Customer Reviews

Oracle DBA Exam Cram: Test 1 and Test 2: Exam: TEST 1 & TEST 2

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

After over a year of contemplation, I decided to get serious and go after Oracle certification. I am already heavily Microsoft certifed and work as a consultant dba, data modeler etc. in SQL Server and Sybase. But Oracle has significant market penetration in the medical and pharmaceutical industries -- my specialty and therefore I consider it prudent to develop an appreciation of the software for future opportunities.

I read all the reviews on the various prep books and firmly agreed with the individual reviewer who suggested that the proper course to take was to use Ault's book together with the appropriate SelfTestSoftware practice exam (and no I do not work for nor am I connected in any way with either publisher). So that's what I did coupled with a simplistic reference book or two to explain some of the more complex aspects.

I wrote SQL (10 days after beginning formal study) and passed but not handily (632) (I even changed two answers at the end which I subsequently discovered were wrong) and passed Oracle 8 Database Administration two weeks later easily (I didn't bother changing any answers in that one).

I found Ault's book to be quite excellent at providing all the necessary information in one slim volume (and that includes the database administration section even though I wrote version 8 and not 7). There are a few errors as there always are but it's no big deal.

The first exam (SQL) was tough. Ault ranked it a 4 out of 5 and that's probably about right. I'm an experienced Transact SQLer but this was still quite a mind bender. The exam asked you to not only know SQL but also to be able to think--I can see that there's going to be a lot of disappointed people out there but hey! I flunked Microsoft SQL twice before finally passing so hang in there.

The second exam, Database 8 Administration was a strict regurgitative exercise -- total cram city that tests very little other than one's ability to memorize, spew it forth and promptly forget it.

In both cases I could not have passed without the Selftestsoftware together with Ault's book unless I was a true guru -- which I'm not and which I have no intention of becoming. Anyway, I hope this critique helps the odd individual in their certification quest.

I am an IT consultant and Oracle DBA with 8 years of experience in high-end technology, working for a large international bank in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I have decided to become Oracle certified because it would certainly give me more visibility in my work. Now, I am an Oracle8 OCP DBA with an average score of 97% in the five exams of the Oracle8 DBA track.

I must admit it was very difficult at first to find out what the best way would be to prepare for the tests. It took me some time to understand that the exams are entirely based on the original Oracle course books and that the practice tests offered by Self Test Software are a superset of the real exams. Now I have a keen perception of what the whole process is all about. The real trick to get a 90+% score is to attend the Oracle classes and cram with the STS practice tests. However, this is a rather expensive way to study,......................

When I fist set off my study, I bought Mr. Jason Couchman's Oracle8 DBA Certification Guide by Oracle Press. Bad choice... It was completely out of synch with the real exam contents and had a lot of typos and gross conceptual errors. I do feel sorry for those people who were caught unawares buying the big red book. I wonder how Oracle signed off on it.

I also bought the 'Oracle 7 Exam Cram Tests 1 and 2' by Mr. Michael Ault and 'Oracle 7 Exam Cram Tests 3 and 4' by Mr. Ault Mrs. Anne Pascavage. They were both better than Mr. Couchman's, but a bit confusing, especially because they mixed two tests in each book. Besides, they did not cover Oracle8.

As a last resort, I borrowed the original course materials from an acquaintance, with the exception of the Network Administration book. I read the reviews on Mrs. Pascavage's 'Oracle8: Network Administration', and decided to order it ......... I was surprised. This book is really great ! It was evident that the author was careful to study the original oracle course material and practice test, giving priceless tips and accurately separating the chapters according to those of the course books and the exams sections. Also, the questions in the book are very close to the real ones one would encounter. Congratulations, Mrs. Pascavage !

Most of the other reviews have outlined the perceived problems with this book. I just passed (barely) the PL/SQL test, and my comments are based on that part of the book only. This book is useful as a review before the test. The organization is not optimal IMHO, forcing one to read extra material for the PL/SQL test. It is not useful as one's primary reference for the test - caveat emptor! The strong points are the tests after each chapter and the sample test in chapter 12. The explanations for each question are useful. However, the comments about typos, et cetera are true. For example, I think question 1 in chapter 8 probably was supposed to go in chapter 9. I also used the Kevin Couchman DBA certification and Scott Ulman PL/SQL books from Oracle, and the free self-test downloadable from Oracle, as well as the Boson test, and about five days of exposure to SQLPlus.

I passed the exams mainly with this book. This books is useful only for the certification. The initial cram sheet was "extremely" useful.

If you are just be preparing for test 1, the contents of this book may be confusing since it focuses a lot on the DBA stuff which will not appear in test 1.

On the other hand, the sample test in the end is extremely similar to the real test. It goes into detail very much.

Altogether not that bad. It helped me a little. If you want to pass, don't rely entirely on this book. Use Couchman's book instead (Baird's is not bad either).

It is true that this book is poorly organized.

I bought mine from 'Surpluscomputerbooks'. This seller is very
unscrupulous! I thought it was for Oracle8i, but it turned out to be for Oracle7 !!! Beware of what you buy into, someone might be dumping out of date material on you!

As the book title tells this book is for OCP it covers many important topics in a simple way. I have a doubt whether OCP questions are based on this book. We can see around 90% of questions from this book. A must for OCP preparation. If something is not clear (not understood) then read other document. Such a book should not be diluted with briefing of minute items. Fantastic for OCP.

This book provides an excellent final review to read the last couple of days before taking the test. The sample test questions, along with answers and explanations, are excellent as well.

For test 1: I recommend studying the Oracle PL\SQL book as the exam covers much more of PL\SQL than expected. Be sure and work ALL of the problems! Then study the official Oracle study guide and then this Exam Cram.

For test 2: Study the Kevin Loney Oracle DBA book and then study the official Oracle study guide and then review it with this Exam Cram.

Just my two bits worth... take it with a grain of salt...

The only worthwhile part of the book, like all exam cram books, is the full exam at the end. There were several errors or vaguely worded questions that wouldn't make it past a beta exam. The chapters are pretty much photo copies of the oracle documentation with one main difference -- there are VERY FEW examples. Do not waste your money on this or any other exam cram books.