Revenge of the study Tips

As we’ve mentioned, retaking these exams provides diminishing returns. Memory of the answers starts kicking in, rather than testing for knowledge of the topics. That said, if you’re not getting at least 75 percent correct at this point, we’d advise you to do more studying, and then retake a couple of the previous exams before proceeding to the final exam in the book.

Review Your Exam Logs Most candidates report that they have certain objectives where they are consistently weak. Study your exam logs. You should be able to determine areas where you can focus your studies.

Still Not Achieving 75 Percent? The bottom line is that, one way or another, passing this exam takes a lot of work. Let’s summarize our “Top Four Study Tips”:

1. Write lots of code. By now you should have a library of at least 100 small programs you’ve written. Make more.

2. Use flashcards for memorization. Throw some out, add new ones, take them with you to the DMV, or wherever you have to stand in long lines.

3. Ask questions on JavaRanch.com, and then, ANSWER questions on JavaRanch.com.

4. Get a good Study Guide. If you’re trying to study for the exam without a study guide, it might be time to get one. We understand that study guides can be expensive, but our feeling is that if you value your time at all, a good study guide is one of the best investments you can make.