Pradeep Chopra ( )
Co-founder, Whizlabs Software
J2EE (Java 2 Enterprise Edition) technology, unveiled by Sun Microsystems in 1999, has been widely accepted for its unmatched server side capabilities. Many vendors, such as IBM and BEA Systems, have come up with products for the J2EE platform. J2EE vendors represent nearly 90% of the application server market. |
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With the advancement and increasing presence of J2EE technologies, J2EE Certifications have also started evolving and adding great value to the careers of programmers, developers, and architects. The domain of J2EE Certifications has grown substantially, which is evident from the growing number of certification exams, increasing support by blue chip organizations, like SUN, IBM, BEA, and the increasing number of people pursuing these certifications.
Sun Certified Web Component Developer is one of most popular and valuable certifications in the domain of J2EE. This article will help you understand the objectives, preparation requirements, and resources available for this prestigious certification by Sun Microsystems. |
| Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD) Certification Exam |
Background and its Importance
Launched in August 2001 by Sun Microsystems, the Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD) Certification Exam has occupied a place of its own in the Web Components (especially JSP and Servlets) Developer Community. An effective measure of server side Java skills, this exam is becoming increasingly important for developers.
If you want to prove your competence in "Java Web Components", this is the exam for you. Also, if you are a programmer working in core Java, taking this exam will provide a definite advancement in your career.
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Prerequisites - The first step towards SCWCD is SCJP (Sun Certified Java Programmer) Certification, which is the prerequisite for this exam. You need to have a detailed and thorough understanding of issues involving the design, development, and implementation of various Java web components. |
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Objectives - The SCWCD exam tests your knowledge of various aspects of Java web components, especially JSPs, Servlets, and JavaBeans. You need to have a detailed and thorough understanding of issues involving the design, development, and implementation of various Java web components. The following are the objectives of the exam specified by Sun Microsystems: |
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For detailed information, refer to the complete exam objectives for the SCWCD exam, by Sun Microsystems. |
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Type of Questions - Like the SCJP Exam, the types of questions asked in the SCWCD exam are multiple choice (with one or more correct choices), fill in the blanks (also called short answer), and drag n drop (occasionally asked). Again, like the SCJP, if a multiple-choice question has more than one correct choice, it is explicitly stated in the question. |
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Time - The time allowed to complete this exam is 90 minutes, which is sufficient. Once again, like the SCJP, you are allowed to review the question(s) if you have some extra time towards the end. |
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Passing Score - You need to obtain at least 61% to be successful. The exam asks you 59 questions and you need to correctly answer at least 36. |
Preparation Kit
Whizlabs SCWCD Certification Preparation Kit
Online Training
Whizlabs SCWCD Certification Online Training
Books - Preparatory books are valuable asset for any IT Certification preparation. Here are some recommended books for the SCWCD exam:
Specifications - It is highly recommended that quality time be spent going through the JSP 1.2 and Servlets 2.3 Specifications for this exam. You will find answers to many questions hidden in the specifications.
WebServer - "Practice is Power". If your aim is to get an in-depth understanding of the objectives as well as scoring high on the exam, it is important for you to spend a lot of time writing lines of code focusing on various objectives.
But where do I practice?
Tomcat Apache Version 4.0 is the best platform to practice on. It adheres to the latest JSP 1.2 and Servlet 2.3 specifications and it is absolutely free. You can download it here: Tomcat 4.0
Tutorials and Articles - There are numerous tutorials freely available on Java web components. The most reliable and recommended are those by Sun. Following is a list of some highly useful tutorials and articles for the SCWCD Exam:
Notes - Many people have contributed by sharing their preparation strategies and exam experience in the form of concise notes. Some of these useful notes are listed below:
J2EE Training - If you really want to gain expertise in the J2EE domain, check out the high quality J2EE training offered by The Middleware Company. You can also take a look at the Live, Instructor-led, Online Training for SCWCD, by Whizlabs Software.
Mock Exams - After you have prepared with the appropriate books, browsed through the specifications, read the tutorials, articles and notes, you need to practice for the exam. What can be better than taking a mock exam? Unlike the SCJP, for which there are plenty of good mock exams available, there are only a handful of mock exams for the SCWCD Exam:
Preparation Kit - Is there something better than a FREE mock Exam?
Yes, a Certification Test Simulator, which simulates the exam environment and gives you the best practice you can have before you appear for the exam.
SCWCD Certification Preparation Kit from Whizlabs Software, designed and developed by highly committed, experienced, and certified professionals, ensures your success in the exam with its High Quality Mock Tests, Interactive Quizzes, and Quick Revision Tips on the latest pattern of the SCWCD exam. |
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Practice each concept by writing the relevant code. It is even better if you conceptualize, develop, deploy, and test an application, which uses the concepts asked in the exam. A mock application using HTML, JSP, and Servlets designed using the patterns such as MVC should be of great help in understanding the most common concepts for this exam. |
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The time available for the exam is generally sufficient. Try not to rush and devote sufficient time to each question. |
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If you really want to obtain a good score, you should spend some time remembering various Deployment Descriptor elements, including the parent-child relationships between them. You should also know which of the elements are mandatory. |
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Thread safety is considered to be one of the difficult areas for this exam. You must spend some valuable time and have thorough understanding of it. |
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Although not mentioned in the exam objectives, you should have the basic understanding of the following design patterns:
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| Discussion Forums and Groups |
| Even though you have access to all the resources listed above, you may want to hear about the experiences of other people. There are places for these too:
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Since its introduction more than two years ago, the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE), has rapidly established a new model for developing distributed applications. Today it has reached a certain level of maturity on which many blue-chip organizations are relying for their complex enterprise-software-development needs. With this evolution of the J2EE platform, there has grown the need for industry-recognized J2EE certifications. The SCWCD is one of such recognized J2EE certification exams, which tests your competence in Java Web Components. Being a Sun Certified Web Component Developer, you can help improve your career potential, gain more respect, and increase job security.
I hope this article will be useful to you in your preparation for the SCWCD Exam. Wishing you good luck! |
Pradeep Chopra is the co-founder of Whizlabs Software, an e-learning company focusing on the development of IT Certification test simulators and enterprise skill assessment system. A graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Pradeep has been working in Java and related technologies since their inception.
You can reach him at .
* First published at IBM site.
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