Difference between OCAJP7, OCAJP8, and OCAJP11 Certification - 1Z0-803 vs 1Z0-808 vs 1Z0-815

One of the frequently asked questions asked by most of the OCAJP certification candidates is, what are the differences between OCAJP 8 and OCAJP 7? And, after Java 11 certification release, what is the difference between OCAJP 11 (1Z0-815) and OCAJP 8 (1Z0-808) Which one Java developers should go for? OCAJP7 or OCAJP8, or OCAJP 11? The obvious answer to this question is the latest Java version of the exam, I mean OCAJP 11. Since it's already more than a couple of months since Java 12 is out but there is no OCAJP 9 certification, the OCAJP 8 should be the exam, Java developers should pursue this year and beyond. 

The question is more for those who are looking to become certified Java developer in quick time and doesn't know Java 8 yet like experienced Java developers who have extensively worked in Java SE 6 and prior version but don't have any Java certification yet.

Sometimes your employer also asks you to get certified to impress clients, particularly on service-based companies like Accenture, Infosys, TCS, CTS, etc.

Believe it or not but having a pool of certified Java developers looks good on any proposal and big clients like investment banks like Barclays, Citibank, and other Insurance giants really value them and help your company to grab contracts.

Anyway, when it comes to difference, there is not a huge difference in preparation time for OCAJP 8 and OCAJP 7? The answer is, No.

The difference in the syllabus is very minimal and only a few weeks of preparation time is required to cover additional topics added for Java SE 8 certification.



OCAJP 7 or OCAJP 8 or OCAJP11?

If you wondering about which exam to prepare, I would suggest going for OCAJP 11 with exam code 1Z0-815 and 1Z0-816, because it is based on Java SE 11 version.

No doubt OCAJP 7 is easier to crack because passing score is less than OCAJP 8 and OCAJP 11 the syllabus is smaller then OCAJP 8 and OCAJP 11 and even number of question is less, but Java SE 8 and Java SE 11 will give you a competitive advantage.

Once you become a Java SE 8 or Java SE 11 certified programmer, you will obviously have a distinctive advantage over other Java developers who might not even hear about Java 8, forget about Java 11

Since Java 8 is now the minimum Java version, you would expect that most of the new code will be written in Java 8 utilizing the new features of Java 8 like lambda expression, steams, default methods, and new date and time API.

Also, in general, the latest is considered greatest, so going for OCAJP 8 certification is the right decision.

The only case, where I suggest you go for OCAJP 7 if you just want a certification if you think that you don't have much time to prepare and you already know Java.

You can crack the OCAJP7 exam and earn a certification, but you should be prepared to answer that why you chose OCAJP7 over OCAJP8 in your interview because the interviewer will definitely ask this question, considering why you did a Java SE 7 certification when Java 8 was already available.




Difference between OCAJP 8 and OCAJP7 - 1Z0-809 vs 1Z0-803

Here are some point based difference between OCAJP and OCPJP exams so that you can analyze what is the difference between these two exams and where do you need to tweak your preparation strategy to pass the exam with flying colors


1. Java version

The OCAJP 7 certification exam is based on Java SE 7 while the OCAJP 8 is based upon Java SE 8. If you look at the full form, the OCAJP7 stands for Oracle Certified Associate for Java SE 7 while OCAJP8 stands for Oracle Certified Associated for Java SE 8. If you haven't used Java 8 yet, then this is also a good opportunity to start learning Java 8, and The Complete Java MasterClass on Udemy is a good place to start with.


2. Number Of Questions

The number of questions has increased in OCAJP8 because of new topics of Java 8 which makes it a little bit more difficult to crack. The  OCAJP 7 has 70 questions while OCAJP 8 has 77 questions


3. Duration

Since the number of questions has increased from 70 to 77 in OCAJP8, so is the duration which is increased by 30 minutes. OCAJP 7 allows you to complete the exam in 120 minutes or 2 hours, while OCAJP 8 gives you 150 minutes of 2 and a half hours.

So, you get an additional 30 minutes to solve an additional 7 questions, not a bad deal. This the one aspect which makes OCAJP 8 easier than OCAJP 7 but overall you will find cracking OCAJP 8 tougher to crack than OCAJP 7.

If you are worried about whether you can solve all the questions in the allotted time then I suggest you practice with Whizlabs's  OCAJP 8 Practice Test in the exam-like situation i.e. sit down in a quiet room with a timer and solve them just like you would do in the real exam.

I have done this in the past and it improves my speed and accuracy a lot. I also learned how to spot the errors before it's too late.


4. Passing Score

The passing score has also increased from OCAJP7 to OCAJP8. Earlier you need to score at least 63% to pass the exam but now you have to score at least 65%,.

This means, you have to prepare really well if you don't want to give this exam again and eager to earn the certification on the first attempt.

Also, the cost of the exam and time for preparation is important. You don't want to waste your $ 250, hence you should try your best to clear the exam on the first attempt.


5. Exam Format

There is no change in the exam format, both OCAJP 7 and OCAJP 8 asks multiple choice question. Some question has one answer, others can have multiple answers.

Sometimes you are also asked to fill in the blanks and arranging the code in order. It can be a little tricky if you have not practiced such questions.

To avoid silly mistakes,  I suggest you practice a couple of mock tests with Whizlabs OCAJP 8 Simulator, to familiarize yourself with the latest exam format and different types of questions.


6. Exam Price

The price for both the OCAJP7 and OCAJP8 certification exams is the same. Though price varies in different countries, in India the cost of OCAJP7 and OCAJP8 is around 10,100 INR, while in the USA it is around 248 USD.

Actually, the cost varies between developing and developed nations, hence you will find the same $248 cost converted into local currency on developed nations like Singapore, UK, Europe, etc.

While the cost of Oracle Java Certification is around 10,000 INR in developing nations like India, Brazil, African nations, etc.


7. Syllabus

Since OCAJP7 and OCAJP 8 are based on different Java versions their syllabus is a little bit different. You have some additional topics in OCAJP 8 which are based upon new features introduced in Java SE 8 e.g. lambda expressions, new date and time API, default and static methods of interfaces, wrapper classes, and other new Java 8 features.

In order to cover all the topics, I suggest you join Whilzlab's  OCAJP 8 Training Course, which is a high-quality course. It not only covers all the topics but also helps you understand the format of the exams and type of the questions you would expect in a real exam.

Anyway, to summarize, here are the differences between Oracle's Java Certification for SE 7 and SE 8 in nice, tabular format for your quick reference:

Difference between OCAJP7 and OCAJP8 Certification - 1Z0-803 vs 1Z0-809

There seems a lot of difference but to be honest it's not much. Once you start preparation, the increased number of topics will not matter. Though you need more practice to score well above 65% which is key as Java certifications are costly. You need to shell $250 every time you give the exam.

That's why I suggest you practice hard with Whizlabs OCAJP 8 Simulator, which contains more than 650+ questions on all exam topics and the most up-to-date resource for this certification. You will also get a chance to see the different types of questions you will expect in the exam.  It's also not costly, you will get lifetime access to just $19 or something.


That's all about some key differences between OCAJP 7 and OCAJP 8 certification exam. If you are a Java developer preparing for OCAJP or OCPJP in 2018 then these differences will help you to prepare better. It will also help you to decide which exam you should pursue.

Though I have conducted a poll on this on my blog for the last year and the clear winner is OCAJP8 with over 70% votes (you can find it on the top left corner of this page.)

It does make sense because Java 8 is the future and you must know Java 8 idioms and coding style to become a Java developer in 2018.

Some Useful Articles for Java 8 Certifications:
5 Courses to Prepare for OCAJP8 Certifications
5 Free OCAJP 8 Free Mock Exams for Java Developers
5 OCAJP8 Book for Java Developers
10 Exam Simulators to Prepare OCAJP 8 Exam well
5 Practical Tips to score high on Java Certifications
Difference between OCAJP and OCPJP Exam?
Whizlabs or Enthuware? Which Exam Simulator is better for OCAJP?
450+ OCAJP8 Questions by David Mayer

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