OCA Java SE 8 Programmer I Study Guide 1Z0-808

Hi Jeanne Boyarsky & Scott Selikoff,

Just a few doubts related to Java 8 certification and related to your book. Shall be thankful if you can provide some info:

1. I am SCJP 6 certified and planning to take SE 8 certification but bit confused if I should go for SE 7 first and then SE 8 or directly go for SE 8?
2. If I go for SE 8 certification what is so special about your book that I can rely on that because generally K&B books are like all in one for java certifications?
3. Is your book sufficient for SE 8 certification or will I need to refer any other material?

Any info related to above questions will be a big help.

Many thanks and good luck for your new book,
Amit

Hi Armaan,

First of all, a warm welcome to CodeRanch!

Armaan Garg wrote:1. I am SCJP 6 certified and planning to take SE 8 certification but bit confused if I should go for SE 7 first and then SE 8 or directly go for SE 8?
2. If I go for SE 8 certification what is so special about your book that I can rely on that because generally K&B books are like all in one for java certifications?
3. Is your book sufficient for SE 8 certification or will I need to refer any other material?

Because you are SCJP6 certified already, you could take the OCPJP7 upgrade exam (1Z0-805). I think K&B7 is probably the best book on the market to use for your preparation (as there is no specific study guide for the upgrade exam as far as I know).
But currently there is an OCPJP8 beta upgrade exam (1Z1-810), which you (being SCJP certified) could take as well. Probably the most important advantage is the price: it's just 50 USD. There are a few cons as well: you have to wait a very long time before you'll know your score (approximately 11 weeks after the close of the Beta Exam). Currently there isn't a book on the market which covers the OCPJP exam (Jeanne and Scott are working on an OCPJP8 study guide as well). So you'll need to use online resources (e.g. Oracle tutorials, the OCPJP forum,...) to prepare yourself for the exam.
Of course you can take the OCAJP8 exam and then the study guide by Jeanne & Scott will be an excellent resource (currently the only one available). In the following months you can prepare for the OCPJP8 and take the beta version (cheap price) or wait until the production version is released.

Any combination of the above is of course also possible, if you like taking certification exams a lot

Hope it helps!
Kind regards,
Roel

Armaan Garg wrote:1. I am SCJP 6 certified and planning to take SE 8 certification but bit confused if I should go for SE 7 first and then SE 8 or directly go for SE 8?

I think Roel covered this well.

Armaan Garg wrote:2. If I go for SE 8 certification what is so special about your book that I can rely on that because generally K&B books are like all in one for java certifications?

Most study guides are all in ones. We do assume you have a bit of background Java knowledge. Having taken the SCJP, you far exceed that threshold! Our book has exam tips and lots of review questions.

Armaan Garg wrote:3. Is your book sufficient for SE 8 certification or will I need to refer any other material?

The book comes with three mock exams and lots of flashcards. You need to refer to those . But they come with the purchase of the book. I don't think you'd need any other material for the OCAJP 8. Well besides a computer to practice writing code on .

Jeanne Boyarsky wrote:I don't think you'd need any other material for the OCAJP 8. Well besides a computer to practice writing code on .

Jeanne, you forget this awesome forum! It provides an answer/clarification for all your doubts and questions

Roel De Nijs wrote:

Jeanne Boyarsky wrote:I don't think you'd need any other material for the OCAJP 8. Well besides a computer to practice writing code on .

Jeanne, you forget this awesome forum! It provides an answer/clarification for all your doubts and questions

You mean that wasn't implied? <grin>