| Becoming a Sun Certified Java Programmer |
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In IT Job Market people with Java and J2EE skills have a huge demand. Due to large number of openings in Java and J2EE Technology professionals the number of candidates appearing increases and thus the competition also becomes tough. Sun Certification helps to stand you out from the herd. A certification itself will never make you a good programmer it requires day-to-day experience and good analytical skills. Certification might not get you a job, but it could get you a better job. It can also be a big help when it comes to negotiating for a higher salary, lobbying for a promotion, or increasing your overall job security. Coming out of the exam, you could find that you have a more detailed understanding of how the Java language works and that, as a result, your overall Java programming skills are much improved. Regardless of your reasons for going after certification -- whether you want the professional advantage or the personal challenge or whether getting certified is a job requirement, you have to prepare for it in a systematic way. Familiarizing yourself with the Sun’s Exam process could be your first step. You should understand the exam objectives, testing process, sample questions etc. The next step is to start the preparation. If you are new to Java Programming, start with Head First Java, 2nd Edition Once you have the grip with Java language start prepare for the certification. To meet this end you can study at least one good Java Certification book. There are many books available on Java Certification. A Programmer's Guide to Java Certification: A Comprehesive Primer, Second Edition After you have prepared with good books and online resources practice by coding. Code, Code and Code. Practicing by coding is the best way to learn any language Java is no exception. Attending a Java Certification Coaching by any of the reputed Training institutes nearby your place is a good option but should be exercised wisely. Since joining an institute will not only pinch your pocket but also can very well loose your hard earned money if the training institute you join is not good. Many of the questions in SCJP exam will require code-based answers. Some aspects of the Java programming language do not come up as often in real life as they do in the exam, which can trip you up if you're not prepared. Be sure you understand how operators work in Java code. The objective on Garbage collection will have questions asking how many objects are eligible for garbage collection at a particular point in the program. SCJP 1.5 version has some fundamental differences from SCJP 1.4 version. Several important new language features have been added, including enums, generics, static imports, and autoboxing/unboxing. Concepts such as loose coupling and high cohesion have been added, as well as greater emphasis on encapsulation as it relates to JavaBean conventions. Bit manipulation (e.g., shifting) has been dropped. Number of questions has been increased to 72 from 61. Duration of the exam is increased to 175 minutes from 120 minutes. Passing score is increased to 59% from 52% Using online forums effectively will help you solve problems you may face while preparing for the examination. Sun developer’s forum or Java ranch forum to post questions. Form a group of friends who have common interest to certify in Java. Working in a group will help you solve problems quickly. Take enough mock tests before you appear for the real test. Resources
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or 
. These two books are exceptionally good to give you through understanding of the Java fundamentals. 
is one of the most popular books available for Java Certification. 
is another excellent resource. Go through one book at a time don’t skip around between books. Same concept may be approached in different ways in different books. That may lead you to confusion.
-- Cay Horstmann
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