Taking a Certification Exam

Each test you take costs $150.00 ( & pound ;100 in the U.K.), whether you pass or fail. If you fail, the next attempt will also cost the same amount. In the United States and the U.K., tests are administered by Thomson Prometric.

The first thing you have to do is purchase an examination voucher from Sun Educational Services. In the U.S., you can contact Sun Education Services at 1-800-422-8020 and in the U.K. you can contact them at 01276-416520. This requires that you use a credit card. The voucher can be used for up to one year from the date of purchase.

Next, contact Thomson Prometric to register for the exam. In the U.S., their telephone number is 1-800-795-3926, and in the U.K. it is 0800-592873. You can also use the Thomson Web site at http://www.2test.com.

To schedule an exam, call at least one day in advance. To cancel or reschedule an exam, you must call at least one day before the scheduled test time; otherwise you might still be charged the full fee. When calling Thomson Prometric, please have the following information ready for the telesales staff member who handles your call:

• Your Thomson Prometric number, if you have previously taken exams with Thomson.

• Your name , organization, mailing address, and social security number.

• The name of the exam you want to take.

• The number of the Sun voucher you purchased (this information might not be required because the Thomson Prometric staff member may already have it).

An appointment confirmation will be sent to you by mail if you register more than five days before an exam, or will be sent by fax if there are fewer than five days before the exam. A Candidate Agreement letter, which you must sign to take the examination, will also be provided.

On the day of the test, try to arrive at the testing center at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time. You must supply two forms of identification, one of which must be a photo ID.

All Sun exams are closed book. You are not permitted to take anything with you into the testing area, although you will be provided with a pen and some blank paper (which you must leave behind when you've finished). I recommend that you review the most critical information about the test you're taking just before the test. ( Exam Cram 2 books provide a brief reference ”The Cram Sheet, located inside the front of this book ”that lists the essential information from the book in distilled form.) You will have some time to compose yourself and either mentally review this critical information or write some important facts down on the paper. There is a sample orientation test that you can do before taking your first exam; it's worth doing if this is the first time you've been to a Thomson Prometric testing center as it familiarizes you with the layout and functions that will be available to you during the test. The sample orientation test is not part of the actual exam ”your time doesn't start until you click on the option to start the exam itself.

After you are in the test center, sitting at the computer, relax and stay calm. You cannot do any more reading now, so take a deep breath and read the first question.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to read a question at least twice before selecting an answer. Even though Sun does not deliberately pose "trick" questions, you could rush in and answer the question because you've already seen an answer that appears to be good. This is probably the most common cause of exam failure: not reading the question properly. Make sure you understand how many answers are required for a question. In a multiple choice question with multiple answers, Sun normally states how many answers are required ”the question often ends with a sentence that says, "Choose 2," for example. If you're not sure of the answer, then try to eliminate as many "definitely wrong" answers as you can, so that in the event of having to guess, you have reduced the odds significantly in your favor. There's no penalty for getting an answer wrong, or not attempting a question, so you should try to answer all the questions.

When you complete a Solaris 9 certification exam, the testing software tells you whether you've passed or failed. Results are broken down into several topical areas. Regardless of whether you pass or fail, I recommend that you keep the detailed report that the test administrator prints for you. You can use the report to help you prepare for a re-take (if necessary), and even if you pass, the report shows areas you may need to review to keep your skills fresh. If you do need to retake an exam, you have to call Thomson Prometric and schedule a new test date ”of course this unfortunately means paying the fee again.