OCP Exam, Intro to Sql and Plqsl , Some Info. pl.. 4

[UDIT]

Hi there,
I am planning to give the Oracle certification exam , 1Z0-001 , I.E. INTRODUCTION TO SQL AND PL/SQL , please advise with any tips , what to practice max in sql , and most imp thing whether apart from the sql , plsql,data dictionary , and sql plus commands are there any NEW things added to this exam???

thanks,
Udit

 

[loren256]

Preparation for Oracle Certification Exams

My personal experience:
I used four sources.
1. Couchman's book - DBA Exam Certification Guide
2. The EXAM CRAM series (one for each test)
3. STS.com self test software
4. NETg.com computer based training modules

I read the books, did all the questions and exercises, completed all the CBT modules and then took the entire 300 question self test. Used 80% correct on self test for my trigger to schedule the real test. Usually had to repeat the whole process at least twice before attaining the 80% mark and then usually exceeded it. I scored 90% average on all six tests (five for 8 and then the 8i upgrade). Pitfall - self test begins to loose it's value if it is repeated more than about three or four times. You are memorizing questions instead of building reasoning capability. NETg ($1375) and STS ($99 each test) stuff is not cheap but is very very helpful. What's $2000 bucks compared to all the long money you are going to make as a senior DBA with certs? Put it on your credit card!

As far as the SQL exam, it is mostly a recognition exam - you have to be able to recognize when things are not right. Also, know your joins - specifically, equijoin is any join with an equal sign in the WHERE clause, non-equijoin is anything BUT an equal sign and outer join is anything with the outer join operator (+) in it. You must be able to study the tables and know which side the outer join operator should be on.

Another thing they tested me on in the SQL exam was looking at table structure descriptions and determining whether a particular INSERT would work. Sometimes they will not put the data in the right order and sometimes the datatypes won't match the columns and sometimes they will leave out a "not null" column. Stuff like that.

Definitely know exactly where everything goes in the PL/SQL block - as in declarative, execution and exception handling sections. Make sure you know which section an error is defined in, which section an error is raised in and which section it is handled in. Also, remember that, once control is passed to the exception handler, the execution section is over with; control will not return to it. After the exception is handled, processing will cease.

These are just a few things I saw on the exam. Good luck, study hard and mail us back and let us know how you did.
-Loren

 

[sasibala]

i wish to write oracle application developer release2 exam.
for that first paer of introduction to sql/plsql
which version i have to study oracle 8 or oracle 7 .
plse guide me on this .
if i buy an oracle press Couchman's book aplcation developer book ,can i get pl/sql topics also from that book .
plse give advice on this matter as fast as possible

 

[latka]

From what I understand, the first exam (Intro to PL/SQL) is the same for both 8 and 8i. Two great prep manuals that you should investigate (for the whole DBA series, not just the one exam):

The Couchman et al book, recommended by others here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...4/sr=8-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/107-4300361-9944545

Another excellent OCP study kit:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...9946041/sr=1-4/ref=sc_b_4/107-4300361-9944545

Also, check out the Cram Sessions available free at:

http://cramsession.brainbuzz.com/cramsession/oracle/

In addition, get a hold of as many different exam questions as you can get your hands on. Good luck, I am taking the first exam myself this weekend.

 

[rohit1978]

hi Udit,
I am also preparing for the same paper..I wanted to know how I should go for it..I am studying from Couchman's book.will that be sufficient if I cover everything thoroughly? Please help me
Thanks a lot and best wishes,
Rohit

 

[Guest_imported]

I took the test last month.
There are many questions where you are examining code for mistakes. Those "what happens when you execute this code?" type questions.

The Admin exam is more a choose two answers of five and deals with views and segment stuff. Personally i think the 2nd exam is harder simply because many of the questions don't seem to be specific enough in what they want.

I can suggest a few helpers - Oracle DBA Pratice Exams - Jason Crouchman (has all exams and a CD)

and BOOKPOOL.COM is much much cheaper than Amazon.com. They sell only tech books at arount 40% off.

 

[Guest_imported]

I want sts for DBA 8i track.
I have a lot of other good exams to offer in exchenge
write to me @

pradeepgv@hotmail.com

 

[Tarbuza]

If you are in US, you can buy 'Like New' books for almost 60-70% off from

http://www.half.com.

Bookpool.com is also a good bet.