SCJP Sun Certified Programmer for Java 6 Exam 310-065

I studied this book for the Sun (now Oracle) Certified Java Programmer SE 6 exam (Exam 310-065). I thought I knew how to program in Java before but I found that I learned quite a lot from the book. It goes through the subjects covered on the exam and explains them and gives sample code.There were a few times when I thought it could have been better organized, but overall the organization was OK. The main drawback I found was that there seemed to be a few details it left out. There were a number of times as I was doing the practice questions that I came upon some rule that had not been covered in the text. I even rescheduled my test because I was missing so many of the questions. That is the main reason why I'm giving it four stars and not five. In their defense, it is difficult to write a text that exhaustively covers everything in a language as large as Java. I did pass the test, but I'm just wondering if I could have passed the test earlier and with less time spent studying had they explained a few things a little better.Despite a few small flaws, I ended up passing the test with an 85%, 27% more than the required 58%. The only training I did was studying this book, doing the practice questions, writing lots of sample programs, and occasionally looking at the online API. Oh, and I did consult another book about threads but I ended up not needing to because the questions on threads on the exam were not very hard. So this book did it's job. The questions on the test were easier than the book's practice questions.I would recommend that someone wanting to pass the exam get this book, read it, take notes, and do lots of little programs as the authors recommend in the forward. Start by copying the sample code in the book, then tinker with it to see what happens when you change this thing or that thing. Then write a few of your own programs, changing various parts to see how it changes the output. And then take all the sample questions at the end of the book, and then do the sample quizzes and tests on the CD. Start the quizzes several weeks before the test, not a week before like I did, so you can have plenty of time to go back and study the areas where you are weak. When you miss a question, find out why you missed it, and go back later after you have forgotten the specific answers and try it again. And don't stress too much because like I said I found the actual test to be easier than their practice questions. If you combine careful study of this book with writing code and doing the quizzes, you will almost certainly pass the test.

I bought this book several months ago and finally spent enough time plowing through it to be ready to take the exam. Which I took today and passed. Glad that's out of the way, as it's a really obnoxious exam. (I took the 1.4 version in 2006.)Many of the test questions rely on misdirection/trickiness, as opposed to getting plainly at your understanding of Java itself. Several questions only test brute memorization of APIs. There are not enough questions, so the categorical results given to you afterwards have little meaning (50% in concurrency! Meaning probably 2 out of 4 questions--on a topic covered in 80 pp in the book!). You can get for example 3 possibilities correct out of 7, but miss a 4th, so get the whole question wrong. At least they have drag-and-drop now, which they didn't have in the 1.4 exam.It is, in short, a poor design. Given that, this book does do a good job of preparing you for the mess. The book mentions "toughening you up" for the exam and I think that's accurate. One problem is that there is no published errata, and the errata, particularly in the mock exams will drive you crazy. The website Java Ranch is a good place to check when something seems like a typo.There's really no short cut to 1.) reading the thing front to back 2.) going through the questions and answers at each chapter's end 3.) going through the provided mocks and 4.) writing dozens of little programs that mimic the points in the mocks.But be aware: Oracle now owns Sun, and has announced a new "Sun Java Programmer Plus Certification", which they call Sun's first "performance-based" Java certification exam. It's apparently in beta. It may make this version of the SCJP 6 obsolete. Good riddance I say!So, if you haven't signed up with Sun to take the SCJP 6 yet, and haven't bought this book yet, it may be worth holding off until the dust settles. Currently they're saying they'll have a beta version of the new exam ready in March 1, 2010. That seems a bit too quick. The cost of this exam (SCJP) has doubled since 2006, to $300, so it may be worth waiting to take this "Plus" version instead. It's hard to find info about the beta on the Oracle site, though you can follow news at Java Ranch in the SCJP forum, under the topic Regarding SCJP Plus. Those guys are on it like rats on cheese.Of course where would any certification exam be without its associated lucrative cottage industry of prep books! They may delay release of a new test, until they have big fat exam books like this one ready to publish.

This book can be useful overall but it could have simply been half of its original size (which is huge - 830 pages of content!).Some small topics are covered on several pages, presenting the same information over and over in an excessive manner, while some bigger and more important topics are covered in a tiny space where it's easy to skip them and not to understand properly.I think sample questions and answers are not presented in the most convenient way: first there is the question and possible answers, then separately the same question, possible answers, and the correct answer, not optimal, while answer explanations are not always great.Overall mixed feelings, although helps to get Java knowledge.

Having just passed my SCJP (OCP now) I can write a review. This book is great. I have both the kindle version and the hardback version. I agree with the comments about the fact that the kindle version does not have it's formatting correct (the most annoying thing is the code segments are difficult to read). It is still use-able and for the £4 I paid for it I was quite happy to have something a bit lighter to refer to (on a train for example). It is also much more readable than the pdfs on the CD. However I did most of my work using the real hardback book and I would want to rely on just the kindle version (you wouldn't get the CD with the kindle version).The book is split into chapters covering different objectives, end with a summary, a 2 minute drill (which normally take 5 minutes) and then a test on the subject. The answers are then explained in detail so that you learn when you get questions wrong. The book has little exam watch tips and also on the job advice which are useful.The general tone of the book tries to keep you interested and there are a few jokes dropped in which I appreciated at least.Note that some topics covered are no longer needed for the OCP ( I think serialization is gone but it's useful to know).The CD with the book contains some exams to do which are good as they give you an idea of the format of the exam.I found the question in this book and the accompanying practice exam book (which is recommended) were both more difficult than the real exam. The cd also contains pdfs of the book and (confusingly) some stuff needed for SCJD.What would I like to see that it perhaps missed, is maybe a summary of the API that you should know for the exam. It tends to be dotted around the book so there's no one list to know. Even without this, this book is a no brainer to buy if you want to pass.Good luck.Mike

The quality of this book's conversion to the Kindle is really disappointing. Even a cursory proof-read would have quickly identified the numerous errors and formatting problems. For example text from previous paragraphs embedded in code samples, an earlier chunk of code repeated in the place of a class diagram, example code that is missing entirely, 'corrected' code that is identical to the faulty code it is supposed to fix, bulletted lists that have lost their formatting and so it goes on.It's a pity, because the dead tree version of the book is very good, but the publisher of the Kindle edition has done a disservice to the authors and readers.If you are familiar with the content then the Kindle version is a bargain as a revision aid as long as you keep your wits about you. If you are new to the material, buy the paper version.

Structure of the book is top-notch.Chapters are easy to read and understand spiced with a lot of figures making the learning process a good experience.The included CD was one of the main reason i bought this product, because it contains a comprehensive testing system and exam simulator-like software which i can test myself with before i go for the offical Oracle certification exam.The book itself can serve as a reference guide as well for every Java programmer regardless of their knowledge level.It is not only useful because it teaches all the required basic principles in order that you can call yourself a Java programmer, but it will help you become a professional, because the book contains a lot of tips and tricks to avoid common mistakes, to be more productive.I highly recommend this book everyone interested in Java.Note for starters:Starters should have a minimal knowledge of the Java programming language fundamentals. The book doesn't cover the Java language fundamentals, but theres no need of it since the book is about preparing for the offical exam.But regardless of the "note for starters", the book contains invaluable material for them too, because once you learned the language fundamentals, this book will be your main interest if you decide to move forward in your learning curve and become a professional.

A great book not only for ocp/scjp exam but for learning core java 6. It covers everything you will encounter in the exam and almost anything you need to know about core java at work. I scored 83% after finishing this book. not great, but good enough. Highly recommended for anyone preparing ocp/scjp 6 exam. You won't score under 70% when you finished it.One thing I wanna mention is that the exercise in this book doesn't cover anything, so make sure you sit some more mock tests before the real one to score >80%.