Enthuware

I am learning Java. I want to attend the certification test. Few questions on the certification.

1. I am searching for the books available for preparation. I am considering the book - Oca/ocp Java Se 7 Programmer I & Ii Study Guide (Exams 1z0-803 & 1z0-804) by Kathy Sierra.

Please suggest if this is good.

Also, I find only the Java SE 7 books in the market. But Oracle exam will be on Java SE 8. Am I right? In that case, will it be fine to follow Java SE 7 books for the exam? Please suggest.

2. Is OCA exam pre-requisite for OCP? Can't I attend OCP directly?

3. I feel, for a Java developer, OCP is the right one. OCA seems to be a basic one and OCM is too high. Correct?

1. Yes, that book is good. For OCAJP 8, you can use OCA: Oracle Certified Associate Java SE 8 Programmer I Study Guide: Exam 1Z0-808 by Jeanne Boyarsky
There are different versions of the exam. You can take OCAJP 7 or OCAJP 8.

2. Yes, OCA exam is required before getting OCP certification. You can take OCP exam but you will not get a certification if you haven't cleared OCA exam.

3. Yes, but remember that OCP is very tough. And OCA is anyway required. So you have to start with OCA.

HTH,
Paul.

Thanks for the reply.

Currently, I am going through "Murach's Beginning Java with Eclipse". I am practicing the Java programs some in Eclipse and some on the console (notepad) as well.

After completing this, I am planning to go through "Oca/ocp Java Se 7 Programmer I & Ii Study Guide (Exams 1z0-803 & 1z0-804) by Kathy Sierra". Then take mock tests from Enthuware.

I feel, its a long a way. Instead, after the Murach's book, can I go through the question bank, take mock tests from Enthuware, practice the same programs on console? I am from IT background and have some prior knowledge of Java. Please suggest a good approach to prepare for certification in 2 months.

Another clarification...Enthuware has question bank for practice as well as mock tests? Or only mock tests?

1. No, I would not recommend you to skip the OCA/OCP book before using our mock exams. In fact, you should go through the Murach's book quickly and then focus more on the OCA/OCP book.

2. Our question bank contains questions. You may use these questions in the form of mock exams or practice exams. We do not recommend you to use both because that would just be a repetition of the same questions.

HTH,
Paul.