How to Pass Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate Exam- Take Your First Step Into the Data World
Introduction
With massive data collection from the Internet of Things transforming life and industry across the globe, businesses today have access to more data than ever before.
Database management is all about tracking and organising, a very important part of running a business. Every organisation can now use databases to go beyond basic data storage and transactions to analyse vast quantities of data from multiple systems.
Together with the usage of business intelligence tools, companies can now leverage the data they collect to run more efficiently, enable better decision-making, and become more agile and scalable.
Why get certified?
Oracle, together with Microsoft or IBM, is one of the powerhouses when it comes to databases. More and more companies are relying on their certificates to bring value to their businesses worldwide.
This certification enables you to work with SQL databases at a junior level, getting your foot right into the data world. It is just perfect for people without programming background nor experience that want to change careers or people that just want to step up their game in the programming world.
Whether you want to become a data analyst, pursue your career as a database administrator (it is a must in order to get the Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Associate) or even become a full-stack developer, nowadays databases are a must and, let’s face it, SQL is “the language of relational databases”.
So what is this certificate about?
The Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate (1z0–071) certifies both the skills and knowledge that the candidate has regarding to Oracle SQL and PL/SQL products and technologies.
It is an exam that consists on 78 multiple choice questions to be answered in 120 minutes, with the passing grade being 63% (around 50 questions answered correctly)… and you will know the results right after finishing it!
With the COVID-19 situation, you have either the option to do it in one of the Oracle test centres around your city or go for the online proctored testing (from home).
I took it via the online proctored testing and it was a wonderful experience. You just need to make sure to perform the run system beforehand and to check-in 30 minutes before the exam to follow up the instructions from the proctor.
How should I prepare for it? Road to success!
Let’s be honest. The Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate is by no means an easy exam. It will require a few months of practice with SQL code and to memorise the theory for the exam.
I personally started with little to no knowledge of SQL and passed it after dedicating myself for 3 months. Truth to be told, I was also working full-time at the time so I mostly had mornings, evenings and weekends to focus on studying.
The materials I used to pass the exam where:
- Udemy course: even though Oracle offers preparation courses, they are pretty expensive so I personally went for an online course I found on this site. There are plenty of online courses that are pretty cheap (wait for the discounts that come almost weekly) and give you almost all the preparation you need.
- Oracle Apex: Oracle Application Express (APEX) is a free-to-use platform that runs on an Oracle database. There you can put into practice all the theory you are getting, try your own ideas, challenge yourself and get some real experience as to what managing a database really is.
- Study Guide for 1Z0–071: after I finished the Udemy course, I felt I needed some more “theoretical” knowledge. As I said before, the exam is full of theory and understanding of concepts so this guide written by Matthew Morris gives you a really strong foundation that you will surely need.
NOTE: I believe both the online course and the Study Guide are needed because in the Study Guide you will get that theoretical plus you needed after the online course where you will get a more hands-on approach to all the concepts with some practical exercises.
4. Practice exams: I cannot emphasise enough how important this step is. You will find a lot of exam questions to test your skills on and most likely you will find some of those in your exam (or at least similar ones). I went for the Exam Topics and it really helped me to get a better understanding of the structure of the questions in the exam, the concepts that I needed to review, new knowledge I didn’t know about… I really cannot thank the comment section of each practice question enough.
5. More and more practice! This is a plus but I love to solve problems and wanted to test my SQL abilities so I went ahead, went to HackerRank and did a couple of problems everyday after finishing the online course and getting the basis of the language.
Conclusion
I hope that this article will be of help to anyone who wishes to pass the Oracle Database SQL exam or to enlighten any lost soul that wants to get their career in data started. This is a good starting point.
Striving to pass an exam like the Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate takes commitment and hard work. It is not an easy road but it will surely bring you fulfilment and pave the road to your data career, whatever path you may take. Please be resilient and keep moving forward. You will make it!
