answer is virtually correct. However, since 310-019 is pretty much easy, this book still can be your guide, and you do not have so many choices in Amazon.com, do you?

I am not a huge fan of the certification process but I have noticed that many recruiters consider certifications when deciding between interview candidates so here I am. I took Java as part of my college curriculum some number of years ago so I am not a total newbie although I don't use it on a daily basis. I read the book, went through all the questions, sat the exam, and passed with an 82 so from my perspective the book worked. The book does a pretty good job of covering exam topics and I would recommend it even if you have some Java programming education/experience. I don't think the author will have a second career as a stand-up comedian any time soon but I praise his endeavor to make things a little interesting and trying to keep the reader from dosing off. (which I did on many occasions anyway despite his best efforts)

The only thing I would do differently is carefully review the exam objectives on Sun's website and review the applicable sections in the book or even other sources for anything that I was hazy on. The exam objectives accurately define what you need to know to pass in pretty good detail so study them carefully.

This book is really the standard if you want to get certified. All of the exam objectives are covered, it's funny and easy to read, and its full with mock tests and sample SCJA exams that are very similar to the real exam you write in the prometric center.

If you can pass the exams in the book, you'll have no problem passing the exam. Just make sure you understand why certain answers to the mock exams are right, and why certain answers are wrong. It's all explained thoroughly in the book, but don't take anything for granted.

The book is written in a very easy to read, conversational style. I actually read half the book in one sitting. It wasn't like reading a technical book, but instead, like having a fun and casual conversation with an expert in the field.

This is the book you need to pass the exam.

Excellent book that covers the exam material well. I bought this book and the sample questions book. Leisurely studied for a few weeks and passed the exam. Make sure you are scoring higher then 80% on all practice exams and make sure you understand the concepts, don't just memorize the questions.

All in all - excellent book, it is a must get for anyone prepping for the exam

I'm just feeling a bit funny after spending the last month studying for the Associates Exam. And 'funny' isn't at all an inappropriate word to be throwing into a review for this book. The book is written from the perspective of a very experienced developer who is full of both passion for the technology, but great cynicysm for the industry, and while the book is very focussed on teaching the reader Java, you really get a feel for who the author is, and what the author is thinking when you read this study guide. It's full of great examples, peppered with witty remarks, a crass opinion, and a little bit of self-deprecating humour. It really made studying for the exam all that much easier.


As far as the exam goes, well, it seems pretty straight forward until you really get into how much content it covered. You really have to know a little bit about everything to do well on this exam. I mean, it covers EJBs and it also covers Midlets - talk about opposite ends of the spectrum. The real challenge is knowing how much to study. You can easily study way too much on the topics of JSPs and Servlets, or you can spend too little time on JMS and Web Services - either way, you're not using your time effectively. That's probably the best thing about this book. It covers all of the topics on the exam in just the right depth, making you very comfortable with how much you need to study, and letting you know when you are finished with a particular objectives.

Personally, I thought the object oriented analysis and design section of the book was the best explaination about OOA&D and UML I've ever encountered. It was comprehensive, yet to the point. You learned what was important very quickly.

I also used the SCJA Exam Questions Guide by the same author to really practice hard. The SCJA Guide has a fully sample exam, and hundreds of sample questions, so going through 350 more questions in the exam guide is a great way to make sure you're prepared for the exam.

Good luck to everyone else studying for the exam. It's a tough exam to pass, but if you study smart, you can do it!

This book has some good moments, and some not so bright. The chapters on Polymorphism and Interfaces could certainly use some additional explanation. For example, when reading the material covered in those chapters, and then trying to answer the questions at their end, you find you haven't actually been provided with all of the material, leaving one to ponder if there weren't indeed a few paragraphs deleted in the final edit. I also suspect there are a few blatant errors and/or contradictions in other chapters' examples, etc. On the other hand, some of the narratives throughout the book (including the narrative on Polymorphism) are quite effective in taking complex subject matter and distilling it down to important details, which I personally find refreshing is a technically-oriented text. With appropriate enhancements, this book could be excellent.