iEntry 10th Anniversary
RSS
Archive
What you need to know
These sections are scored as follows:
The technologies covered within these sections are:
I have made this list in descending order of importance -- that is, XML, XSL, and Schema are the most important technologies to know in order to pass the exam, while the last ones (Web services, XML security, and such) are less critical. A very basic understanding of Web services and XML security is sufficient, but it is critical that you understand the first 10 topics and practice them in depth. In the exam's scenario-based questions, you will frequently find that more than one correct answer is possible for a given question. In such cases, you are asked to choose the most likely or least likely options. This makes this exam a little tougher than similar exams, like that for Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP -- see Resources). The test consists of 57 questions, and you need to get 58% (which is 33) of them correct to pass. All questions carry equal weight. Time allotted for the test is 90 minutes. The fee for the certification test is $150 US (or locally priced). Please visit the IBM Professional Certification site for more details. What you need to do You don't need to pass any prerequisite exam to qualify for the IBM XML certification exam. However, there are some things you should know if you are serious about the exam. You should have some background in programming/scripting and an understanding of basic computer science models and data structures. In particular, a working knowledge of XML is a big plus. XML is used extensively for various types of documentation both online and offline; therefore, you need to be familiar with concepts like browser, client-server, and formatting/styling. You should also have a firm grasp of e-commerce related processes such as:
Please visit the IBM XML certification site for more information on prerequisites for the exam. Most of the questions on the exam are scenario-based, which means you are asked to analyze comparisons, limitations, and capabilities of a given architecture and state how well it suits a particular scenario. Thus it is essential to have experience in designing and implementing applications. Since data structures play a crucial role in any data-intensive application, it is important to have a clear understanding of how information is stored in databases, how various parts of information are linked to each other, and what relationships exist between them. If you are a beginner, your preparation should start with a basic overview of XML, such as a good textbook or a basic introductory tutorial/article (see Resources). XML and its related technologies cover a vast number of topics and you should tackle them step-by-step. Though most of this material is not very complex, it can take some time to fully understand the way XML is used in various applications and the benefits it offers. Elliotte Rusty Harold's XML Bible (see Resources) can serve as a good starting point. Once you are familiar with the fundamentals of XML, move on to developing some actual applications so you can better understand the nitty-gritty of how to use the technology in your applications. For this, you can pick up a more advanced text, like Professional XML, 2nd Edition (see Resources), which is the best book for this test. Though it is not written to prepare readers for this particular certification, Professional XML covers all of the appropriate topics and does so in good depth. Go through this book as thoroughly as you can; pay special attention to the examples and work to understand not only the technology, but also its use, advantages, and disadvantages. This book also contains links to free tools/IDEs that you can use to make sample applications similar to the examples in the book, and use them in your everyday work. It is critical for you to have this practical experience. Once you have gone through Professional XML as I've described, you've completed most of the preparation. Next you'll need to refine your knowledge. For that, I recommend going through various articles and tutorials available on the Web. W3C specifications can be particularly helpful here. Though it is not absolutely critical that you go through them all before the exam, they can add a lot to your understanding of the finer details and help you to grasp the concepts in no uncertain terms. At this point, the only thing left to do is practice, practice, practice. You should make as many sample XML applications as you can. Read about the use of XML in various scenarios. Talk to your peers about how XML can be used in different architectures. Investigate the advantages and disadvantages of the various XML-related technologies. For example:
Rather than approaching them hypothetically, find out how these issues affect practical applications -- otherwise, you may not be able to apply them to the scenarios presented in the exam. Finally, it's time to get some practice with questions like the ones in the actual exam. I've included a series of sample questions for you to use as a starting point, and then practice with as many mock tests as you can find. You can also practice with a number of test simulators on the market. And, of course, the IBM sample test is a must. You'll find links to all of these mock tests and test simulators in Resources -- use them to find your weaknesses and focus your efforts on strengthening those. It is better to confront such weaknesses ahead of time rather than face them in the exam and get undesired results. To help you improve your weaker areas, you might even consider hiring a personal coach, which I highly recommend if you are less confident in many of the critical areas described above. The time allotted for this test is 90 minutes, and many of the participants I've heard from have indicated that this time is just sufficient to get through the exam. Most participants take 70 - 80 minutes to attempt all the questions, so there is not much time left for revision. This means you should make every effort to answer the questions correctly on the first attempt. When you start getting a good score on the practice exams and feel confident about most of the topics listed above, you are ready for the XML Certification Exam. Tips and pitfalls
Conclusion Best of luck with the process -- and most importantly, have fun!
First published by IBM developerWorks at http://www.ibm.com/developerWorks About the Author: Whizlabs is a leading provider of IT skill assessment and certification exam preparation. Whizlabs' suite of offerings include "IT certification exam simulators and online trainings" for various exams by Sun, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, BEA, Cisco and other leading IT vendors and "IT skill Assessment Management Solution" for Corporations, Training Institutes and Universities." Ever since it’s inception in 1999 Whizlabs has helped 280,000 software professionals in realizing their dream of acquiring an IT certification of their interest. Whizlabs offerings have fuelled the career growth of IT professionals working in 321 Fortune 500 companies spread across 118 countries all over the globe. More articles_it_management Articles  Insider Reports RSS Feed
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
