Rating: 
Summary: A pretty good kit, but......
Review: Sybex is perfect about SQL, A&A and PT exams. B&R lacks information (specially RMAN stuff) and brings a lot of script listings not useful at all. NA chapters are good, though, even with a few errors.I had some problems with that kit: - Some questions had wrong answers (however, the explanations points the right ones).
- In PT/NA cd, questions aren't separated sometimes (there were PT questions in NA tests)
- The cd that came with PT/NA book was defective (only 1 test was available). However, Sybex promptly replaced it when I asked them.
- On NA book, chapter 20 is missing. It appears only on cd (e-book). Anyway, it is a good purchase, if not the better, for OCP 8i. My advice is, use the SQL, A&A and PT without fear. Use NA carefully (along with Oracle manuals) and forget B&R book.
Rating: 
Summary: Clear, Concise and Focussed on Exam
Review: The 3 volumes cover everything you need for the exams. The book is brief and to the point. This book and the Oracle documentation online was all that I needed to pass.The flashcards and practice tests are good. The networking CD was defective so I could not do the tests on the CD, but the same test was in the book as well. The book is available on CD but you can't print anything from there. I would have loved to print a few sections that I was working on to carry while travelling instead of the large book(s).
Rating: 
Summary: Beware about Performance Tuning and Network Adminstration
Review: The CD about Performance Tuning and Network Administration are incomplete.
The Edge Test in the CD supposes to consist of two sets of tests:
One for Performance Tuning and one for Network Administration. Each set of test consists of 3 tests and flashcard
- Assessment Test
- Practical Test
- Bonus Test But in this Performance Tuning and Network Administration CD, there is only one set of test for Performance Tuning where the Bonus test and Practical Test is the same test, so there is no Bonus Test. In addition, there are NO Network Administration tests. The 3 tests for NA are the duplicates of the Performance Tuning. Go figure!!! I feel of being cheated and very disappointed. They actually did a very good job in the PL/SQL and Administration sections. However, as you go further and further into other sections like BackUp and Performance and Network, there are a lot of errors, and misleading information. I feel ashamed for those guys who are writing these three books and being Oracle instructors or whatever title they called themselves.
Rating:
Summary: Good reference, not just for people taking exam., except...
Review: The kit covers most topics, serves me as a good reference, except occassionally, I was indexed to pages that are missing, e.g.: Architecture & Administration and Backup & Recovery Study Guide, page 254 -- page 287 (for Object Privileges).
Rating:
Summary: Sufficient source for passing 8i exam track
Review: There were only two sources I used to pass this exam track, this Sybex kit and Self Test Software. As other readers have indicated, the questions in the back of each chapter are simple and do not adhere to Oracle's exam testing standards. The best testing prep I have used was from Self Test Software. These questions focused in detail on the concepts tested for each exam.
I would rate the books as follows: 1.SQL/PL SQL -Excellent section, well written, more than enough to pass the exam. 2.Architecture & Admin -Great source as well, sufficient for passing.
3.Backup & Recovery -Similar to other reviews on this section I have read, this section is poorly written. I strongly suggest using Oracle docs with this section or finding a different prep source.
4.Perf. Tuning - Excellent, well written section. I have read some reviews advising caution on this section, but this is truly a strong source for passing the exam and for future reference.
5.Network Administration -Not quite as concise as Perf. Tuning or PL/SQL and A & A, but this is enough to pass the exam. Overall, the kit has enough to earn OCP status, and I recommend a good testing engine as stated above.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: There will atleast one dream to everyone in this world,i do have few,One of these is OCP.I should thank Author(s) and publisherse and all who behind this greatest books.I am suggesting each and every one to go for these books.
Rating:
Summary: Good books, but make sure you do at least 200 sample qs
Review: These are all you need in terms of study material. The performance tuning is a little weak, and so lose one star, but overall, quite good.
The first book, on SQL, is excellent. All you need. For the other four exams, make sure to purchase some sample questions (200 per exam). The questions in the the second and third books are not representative of the questions on the exam. Basically, the real exam questions are much tougher - more scenario based.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect Reference for Professionals
Review: This book is a must for anyone who intend to apply for the exams, but not only for those who want the OCP Title: begginers could learn a lot about Oracle DB with this book. Anyone who works with Oracle DB 8i and wants to know all about it, should by this Kit.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for 2/5 Exams.
Review: This book is excellent for the PL/SQL and the
Databse Administration and Architecture exams, only. For Backup and Recovery and Performance Tuning, it fails to mention topics and concentrate on objectives that are heavily tested on the certification exam. This book however, is a great tool for beginners to learn about Oracle 8i. It is very self explanatory, and has very good clear examples demonstrating the uses of the database. The CD is only useful for minimum practice. I found the exams on the CD a lot easier for the Backup and Recovery and Performance Tuning exams. The real exams are far more challenging. It however does an excellent job for the PL/SQL exam; I found the PL/SQL practice exam on the CD a lot more difficult than the actual exam.
Rating:
Summary: Good preparation material
Review: This is good preparation material for OCP. Each chapters are very simple to understand, can complete each chapters within 3 hours. And at the end of each chapters, you can see some 20 questions. These questions and explanation will give you more clear idea. Only few of them have wrong answers. [Any way, if you able to identify it is wrong, then it is good sign for passing the exam also ;-) ] Out of 5 books, 3 books are good. (1) PL/SQL => Good, This book is enough to pass.
(2) Achitecture and Administration => Good. This is enough.
(3) Back-Up and Recovery => For basic concepts it is ok! Once you finished all the chapters, then go for Exam-Cram. This will help lot.
(4) Performance & Tunining => Good. This is enough.
(5) Network => For basic conepts it is ok!. Exam-Cram will do better. At conclusion, you can buy this kit. It is worth. Exam-cram and this kit is enough to pass all the exams. Wish you all the best.
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