Customer Reviews

SCJA - Sun Certified Java Associate Certification Study Guide for Java 5, J2EE and J2ME Technology from ExamScam.com - The Pre SCJP, Programmers Certification

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is, to say the least, a unique and refreshing approach for learning Java, and mastering a certification exam. This book approaches the SCJa exam objectives in a completely new and refreshing way.

Rather than getting knee deep in code, and boring the reader, the author covers the higher level SCJA exam objectives, such as the role of Servlets, JSPs and EJBs in modern, enterprise computing. The authors passion for the technology and the language comes through on every page, and pretty soon, you're sharing in the same passion and desire to become competent with the language as well.

The boook then moves into Object Oriented Concepts, dealing with polymorphism, UML, coding to an interface, inheritance and composition. A slightly warped sense of humor makes the examples and scenarios funny, and important points are really driven home.

The last section of the book gets involved with the coding aspect of the exam, which isn't a huge portion of the SCJA exam, but it is important. The author tells you exactly what you need to know to pass the exam, without boring the reader with too much syntax.

And of course, challenging test questions are liberally peppered throughout the book, all with thorough answers explaining in detail which answer is correct and why.

And finally, the book finishes off with a challenging, 50+ question exam, which I can tell you, looked a heck of alot like the actual exam, and if you can pass it, you're pretty much guaranteed to pass the exam.

If you want to go beyond being prepared, and go into a zone where you just simply know that you can't fail the SCJA exam, get this book. It will prepare you for the SCJA exam like no other.

I knew I'd have to read any Java book twice in order to really 'get it.' Fortunately, this is one of those rare technical books you want to read ittwice, and a third and a fourth time. The book is funny, and opinionated at times, and even though you're learning, sometimes you feel like your reading a good editorial piece from the NY Times.

Other than a couple of typos that probably should have been caught, this book was excellent, and the creative explainations really drove home tough concepts such as polymorphism and the ideas of programming to an interface, which are covered extensively on the exam. This book helped me score 100% on those sections on the exam.

A great book. A+++++++

This was absolutely the best certification book I've ever read. It stuck to the concepts you needed to know, and didn't bog you down in rediculous code pages. In fact, I found the book really motivated me to learn, unlike some books that tend to put me to sleep. After the first few chapters on J2EE and Servlets, which I read in one sitting, I couldn't wait to learn more about Java and start coding some web based applications.

The three fifteen question exams were almost identical to the real exam, with accurate and applicable questions, and the odd curve ball or acronym thrown in there to throw you off - just like the real exam.

All of the exam objectives were throughly covered, and what I liked most, was how all of the exam questions were thoroughly answered, explaining not only why certain answers were right, but why certain answers were wrong, and why a parcticular question might be considered a 'trick' to throw an unsuspecting exam writter off.

I also used the SCJA Questions Guide as well. The two books together were the reason I passed this exam (I'm now SCJA certified).

Totally recommended.

The SCJA exam is part of a Bachelor Degree in Information Technology program I am studying for part-time (whilst also holding a demanding full-time job). The University sent me several books containing over 3,000 pages in total and gave me access to on-line training courses that span many months. After all that I still knew I would sit the exam and fail it. I then searched for a book that would prepare me for this exam and came across the Sun Certified Java Associate Certification Study Guide. After reading this from cover to cover in a week I am now confident, for the first time since taking this module of my degree program, that I will pass the exam.

If you are planning on taking the SCJA exam I highly recommend this book.

I agree with a previous reviewer - I love this book, and it should be a required read for anyone working with Java technology, be it J2EE, J2ME, Servlets or EJBs. The book covers all of these topics, giving you exactly what you need to know about them to understand how they work, and integrate into a larger enterprise environment.

The book is fun and opinionated, and actually challenges how you think about Java and J2EE technologies. In fact, much of the discussion on EJBs reminds me of many of the problems Rod Johnson, of the Spring framework, had about EJBs and their overuse. It is all very interesting, and easy to understand, without going overly indepth with stuff you don't need to know for the exam.

The book is laid out in a very easy to read and understand manner, and all of the chapters flow logically into oneanother. With so many tech books, you get inundated with 'oh that will be covered later' or 'as you will see in the next chapter.' This book never does that. Everything flows, and everything makes sense.

What I really loved about this book though, was that it got me certified. I found the content on this exam a little intimidating, with alot of material I had never covered before, such as J2ME and web services. But after reading this book, I could easily answer questions that I had no idea about before.

I'm so glad I found this book. :)

One thing that jumped out at me right away was the approach this book took to learning Java.

The book didn't jump knee deep into code and syntax, which usually bores the life out of me, but instead, got you excited about Java technology, and what types of things you can accomplish with Java technology.

In one sitting, I read through the first five chapters, something I typically can't do with a computer book, and was surprised as anything to be given a fifteen question sample exam. A couple of other reviewers mention how easy this book is to read, and it's true. The reading was so easy, and the style so conversational, that I forgot that I was supposed to be learning about Java - but I was learning, and when I answered a bunch of questions on the sample exam that I never would have been able to answer the day before, I knew that this style of teaching was working, and working well.

The book itself is broken into three sections. The first is an in depth look at Java, J2EE, J2ME and J2SE, and the various technologies found in that field. Each chapter is followed by test questions, and each section has a challenging fifteen question exam.

The second section deals with object oriented programming and UML design. Design concepts and modelling concepts are explored, and ideas such as late binding, inheritance, interfaces, ploymorphism and programming to an interface are explained in detail and with humour.

The third section deals with Java syntax. The third section deals with what you need to know to pass the syntax section of the exam, but if you don't have much Java syntax experience, I would recommend another resource such as Head First Java. Syntax was the thing I needed the most help with.

As I said, each chapter is followed with exam questions, and each of the three sections is followed by a thorough, fifteen question exam. There's well over 100 exam simulation questions in the book, which is great for preparing for the real thing. Finally, the book puts you through a final exam with over fifty questions in it, and all exam questions and answers are explained in detail.

This book does an amazing job covering the really vast amount of information you need to know for the SCJA exam. Furthermore, the sample exams in this book were almost identical in the level of difficulty and question sampling as the real exam.

Without this book I would never have passed the SCJA exam. If you want to get your Java certification, this is definitely the right book to get.

When I decided to study for my Java associates certification, this was the only study guide available, so I bought it. And I'm glad I did. It covered everything I needed to know to pass the exam, without wasting my time will superfluous fluff.

Five stars.

It has been 3 days since it got delivered and I love it. This book is not about java facts rather it is like reading someone's personal opinions about Java. Book has a very easy conversational language which makes it fun to read and grasp. It has a format followed by Kathy Sierra the author of Head First series. I think that Head First series sometimes makes a desperate effort to sound funny and it fails whereas the author is this book draws a limit. Overall it is an excellent book, highly recommended.

I have a very small programming background. With more management experience than Java experience, I was worried about this exam, but I needed to get SCJA certified for work. I picked up a copy of this book, and it helped me really undestand J2EE, J2ME, OO and UML concepts very quickly. Everything is explained thoroughly, in detail, and with plenty of tongue in cheek humor. With a little coding practice, and time doing the mock exam questions in the book, I felt prepared, and scheduled the exam. Well, I passed, and I passed large.

The three fifteen question exams were extremely close to the real thing. The occasional term or acronym was thrown into the mock exams in the book to throw you off, and if you weren't paying attention to the exam objectives, which this book emphasizes that you absolutely must do, you wouldn't know what is the right answer, and which answer is just a red herring - perfect training for sitting in the testing center and taking the real exam.

As a confidence builder, I picked up the SCJA Exam Questions book as well. I actually thing this one book was enough, but going through all the extra questions gave me the self-assuredness I needed to schedule and write my exam.

Now, I am SCJA Certified, and I owe it all to this book. Thanks!!!

Five Stars, and absolutely recommended.

I rarely write reviews, but I thought this author deserves one, and perhaps my review could be useful in more ways than one.

So, I bought this book about two weeks before I wrote the Sun Certified Java Associate exam, to help me prepare for it, and I'm glad I did. (I received a passing mark of 78 percent) It took me about three days to completely read the book, and I then read it a second time, to help reinforce the concept within it.

What I liked about the book:
1.Good coverage of most of the concepts tested in the exam.
2.Practice questions after each chapter, plus the free mock test exam.
3.The humour, even though some of it I did not get, mainly due to my age, and also due to my geographical location. (I'm not American, nor Canadian.)

Things I did not like:
1.The numerous errors in the book. (I have the 3rd edition)
2.The grammar and writing style in certain parts.
3.The title of the book. (It does not do the content justice. This book deserves a better title.)

Suggestions to the author:
1.Invest in a good proof reader.
2.Grammar and writing style need a bit of work.
3.Take into consideration you have a global audience and think about what they can relate to, not just Americans and Canadians.

Suggestions to SCJA candidates:
1.Buy this book.(Also, the author has another book filled with additional questions, I would suggest you buy it too. To my regret, I did not purchase it with this book, and due to the customs restrictions in my country, I could not order it afterwards.)
2.Purchase the e-practice exams from Sun. (I was fortunate to have used them, and I think they made a great difference.)
3.When writing the exam, take your time and read the questions carefully.(All might not be as it seems on the first time you read an exam question). Besides, you have about two minutes and twenty-five seconds per question. (The exam is 51 questions and 115 minutes long and you must answer at least 35 questions correctly (68%) to pass.)
4.When you do not know the answer, take an educated guess. (There is no negative marking; you just need to obtain a higher pass percentage than in other tests. As an academic I do not see the value in negative marking - punishing someone for trying??? Personally, Sun Microsystems have the right approach - determine the average pass rate, and set that as the percentage needed to pass the exam. However, excessive guessing will not help you achieve such a pass rate, so don't take any chances, know your work.)
5.Finally, always think positively when going into an exam. You know you can do it, and you will! Good luck! ;)