Zend PHP 5 Exam: Failed

June 6, 2008. I took the real test for the Zend PHP 5 Certification. My test center was MISNet in Makati, Philippines.

I got to the test center with time to spare which I spent reviewing with my friend who accompanied me to the venue. I took the test which lasted an hour and a half (90 minutes). I was able to review most of my answers, and was confident of all the answers I gave. None was left incomplete.

Still, my best wasn't enough. Some of the questions were very tricky. For example, you are given four possible answers and you have to choose the best one. None of them would be considered "wrong" in terms of code usage, but only one is the best and correct answer. Another example is that there are four correct answers and you have to choose two of the best answers. There's also subtle differences I saw with regard to the choices, and even when looking at code, it seems that they deliberately placed a syntax error in one of them that I overlooked somehow. I will not be disclosing any of the questions here since there's a non-disclosure agreement that I promised to follow.

They don't give you the raw score or even let you know the passing score. But they do print out the areas where you can see your level of strength. I got a high score for Streams and Network Programming, as well as Strings and Patterns. I scored medium in Functions, Arrays, and Web Features. I got a low score in Security, PHP 4/5 Differences, Object-Oriented Programming, PHP Basics, and Databases and SQL.

I read somewhere that the practice tests were harder than the real test. But in this case, I don't find that to be true. I passed two practice tests (via the Vulcan engine) and failed the real test. You can read my previous posts regarding my practice tests.

Zend offered me a discount for a retake. Instead of paying $125, this time I can take the test for $100 only. But I doubt I will be doing that anytime soon. This test has shown me that to pass the exam I need to know PHP inside out, and not just in its practical usage in web development but its architecture and configuration as well. I may need more time to study. And I don't really need that kind of knowledge if I'm just gonna work as a PHP programmer starting out in the industry, at least not in the junior and mid-level. Besides those, PHP 6 is scheduled to come out in August this year, and they might change the exam altogether. So I'll wait and see.

Are you ready to take the test?

Zend PHP 5 Exam Preparation - Part 2

At this time, it's three days before my actual exam.

A friend bought me a voucher for the Zend PHP 5 Certification exam, and I received it through email from zend.com. I also was able to book my exam online at Vue, and confirmed it by phone that the test center has received my booking. My test center is MISNet Inc. in Makati, Philippines. They require you to have two valid IDs with signatures when you walk in, along with the voucher. But I had to verify if I can use my passport since the new passports only have an electronic ID system and no longer store the handwritten signatures of the passport owners. MISNet said it was okay. So I'll be bringing my company ID and my passport to the test center.

I also bought Cebu Pacific round-trip plane tickets online, so my flight is booked and confirmed for June 5. Another friend is gonna help me get to the test center -- I've never been to it, and I don't live in Makati.

I took another practice test online using the Vulcan simulator. This time, there were differences to my last practice test results:


I have less excellent scores now. In Arrays as well as PHP 4/5 Differences, I failed this time where I was once excellent. But I also have less failing marks this time. I passed Database Access and XML & Web Services this time around, where I failed the last time.

I studied in the areas I was weak in, and by God's grace I know I'm ready to take the test.

Zend PHP 5 Exam Preparation

For a few months now, I've been preparing and studying to take the Zend PHP 5 Certification exam. That's the official PHP test. I even bought my personal copy the Zend PHP 5 Certification Study Guide. My copy is at home, while I also have the PDF on my laptop and another hard copy at the office that were bought by my boss as the company's copies. These you can get online from Zend as well as from Amazon and php|architect.

I've read through the study guide twice, discovered a lot of errors, even with the errata, and tried to remember all that I have read. I even tried out most of the codes in the book. Last I checked, they recently released a second edition.

Finally, I bought practice tests from php|architect. Some I sold to my friends, but some I reserved for me. The practice tests are simulated by Vulcan, and below you will see what Vulcan looks like. This is the page that displays before you start the practice test:



I was able to answer the practice test before the time ran out. I made a lot of errors but managed to pass. This is a joy for me since the practice test is actually more difficult than the actual test. Still, I've discovered the areas I need to review on and perhaps do some practice coding on. Below are the results of my practice test:


90 minutes, 70 questions. Just like the real test. ARE YOU REAADDY?