Exam Preparation

Course 10: Practice Exams
This course consists of three practice exams for the Oracle9i DBA Fundamentals I exam, along with some introductory material about the test.
The Oracle DBA track covers concepts and practices regarding routine Oracle database administration. To pass the Oracle9i DBA Fundamentals I exam, you need to demonstrate an understanding of the features available in Oracle for administering your database objects and the overall database itself. In more recent editions of this exam, the focus has included understanding the use of automatic undo management, Oracle-Managed Files (OMF), Globalization Support and other new Oracle9i features. In addition, you should also be sure you understand use of National Language Support (NLS) for language control.

This course presents information relevant to all of the Oracle 1Z1-031: Oracle9i  DBA Fundamentals I exam objectives:

*The OCP Exam Series
The Oracle Certified Professional DBA certification exam series (OCP) represents the culmination of many people's requests for objective standards in Oracle database administration. The presence of OCP on the market indicates that Oracle is mature, robust, and stable for enterprise-wide information management. However, corporations facing a severe shortage of qualified Oracle professionals need a measurement for Oracle expertise.
The OCP certification core track for DBAs consists of four tests in the following areas of Oracle9i: SQL, DBA Fundamentals I and II, and Tuning, with the current content of those exams covering Oracle through Oracle9i. Each test consists of about 60 multiple choice questions pertaining to the recommended usage of Oracle databases. You have about 90 minutes to take each exam. Obtaining certification for Oracle9i through the core track is contingent on taking and passing all core examinations.

*Why Get Certified?
If you are already an Oracle professional, you may wonder, "Why should I get certified?" Perhaps you have a successful career as an Oracle DBA or developer. But can you prove how well you know Oracle without undergoing a technical interview?
If you're looking for another reason to become certified in Oracle, consider the experience of computer professionals with Novell NetWare experience in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Back then, it seemed that anyone with even a little experience in Novell could count on a fantastic job offer. Then Novell introduced its CNE/CNA programs. At first, employers were okay with hiring Novell professionals whether they had a certificate or not. As time went on, however, employers no longer asked for computer professionals with Novell NetWare experience; they asked for CNEs and CNAs.
A similar phenomenon can be seen in the arena of Microsoft Windows NT, where the MCSE has already become the standard by which those professionals are measuring their skills. Furthermore, with the ups and downs in the technology-driven U.S. economy come the possibility of involuntary information technologies (IT) job changes. If you want to stay competitive in the field of Oracle database administration or development through those changes, your real question shouldn't be whether you should become certified, but when.
If you are not in the field of Oracle development or database management, or if you want to advance your career using Oracle products, there has never been a better time to do so. OCP is already altering the playing field for DBAs and developers by changing the focus of the Oracle skill set from "How many years have you used it?" to "Do you know how to use it?" That shift benefits organizations using Oracle as much as it benefits the professionals who use Oracle because the emphasis is on skills, not attrition.
With OCP certification, managers can spend less time trying to determine if the candidate possesses the Oracle skills for the job, and spend more time assessing the candidate's work habits and compatibility with the team.

*DBA Certification Past and Present
Oracle certification started in the mid-1990s. The first test did an excellent job of measuring knowledge of Oracle7, versions 7.0 to 7.2. Consisting of 60 questions, the exam covered several different topic areas, including backup and recovery, security, administration, and performance tuning, all in one test.
Oracle Corporation has taken DBA certification ahead with the advent of OCP. Their core DBA certification consists of four tests, each about 60 questions in length. By quadrupling the number of questions you must answer, Oracle requires that you have an unprecedented depth of knowledge in Oracle database administration. Oracle has also committed to including scenario-based questions on the OCP examinations.
Oracle's final contribution to the area of Oracle certification is a commitment to reviewing and updating the material presented in the certification exams. Oracle-certified DBAs will be required to maintain their certification by retaking the certification exams periodically, meaning that those who certify will stay on the cutting edge of the Oracle database better than those who do not.

Your test interface may differ slightly from the diagrams. Also, note that these practice exams do not tell you how many answers to select. If more than one answer is correct, you will see the instruction "Select all that apply."

*Strategies for Improving Your Score
When OCP exams were first released, the score range for each OCP exam was between 200 and 800. However, Oracle has moved away from scaling the OCP exam score and has experimented lately with reporting only a raw score of the number of questions you answered correctly. However, the bottom line is still the same. Since there are typically 60 questions on an OCP exam, you want to make sure you get at least 75 percent, or 45 of the questions right, in order to pass. Given the recent use of questions with two or even three correct answers on OCP exams, you need to be careful to select all correct answer choices on a question or else you may not get full credit for a correct answer. There is no penalty for wrong answers.
Here are some preliminary items for you to take the OCP exams:

• Don't wait until you're the world's foremost authority on Oracle to take the OCP Exam. If your OCP exam is scaled as it was when the exams were first released, the passing score for most exams is approximately 650. You have to get 45 to 50 questions right, or about 75 to 80 percent of the exam. So, if you are getting about four questions right out of five on the practice exams or in the lessons, you should consider taking the OCP exam. Remember, you're certified if you pass with 77 or 96 percent of the correct answers.
• If you can't answer the question within 30 seconds, mark it for review later by selecting the check box in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. The OCP interface has a special screen that appears after you answer all the questions. This screen displays all your answers, along with a special indicator next to the questions you marked for review. This screen also offers a button for you to click in order to review the questions you marked. You should use this feature extensively. If you spend only 30 seconds answering each question in your first pass on the exam, you will have at least an hour to review the questions you're unsure of, with the added bonus of knowing you answered all the questions that were easiest to you first.
• There is no penalty for guessing. If you answer the question correctly, your score goes up; if not, your score does not change. If you can eliminate any choices on a question, you should take the chance in the interest of improving your score. In some questions, the OCP exam requires you to specify two or even three choices; this can work in your favor, meaning you need to eliminate fewer choices to get the question right.

Lesson 2. Practice Exam 1

*OCP Database Administration Fundamentals I, Practice Exam 1
The Oracle9i DBA Fundamentals I exam in the Oracle DBA track covers concepts and practices regarding routine Oracle database administration. To pass this exam, you need to demonstrate an understanding of the features available in Oracle for administering your database objects and the overall database itself. In more recent editions of this exam, the focus has included understanding the use of automatic undo management, Oracle-Managed Files (OMF), and other new Oracle9i features. In addition, you should also be sure you understand use of National Language Support (NLS) for language control.

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You have completed the first practice exam. Check your scores for this lesson. If you got at least 45 questions correct, you passed this exam. However, the questions on the certification exam will likely be more difficult.

Lesson 3. Practice Exam 2

*OCP Database Administration Fundamentals I, Practice Exam 2
The Oracle9i DBA Fundamentals I exam in the Oracle DBA track covers concepts and practices regarding routine Oracle database administration. To pass this exam, you need to demonstrate an understanding of the features available in Oracle for administering your database objects and the overall database itself. In more recent editions of this exam, the focus has included understanding the use of automatic undo management, Oracle-Managed Files (OMF), and other new Oracle9i features. In addition, you should also be sure you understand use of National Language Support (NLS) for language control.

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You have completed the second practice exam. Check your scores for this lesson. If you got at least 45 questions correct, you passed this exam. However, the questions on the certification exam will likely be more difficult.

Lesson 4. Practice Exam 3

*OCP Database Administration Fundamentals I, Practice Exam 3
The Oracle9i DBA Fundamentals I exam in the Oracle DBA track covers concepts and practices regarding routine Oracle database administration. To pass this exam, you need to demonstrate an understanding of the features available in Oracle for administering your database objects and the overall database itself. In more recent editions of this exam, the focus has included understanding the use of automatic undo management, Oracle-Managed Files (OMF), and other new Oracle9i features. In addition, you should also be sure you understand use of National Language Support (NLS) for language control.

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You have completed the third and final practice exam. Check your scores for this lesson. If you got at least 45 questions correct, you passed this exam. However, the questions on the certification exam will likely be more difficult.