OCA 7/8 study materials

Hi Guys,

Here you'll find a list of all available study materials to prepare for the OCA 7/8 exams.



For the OCA 7 exam

In May 2012 the JA+ V7 for Oracle Certified Associate - Java SE7 Programmer I (1Z0-803) from Enthuware was released (according to Enthuware).

As of October 2012 here's a list of study materials (with abbreviated titles), available "now" for the OCA 7 exam:

OCAJP Practice Exams - Hanumant Deshmukh (Note: this appears to be just mock exams)

OCA Java SE 7 Programmer I Study Guide (Exam 1Z0-803) - Edward Finegan and Robert Liguori (McGraw-Hill and Amazon)

OCA Study Guide - Reese Richard

SCJP 6 (K&B) - Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates (this is an older book but chapters 1-5 plus the sections on ArrayList, String, StringBuilder, hashCode(), and equals() cover the OCA). More info in this topic.

On April 11, 2013 a new kid on the block was officially released (according to Manning & Amazon):

OCA Java SE 7 Programmer I Certification Guide - Mala Gupta

On October 13, 2014 K&B7 (the successor of the famous K&B6) was finally released (according to McGraw-Hill and Amazon):

OCA/OCP Java SE 7 Programmer I & II Study Guide (Exams 1Z0-803 & 1Z0-804) - Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates

On February 10, 2015 a video course was released (according to Pearson IT Certification):

Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 7 Programmer Exam (1Z0-803) Complete Video Course - Simon Roberts

For the OCA 8 exam

(This study guide does not exist on Amazon anymore)
On December 10, 2014 a study guide for the (brand new) OCAJP8 exam was officially released (according to Amazon), only available as Kindle Edition:

Java SE 8 Programmer I: Guide to the Oracle Certified Associate - Guilherme Silveira and Mário Amaral

On December 31, 2014 another study guide for the (brand new) OCAJP8 exam was officially released (according to Sybex and Amazon):

OCA: Oracle Certified Associate Java SE 8 Programmer I Study Guide: Exam 1Z0-808 - Jeanne Boyarsky and Scott Selikoff

On February 20, 2015 the JA+ V8 for Oracle Certified Associate - Java SE8 Programmer I (1Z0-808) from Enthuware was released (according to Enthuware).

On September 2, 2015 another study guide for the OCAJP8 exam was officially released (according to McGraw-Hill and Amazon):

OCA Java SE 8 Programmer I Study Guide (Exam 1Z0-808) (Oracle Press) - Edward Finegan and Robert Liguori

On October 30, 2015 another study guide for the OCAJP8 exam was released in the Manning Early Access Program (MEAP) (according to Manning and the author herself):

OCA Java SE 8 Programmer I Certification Guide - Mala Gupta

On November 5, 2015 a video course was released (according to Pearson IT Certification):

Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer I (1Z0-808) Complete Video Course - Simon Roberts

On May 16, 2016 a free training and a book was released (according to Java Certification Roadmap):

Java Programmer Certification Free Training - Raul Rios

The Java Certification Roadmap eBook - Raul Rios

On July 30, 2016 another study guide for the OCAJP8 exam was officially released (according to Addison-Wesley Professional and Amazon):

A Programmer's Guide to Java SE 8 Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) - Khalid A Mughal and Rolf W Rasmussen

There are several other books in progress, and we'll update the list as they become available.

Also, if we missed any currently available materials, say so on this thread!

Thanks!

[edit 2014-10-16] added 2 study guides to the list
[edit 2015-01-10] added 1st ocajp8 study guide
[edit 2015-01-10] removed k&b6 from the list as k&b7 is available
[edit 2015-01-16] added another ocajp8 study guide
[edit 2015-02-21] added enthuware OCAJP8 mock exams
[edit 2015-08-16] added k&b6 back to the list (for those who already have this study guide and want to use it to prepare for OCA7)
[edit 2015-09-01] added ocajp8 study guide Edward Finegan & Robert Liguori
[edit 2015-09-01] study guide by Guilherme Silveira & Mário Amaral does not exist anymore on Amazon (dead link)
[edit 2015-09-03] added links ocajp7 study guide Edward Finegan & Robert Liguori
[edit 2015-09-08] added ocajp7 video course by Simon Roberts
[edit 2015-10-31] added ocajp8 study guide Mala Gupta
[edit 2015-11-18] added ocajp8 video course by Simon Roberts
[edit 2016-07-12] added ocajp8 free training and book by Raul Rios
[edit 2016-07-30] added ocajp8 study guide Khalid A Mughal & Rolf W Rasmussen

OCA Java SE 7 Programmer I Certification Guide, by Manning, authored by Mala Gupta.

Further details on this this book can be accessed using - http://www.manning.com/gupta/

With respect,
Mala Gupta

Hi Mala,

I knew your book was "in progress" but on Amazon it says it won't be published until December. Is it available now? If not, can you tell us when, and I'll add it to the list!

Thanks,

Bert

p.s. (My book is also "in progress")

Hi Bert,

Complete OCA Certification Guide, authored by me, in ebook format has been made available since September 15, 2012 through MEAP. Its print version will be available soon.
As you know, Manning's e-books are available through MEAP (Manning Early Access Program), before their print version is available.

I wish you Good Luck with your book!

With respect,
Mala

Hi Mala, hi OCA'ers,

Several computer book publishers provide "early access" programs such as the MEAP program Mala is discussing.

Typically, books in "early access" are still under development, perhaps finishing a last chapter or two, perhaps fixing errors or reworking confusing sections.

For my money, early access books are usually a good idea if you're in a hurry to read about a topic - usually the gist of the topic is covered and it's fairly easy to overlook the last minute "sprucing up" that most publishers do.

hth,

Bert

Regardless of the current books and studies guides currently in the market, I would say "From east to west, Bert and Katy books are the best"

Khaled Mahmoud wrote:Regardless of the current books and studies guides currently in the market, I would say "From east to west, Bert and Katy books are the best"

I have read the sample chapter of Mala's book. Bert has some serious competition. At least in terms of quality of the content. Popularity is another matter though

Hi Bert,
Is your book "OCA/OCP Java SE 7 Programmer I & II Study Guide (Exams 1Z0-803 & 804)" released?If not when will it be releasing?

Thanks,
Sreeram

Hi everyone,
Even I am looking forward to purchase a good book for OCJA prep.Which is a must book to go ahead,any suggestions ?

how many times can we take an exam? Lets say I pass the exam with lesser %,can i take it again? please let me know.

Hi Kavya,

Right now i am preparing from SCJP 6 text book from K & B.... along with that i am taking tests from enthuware too... I think this should be fine for now... you can check out mala's book since the e-book is available... I think you can take the exam in case if you get lesser %... but i am not sure...

All the best!

Deepa,
Thanks for the info on books. But regarding lesser passing % in the exam,I remember reading that one cannot take exam again ,it s this true ? Do anyone else know about this,please share the info.


Thanks

Kavya, please see your private messages for an important message.

Amit Ghorpade wrote:Kavya, please see your private messages for an important message.

Did Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates released Java 7 certification book?

sreeram muthuraman wrote:Hi Bert,
Is your book "OCA/OCP Java SE 7 Programmer I & II Study Guide (Exams 1Z0-803 & 804)" released?If not when will it be releasing?

Thanks,
Sreeram

Hi Bert,
Is the above book availabe now.?

Few more mock questions for ocajp 7 here

Deepak Lal wrote:

sreeram muthuraman wrote:Hi Bert,
Is your book "OCA/OCP Java SE 7 Programmer I & II Study Guide (Exams 1Z0-803 & 804)" released?If not when will it be releasing?

Thanks,
Sreeram

Hi Bert,
Is the above book availabe now.?

Amazon now shows it as having a June release date.

Any idea when OCA Java SE 7 Programmer I Certification Guide (by Mala Gupta) book shall be available in India ?

~ abhay

Hi All,

Right now am preparing for SE7 exam from KS &BS SCJP 6 Book. Actually i bought this Book last year without realizing that now exam is for SE7.
So my confusion is: what are the topic i can skip from SCJP 6 Book ?. What topic for SE7 are not covered in this book. ? Is Collection Framework now part of SE7 exam?

Bert, any comments from you end will be very helpful.

Thanks in advance for comments,

Alok
[email protected]

Hi Alok
Welcome to Java Ranch !!!
We do have some books available in market for Java 7 Certification.
For Java 6 Programmer Cert, you have to pass only one exam
For Java 7 Programmer Cert, you have to pass 2 exams

what are the topic i can skip from SCJP 6 Book ? , What topic for SE7 are not covered in this book. ?

You will have to match Java 7 and Java 6 Cert course for this question. One thing I am sure that all new Java 7 features (String based switch case etc )shall not be in Kathy Sierra book.

Is Collection Framework now part of SE7 exam?

Collection Framework is an integral part of Java ... It is there in Java 6 and Java 7 course.


Thanks
Abhay

Hello Abhay,
Thanks for your reply.

I am interest in OCAJP SE7 as thats the starting point.
can you recomend few Mock Exam before we take this exam. Am not too sure if just KS & BB Book will be sufficient for the exam as we need to practice a lot on mock exam to clear concepts.
Also what Books are available for ocajp SE7 exam? Do you know if Mala Gupta's Book is now available in India ?

Hello i'am very new to java ranch..i'am planning to write ocajp se 7 (exam code:1Z0-803 ) , i have seen a post at the beginning of this thread saying that the chap 1-5 of scjp 6 book(Kathy sierra and Bert bates) is relevant for the exam..i'am here to ask whether i can skip the rest of the chapters?

thank you in advance

@Alok Chandra

Sorry for delay in response. I have not given Java 7 Associate exam (as I had passed SCJP 5 Cert in past ). So I gave only "Upgrade to Java 7" Cert exam.
So I can not tell you the mocks exam for that cert.

Many books are available. Just do a search on Amazon. You shall find it.
I do not know whether book by Mala Gupta is available in India. I also want to buy that book.

~ abhay

@Alok

Do you know if Mala Gupta's Book is now available in India ?

@Abhay

I do not know whether book by Mala Gupta is available in India. I also want to buy that book.

I am pleased to share that my book was released on 2 April and is available on Amazon.com, Manning.com as well as other major book stores.

I am afraid I can't confirm about the availability of this book at local stores in India.

With respect,
Mala

Hi Mala,
I have sent you a private message in your inbox,could you please reply back.

Regards,
Deepak Lal

Bert Bates wrote:Hi Guys,

As of October 2012 here's a list of study materials (with abbreviated titles), available "now" for the OCA 7 exam:

OCAJP Practice Exams - Hanumant Deshmukh (Note: this appears to be just mock exams)

OCA Study Guide - Edward Finegan and Robert Liguori

OCA Study Guide - Reese Richard

SCJP 6 (K&B) - Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates (this is an older book but chapters 1-5 plus the sections on ArrayList, String, StringBuilder, hashCode(), and equals() cover the OCA)


There are several other books in progress, and we'll update the list as they become available.

Also, if we missed any currently available materials, say so on this thread!

Thanks!

Thanks a very helpful post.
I found the K&B to be profoundly interesting and detailed. Worth the money spent

Hi Mala,
I have sent you a private message in your inbox,could you please reply back. Sorry for posting this message here.

I have referred the book to my friends but they are finding it unavailable on indian stores.Could you confirm as to when it will be available in indian stores.

Regards,
Deepak Lal

OCA 7 Cert Guide book by Mala Gupta is now available in India

Infibeam Link
http://www.infibeam.com/Books/oca-java-se-7-programmer-i-certification-guide-jeanne-boyarsky-mala-gupta/9789351191520.html?utm_term=OCA+7+Mala+gupta_1_1

Amazon India Link
http://www.amazon.in/OCA-JAVA-Programmer-Certification-Guide/dp/9351191524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370938116&sr=8-1&keywords=OCA+7+Mala+gupta
~abhay

Hi,
I have good hands on java, i want to go for OCAJP7 certification, my concept is clear but dont have any information which type of questions comes in OCAJP, is enthuware mock exam is sufficient for this. Please reply ASAP.

I gave OCAJP7 exam on October 11th and passed with 83%.
I would like to thank Mala Gupta for the wonderfully written book and very well explained.It really stresses on minute details and one can never undertand until you get into it.
The enthuware mock tests were also very helpful and made my preparation even more tighter.
I gave the exam in 1 month of preparation.
I am planning to give OCPJP7 exam in the next 2 months and was just searching that there is only 1 book available from Ganeshan regarding the same.
Can someone help me in preparing for OCPJP7?

Hi Abhay Agrawal,

I have cleared SCJP 5, Please give the details to upgrade to Java 7.

Looks like Kathy Sierra's and Bert Bates' book OCA/OCP Java SE 7 Programmer I & II Study Guide (978-0071772006) is going to be released Dec 26, 2014 per Amazon.

Hi,

I am planning to take Java SE 7 Programmer I exam. I am looking for Java SE 7 Programmer I & II Study Guide by kathy sierra but its not in stock and i have pre-ordered it.Can any one tell me when will that book be available so that i can plan accordingly.

It seems this book is finally on his way to be released... More info can be found in this thread.

Hello Everyone,

When can we expect a electronic copy of Kathy sierra OCA 7 SE programmer study guide.

Thanks.

Any new updates for this message ?

Anil Kumar

Anil Kumar V wrote:Any new updates for this message ?

Still work in progress...

I was so excited to see an update to this thread but for naught.

Andrea Black wrote: I was so excited to see an update to this thread but for naught.

Sorry for the disappointment. On the good side: the book is currently being technically reviewed (if my info is correct)