<fx:AnandVardhan/>

lights..camera..Action..Script.. ing..

Becoming an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE): Preparing and passing Adobe Certified Flex Developer exam - Part 2

Posted on | June 11, 2008 |

Continued from the Part-1…

How hard is it to become an ACE?

This is perhaps a question which one can answer himself/herself. If I ask how hard is to learn swimming for a newbie, it depends how fast he/she can overcome with the fear of getting drawn. How soon one can learn cycling, answer as soon as he learn how to balance himself/herself.

I hope the answer is somewhere in everybody’s mind, still I’ll try to formulate it; Passing an expert exam on a product means how familiar you are with the product. Passing an ACE on Adobe Flex is not a contradiction to it, this exam evaluates the examinees knowledge about the product to its core. Summarizing the basic areas,

  • Flex Application User Interface (UI) Creation
  • Flex System Architecture and Design
  • Flex Application Programming Fundamentals
  • Interacting with Remote Data and Flex Applications

Details are discussed in further columns.

Whom should I contact to give the Exams?

Adobe certification exams are conducted and administered by Pearson VUE and Thomson Prometric authorized testing centers. They are independent third-party testing companies who are pioneers in organizing industry standard certification programs.

How the exam conducted and how many questions are are there?

The exams are computer-delivered, closed-book tests consisting of 67 multiple-choice questions. Each exam takes one to two hours to complete, and report card transcript is given immediately after you finish.

Questions are typically targeting your core skills in Flex, thus covering almost all aspects of Flex programming.

The certification exam fee is USD $150 (Value varies in your local currency).

What are the patterns of question asked?

I saw four kinds of question pattern in mine,

  • Multiple Choice Single Answer
  • Multiple Choice Multiple Answer
  • Scenario based analytical question (Question based on an Image or piece of Code)
  • True and False (might contain one All or None option as well)

What is covered under Adobe Certified Flex 2 Developer exam?

Flex Application User Interface (UI) Creation

  • Containers
  • Panels
  • UI components
  • UI controls
  • Media Controls
  • FDS (LCDS) basics
  • Flex Charting

Flex System Architecture and Design

  • UML basics
  • Class association diagrams
  • Object Oriented concepts
  • Flash player basics (AVM and Cross domain communications)

Flex Application Programming Fundamentals

  • ActionScript 3.0
  • Event
  • Component development and life cycle

Interacting with Remote Data and Flex Applications

  • Cross Communication Components (Webservice, RemoteObjects, HTTP service)
  • Configuration and various parameters
  • Various terminologies used while making RIA using Flex.
  • Data transfer methods and parameters
  • Backend Result capturing methods and parameters

Are there any resources available?

Perhaps the best aspect of Adobe certification preparation is that there are tons of resources available in almost all forms,

My recommendations: Its not that what I am gonna recommend here is best suited for all but I must say that this covers almost all topics. I am having an 8 years of core Flash/ActionScript/Flex background thus It was not that hard for me to cover up using this much resource. But you can surely go for more,

Apart from these, I dig Flex-India community to almost all of its threads thus giving me more confidence on real time issues.

How much time should I need to crack ACE?

Typically, a month preparation is enough for the exam but you should have at least 6-month Flex experience in order to understand the real time scenario problems. As far as a student base is concerned who want to take this to start their glorious career in RIA, I recommend doing an in-house project, which covers Flex fundamentals+ Charting+ Backend communication. Implementation of FMS and FDS (BlazeDS) will definitely boost your confidence.

Before I sign off … I do not want to miss the opportunity to give my very best wishes to you all for the certification.. Do give it with confidence.

Believe in “Success is Never Permanent….Failure is never Final”

Category: Adobe Certification, Flex

Comments

32 Responses to “Becoming an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE): Preparing and passing Adobe Certified Flex Developer exam - Part 2”

  1. <mx:AnandVardhan/> » Blog Archive » Becoming an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE): Preparing and passing Adobe Certified Flex Developer exam
    June 11th, 2008 @ 9:19 am

    [...] Continued in part 2… [...]

  2. Venkat Viswanathan
    June 11th, 2008 @ 10:01 am

    Hey Anand,

    Good One! Finally you have come up with a good road-map for Flex Certification! Just one query… was there any question on Java/J2EE in the Remoting section?

    And BTW… congratulations for your blog’s first anniversary!

    Cheers!
    Venkat

  3. Anand
    June 11th, 2008 @ 10:48 am

    Java/J2EE was not as such part of the question but Remoting configuration file and various terms like Connector/Adopter and Channel were there in various questions.

  4. Abhishek
    June 12th, 2008 @ 4:42 am

    thx anand,
    i’m very happy to get this great information on ur blog, cause i searched from so many days such information,
    thx again keep it up

  5. Anand
    June 12th, 2008 @ 5:37 am

    Track some more responses.
    http://groups.google.com/group/flex_india/browse_thread/thread/181f60e2c5630892

  6. Raj
    June 12th, 2008 @ 5:39 am

    Hi Anand,

    thanks for the post. It is a great help and inspiration for all the people working in RIA.

  7. Anand
    June 12th, 2008 @ 6:03 am

    Two more threads to track the responses as well as queries:

    Discussion on the above topic:
    http://groups.google.com/group/flex_india/browse_thread/thread/181f60e2c5630892
    Discussion on various questions asked in ACE exam:
    http://groups.google.com/group/flex_india/browse_thread/thread/bca92db8233ad84a

  8. Ahad Bokhari
    June 12th, 2008 @ 11:48 am

    Hey Anand,

    Thanks for the post…it would definitely give you an edge with this certification!! Coming from a flash background i certainly will take the time to improve my flex skills, and am inspired by you all over in India!! As they say slowly catch the monkey! If you need any flash work then head over to my company site http://www.fluidnewmedia.com - Best of luck in the future!!

  9. Anand
    June 12th, 2008 @ 2:23 pm

    Another good thread of certification
    http://office.realeyesmedia.com/blogs/jun/?p=22

  10. John Koch
    July 1st, 2008 @ 5:59 am

    Thanks for organizing all of this great information and resources around Flex certification!

    Some members of Adobe user groups around the world get together in small groups to focus on studying for certification together. This is something we should consider doing in India as well.

  11. Chinmay Garde
    July 7th, 2008 @ 12:50 pm

    Hi Anand,

    I just passed the Flex 2 (ACE) exam. Your articles were very helpful. Thanks a lot :)

    Chinmay

  12. Anand
    July 8th, 2008 @ 4:52 am

    Congrats Chnmay. M proud of u.

  13. Elliot Williams
    July 10th, 2008 @ 2:16 pm

    Hi.

    I am currently starting Adobe Flex Study group in singapore. would appreciate any help you can give us

    there are no members currently. and we would like to grow

  14. Anand
    July 10th, 2008 @ 5:50 pm

    Sure dude .. let me know how I can be helpful to you and your community.

    I suggest make a google group and send invitation and the other is to have an Facebook app which will invite guys from facebook.

  15. Elliot Williams
    July 15th, 2008 @ 11:41 am

    hi anand,

    thanks ….. facebook app? .. you mean group??

    i just created a group in facebook. its called ADOBE FLEX STUDY GROUP SINGAPORE but has zero members… help me spread the word out to any singapore friends you might have….. looking to get members …. and membership is free!!!!!!!!!!

    :)

  16. Brij
    August 6th, 2008 @ 10:51 am

    Very informative blog.

  17. sudheer
    August 12th, 2008 @ 4:21 am

    Hi Anand

    thanx for posting.i have a small query i want to become ACE on flex
    So what are the exam i need to take..to become ACE its neccessary to take 3 exam (if yes what are exams u taken?)..
    thank you ..

  18. amar shukla
    August 12th, 2008 @ 9:10 am

    its useful information for ACE …thnx Anand!

  19. Anand
    August 12th, 2008 @ 11:55 am

    @Sudheer
    Who says you need to clear 3 exams for becoming an ACE of Flex. You need to give only one exam i.e. Adobe Certified Flex 2 Developer Exam.

    Anand

  20. ASHISH KUMAR ROY(BIT IGNOU)
    August 14th, 2008 @ 9:12 am

    hi It’s me Ashish. It may be possible u forget me sir but I always visit u on orkut & ur site and from deep of my heart i want to say that ur just inspirational person to me and ur life always tell me fly high & high as u can because sky is unlimited. Sir I’ll feel so glad if u send me some guidance abt JAVA certification. Sir I want to be like u in java tech.

  21. Daniel Luecke
    August 15th, 2008 @ 6:25 am

    Hey Anand,

    congratz from Germany !!!

    I plan to do the exam somewhen next week. Right now I m training with the ATTest software.

    Would you say that the real exam is very similar to the ATTest one? If not, where do you see the differences?

    Daniel.

  22. Ashish Kumar
    August 21st, 2008 @ 9:18 am

    Can u have you Contact Number Dear :) If Possible send me that on ashishkummar@gmail….

    I have come FAN of you.

    Regards
    Ashish Kumar
    Delhi
    9868991004

  23. Ryan Graham
    October 28th, 2008 @ 10:38 pm

    Thanks for the tips. Just passed with 89%.

    Things I found most helpful:

    -Attest software
    -Cruising the Framework docs for a few hours to refresh
    -Total Training video series on Flex Data Services (pretty much identical to LCDS and BlazeDS, so still very much relevant

    Things that seemed to reappear in many questions:
    - Know your WebService, HTTPService, and RemoteObject cycles - especially difference between lastResult and result and any needs to cast the return in the result handler.
    - Dealing with XML, especially how to drill down into results with e4x
    - event cycles and difference between event target and currentTarget.
    - Dealing with collections and cursors.

    Hope this helps…

    Ryan

  24. Ryan Graham
    October 28th, 2008 @ 11:04 pm

    Whoops — on that third point up there, I meant the lynda.com Flex Data Services training, not Total Training.

    Ryan

  25. Swathi
    January 8th, 2009 @ 7:32 am

    Hi Anand,

    I am Java developer with hands on experience in Flex 2.0.1 for one year. I want to complete ACE exam for Flex 3 in next two months time. In this blog I found all the information about Flex 2 exam. Could you please suggest how to prepare for Flex 3?

    Thanks in advance,
    Swathi.

  26. kishor ranga
    March 4th, 2009 @ 4:31 pm

    Please let me know the testing center for Flex 2/3 Exam in Singapore

  27. andrew
    March 10th, 2009 @ 3:09 am

    I disagree with the suggestion that it takes at least 6 months to prepare for this exam. Got certified today, and i only stumbled on flex back 3 months approx.

    Here’s the preparation i used and suggest to others wishing to certify:
    i. Take an existing web application and try to build a replica of it using Flex.
    ii. Redo that application as an AIR application.
    iii. Try changing the look and feel of both by attempting the use of custom components(actionscript preferred) and attempt adding cooler features like drag & drop.
    iv. After a hard day’s coding,relax in the evenings with “shows” from Adobe TV. :)

    If someone does follows this “DIY”(Do-It-Yourself) approach, the certification exam will be a breeze.

    Used 43 mins.

  28. sachin
    July 21st, 2009 @ 5:18 pm

    Hi anand
    Thanks for giving the appropriate information for Adobe Flex certification. i had tried to search for ACE on internet but i only got information about flash certification not for flex. Thanks for ur post.
    i want to ask 1 question. As u said that u are working with flash/AS/Flex from 8 year..So what flash knowledge is required to get ACE certified?(question 1)
    I am working in Flex from 10 month and having strong willing to got ACE certificate..This time i have covered just only few part like Component development and life cycle and event because i am working in CUSTOM COMPONENTS LIKE DATAGRID, BUTTONS etc.
    i have a Confusion regarding component life cycle and validation cycles can you please explain it to me.(question 2)

    please let me know
    Thanks
    Sachin Dev Tripathi

  29. Sangram
    September 29th, 2009 @ 6:16 pm

    Hi Anand,

    This is Sangram here, I am currently working as a Flash developer (AS 2.0). At the moment, I am willing to give ACE for Flash CS3 exam. Can you please let me know which are the prometric centers in Pune for the ACE Flash exam..

    Thanks,
    Sangram.

  30. kostubh
    December 4th, 2009 @ 2:13 pm

    hi anand,
    m looking for preparing for ACE exam in flex on my own although i m working on flex for the last 3 months can u give ur suggestions on study material & strategy.

    thanks,
    kostubh

  31. Ranjini Krishnan
    December 17th, 2009 @ 2:32 am

    Hi all.. I am working on Flex 3 since 4 months, and i have built simple AIR applications using SQLite 3 for backend. Now am planning to take up ACE exam.. I have never worked on web applications using Flex.
    I am referring the help topics given in Flex Builder. Is that enough for me to prepare for ACE exam? Are the ACE questions easy?

    Kindly answer…

    Thank You

  32. Jayesh Agrawal
    February 1st, 2010 @ 11:52 am

    Hi, anandvardhan

    I am jayesh Graphic Designer we need ACE exam center in pune. can you give me address of center they conduct Adobe exam.
    Please give me answer.
    Thank you

Leave a Reply