+1 (980) 272-1787      Help and Support

Certification FAQ

How hard is OCJP certification?

The OCP Java certifications (aka OCJP, OCPJ, and OCAJ)are quite hard to pass. Not only do these certifications cover a huge number of topics, the questions asked in the exam require you to have a deep knowledge of the topics. Knowing a topic superficially is of no use.

Here are a few examples that explain how deep you need to go:
  1. You might "know" about Java serialization, but in the OCP exam, you will be expected to know the precise details of serialization of class hierarchies and how to customize serialization.
  2. You might "know" about Java modules in general, but the exam expects you to know all the module directives, module related command line options for compilation and execution, file formats such as jmod, jimage, migration strategies, packaging modular services.
  3. The same is true about internationalization. You need to know the exact sequence of how resource bundles are loaded and looked up while searching for keys.
  4. Merely knowing about the new Date API is not enough. You need to know how to translate time from one zone to another including accounting for Day Light Savings time.
  5. Even topics that seem straight forward such as collections API are actually not because you need to memorize a ton of classes and their methods.
This is the reason why even seasoned professionals with decades of Java programming experience have failed to clear these certifications on their first try.

Overall, the OCP Java certification exam will drive you nuts if you are not smart about how you prepare for them. Instead of relying on online article, it is best to use books from reputable authors that are written specifically for it. We highly recommend Hanumant Deshmukhs's OCP Java 17 / 21 Certification Exam Fundamentals as it covers every topic in detail and warns you about the tricks that you will encounter in the exam.

The newest Java 21 version (1Z0-830), is even harder than the previous versions. In this exam, the questions are lengthier and trickier. Most people are not able to finish answering all of the questions in time. It is, therefore, critical to practice with as many mock exams as you can before attempting the real exam. Trust us on this that spending about $10 for Enthuware's mock exams will save you $250 on the real exam attempt.

If you think you know Java well, just take one mock exam and see how you score. You will know exactly where you stand and then you can strategize your preparation from there.