While passing the certification test is certainly the goal, earning a certification without understanding the subject matter is useless. Many "braindumps" and "exam crams" attempt to push a candidate through the certification process, mostly on memorization. Even if a candidate does pass the exam, they are left without the requisite knowledge to function in their certified field. This book attempts to actually teach you proficiency in the subjects you need, and includes many examples to prepare you for becoming a real-world DBA. To that end, we recommend that you take a real-world approach in preparing for the test. It may take longer than simply cramming for the exam, but when you're finished, you'll be much better prepared.
After you've finished this book, take a "dry run" at the test. Without reviewing, go back and answer the questions in this book as well as any sample questions you may have from other sources. When you check your answers, make a note of the questions you've missed, as well as their subject areas. From this, you have a list of subjects on which you need to focus. This prevents you from spending an inordinate amount of time on the subjects you already know. Using your list of review subjects, go back through the book and re-read the sections that cover these areas. Work through the examples again and write your own variations of these examples. For instance, say that, after completing your dry run, you find that you have a good grasp of Automatic Memory Management (AMM), but are still unsure as to which parameters are used in Automatic Shared Memory Management (ASMM). Read through that section in Chapter 10, Managing Database Performance, and try out the examples. Then, see if you can configure each type of memory management in your example database. Once you are done with your review of the subject areas, take the test questions again. Repeat the process of studying and working with the remaining subject areas. Use this iterative process to fully prepare for every subject. Once you feel you're ready, take the test. Good luck!
