Changes to the next version of Oracle's Java Programmer Certifications.
Mala Gupta
Java Champion. Book Author. International Keynote Speaker. Co-lead, Delhi JUG. Developer Advocate, JetBrains.
Why does Oracle need to include 'Access modifiers' or 'encapsulation', or 'ArrayList' in both its Java Programmer exams? And the list of these redundant topics doesn't stop here.
Just a quick context. To become an Oracle certified Java 8 Programmer, you must pass both of the following exams:
- OCA Java SE 8 Programmer I Certification (exam 1Z0-808)
- OCP Java SE 8 Programmer II Certification (exam 1Z0-809)
As the author of books on Java certification with Manning Publications, I've had questions on the redundant exam topics that @Oracle includes in the Java programmer exams.
Even though the preceding exams might claim to include questions with varied difficulty on the redundant topics, its difficult to draw the line on what a person needs to know on these topics for these exams. Why is a programmer being asked to work with a same topic twice?
To add, the certification exams by Oracle on Java programming, are not easy to pass. Anyone who has prepared for these exams or is preparing for them, can confirm it.
Here's a complete list of the topics that you can see on both these exams -
List of redundant topics in Java Programmer exams
Do you agree that these topics should be removed from at least one of these exams? Comment. Share. Let's make a difference.
Software Engineer
7yYes, I definitely do. I also think they should reduce the amount of API that individuals have to memorize. It is excessive and it is quite frankly unnecessary to memorize all the method overloads when the documentation is readily available. And there is the compound effect of all of this knowledge when going into the OCP. For that reason I think I am going to take the two back to back. I sit the OCA this month and have been getting in the 80s on the WhizLabs Practice tests.
MTS (SDE 2) @ Salesforce | Ex-Ninjacart, TCS | IITJ Alum
7yYes, you are right, that these are redundant topics. But, what I think is that, they brush up our previous OCA concepts, plus it goes little bit beyond the basics. So, may be somehow, they are redundant, but these makes every aspirant, to gets warm up quickly, with what they do, in their previous certs, so that when they are preparing for the OCP cert, those topics gets bushed up. Since, suppose, there are 2 types of persons, 1 is that who is preparing for OCA+OCP continuously and other is that who do OCA and then do OCP little later, so for that later guy, those redundant topics, would brush up his/her topics.
AI & ML | Big Data | Senior FullStack Developer
7yFor me I think it's okay the way it is. I view the OCA exam as a summary of the Java SE libraries and OOP concepts . With the OCP it's going in depth on all those topics. Separating the topics might make both exams difficult as both exams will have to go in depth on topics covered. This can chase away those people who want to just have an overview understanding of Java without actually wanting to be recognized as Java professional programmers. Sometimes certain positions requires you to have just an appreciation of a technology without necessarily having to be the Professional of that technology and I think that's the purpose being saved by the OCA. That's my view
Engineering Manager - Development | Mediaocean
8yYes topics are repeated but the set of questions asked in the Programmer 2 exam seem to be of different variety as well as more complex. So form Developer's point of view they should be included in only one exam covering all that Oracle wants.
Thank's a lot for you advice Mrs. Gupta.