The Death of the Multiple Choice Certification Question?
As spotted by Jeanne Boyarsky on Down Home Country Coding, it looks like there is a new shift of perspective for becoming Java certified. In the new Java Programmer Plus Certification, developers will be required to show off their programming prowess.
Normally when taking the SCJP exam a developer is faced with a barrage of multiple choice and drag and drop questions. Rather than being a test of programming ability the focus tends to be about how much you can remember. The new certification will require a developer to write code to solve particular problems. The code is evaluated through the use of a Code Challenge engine that compares the results to those produced by a test harness. Specific syntax, comments and style are not taken into account, all that matters is the code compiles and meets the requirements of the question.
Currently the exam is at the beta stage and Sun are looking for developers interested in trying out the new format. The beta exams will be sat between July 22nd and July 31st 2009 in certain cities around the world. If you're interested, sign up using the Beta Request Form.
If all goes well, the new version will replace the old SCJP format in the near future.
To me the old “remember concepts” are need because there are many api that makes the dirty job like Comparable e Comparator interface, Collections.sort, and if you do not remember these, you’ll rewrite the circle.
At the enterprises you will need to show that you can programm but you need a plus you need to be accurate. And thatś the point at SCJP multiple choice.
Personally, I like the move to programming questions. The javadoc documentation is always going to be around for developers to look up the specific syntax of a particular class and there’s no reason why the programming questions can’t focus on the most commonly used parts of the API. I think knowing about the Comparable interface is good but showing that you can implement it is better.
Still, it’s early days. It’ll be interesting to hear the reactions of anybody who takes the new exam.
Will they off the Java Programmer Plus Certification in addition to the SCJP or instead of it. I am in the process of studying for SCJP 1.6 now.
According to the FAQ they will replace the old versions with the new format. There’s no indication of exactly when this is likely to happen but they’ve given an assurance that they will give a 90-day notice period before retiring an exam.