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Darrell Norton's Blog [MVP]

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Passed the UML certification exam (IBM exam 486)

I passed the IBM 000-486 test Object-Oriented Analysis and Design with UML test today with a 91%.  My employer is big on UML and wants pretty much everyone to take this exam.

What’s nice with the IBM test is it shows you how you fared on each section of the test objectives.  For example, I got 100% of the architecture questions right but only 86% of the development questions right.  And I thought I knew a lot about development processes!  Maybe because I am more interested in agile processes and how they are applied rather than the textbook theory of OOAD.

I used two books for study materials.  UML Distilled by Martin Fowler gives you everything you need to know about UML diagrams.  I read this book a couple of times since it was so short.  Applying UML and Patterns by Craig Larman covers pretty much everything else (including the UML diagrams).  I’m sure if I had studied this book more I could have done better, but it’s hard to grok everything in a 650-page book, although it was a great read.

See my review of UML Distilled or my review of Applying UML and Patterns.



Comments

Steve said:

Congrats!
# February 20, 2004 5:45 AM

Darrell said:

Thanks Steve! Hopefully I'll have more good news soon.
# February 20, 2004 6:12 AM

shiv said:

so do u get a certificate and Pin for the IBM UML exam just like the Sun Java Exams?
# March 3, 2004 6:14 AM

Darrell said:

Shiv - I'm not sure. I haven't gotten anything yet, but I'm guessing they'll send me some sort of certificate.
# March 3, 2004 6:34 AM

Grant said:

Very cool -- I'll have to look into this Cert; I didn't even know it existed.

Congratulations!

I also think Martin Fowler's stuff is really good.
# March 3, 2004 3:39 PM

Darrell said:

Grant - Thanks!
# March 4, 2004 12:40 AM

Jim Davis said:

Congratulationz Steve. Your score is really great. I am also following the books mentioned by you. I've also practiced through he Diagnostic and practice exams of whizlabs software but they seem to be very tough; im scoring only 60% in them.

Are there any good tutorials available?

Thanks
Jim
# March 18, 2004 5:51 AM

Darrell said:

Jim - I am assuming you meant congratulations Darrell :) I'm not familiar with the whizlabs software you're talking about. Is that what IBM posts a link to on the exam info page?

Anyway, here are some of the better tutorials I've found.

Jason Gorman has some good stuff here:
http://www.parlezuml.com/

SmartDraw has a good tutorial, though it's all geared towards their product:
http://www.smartdraw.com/resources/centers/uml/contents.htm

There are links to 5 or so UML tutorials here (with ratings):
http://www.uml-forum.com/tutorials.htm
# March 18, 2004 6:18 AM

Sriram said:

Which is the best book for UML ceritifcation
# March 22, 2004 4:52 PM

Darrell said:

Sriram - I don't know if you could pass it with just one, assuming you did not know a fair amount of object-oriented programming. If you know OO, just get the "UML Distilled" book by Fowler. If you don't know much about OO, I would highly recommend reading "Applying UML and Patterns" by Larman.
# March 23, 2004 12:53 AM

weslee said:

congratulation!!!
can you tell me your email id??
i want to consult and disscuss some issues regarding UML certificate with you.
thank you very much.
---changqiang.li@cn-tcs.com------
# April 16, 2004 12:27 AM

Grant Killian said:

Exam Tax, Hell, and a UML Nerd Crush for Darrell?
# May 5, 2004 3:03 AM

sri said:

Could you give me names of some books that could be helpful to me in preparing for the UML Certification.

Thanks,
Sri
# August 12, 2004 7:29 AM

Darrell said:

Sri - in the post I mention UML Distilled by Martin Fowler and Applying UML and Patterns by Craig Larman. Other than those 2, I don't have any good books to recommend.
# August 12, 2004 8:36 AM

Madhura said:

How to start preparing for UML IBM exam 486
# August 29, 2004 11:07 PM

Dipak Sundaram said:

Dear Sirs,

I am confused, as there are 2 UML exams which are known

[1] IBM 486 : OOAD with UML
[2] OCUP Exam : UML exam by OMG Group.

Can you please guide me as to which would be better to take. Also, it has been mentioned that when you complete OCUP Exam of OMG you get a certification Kit. But a similar one doesnt seem to exist for the IBM 486. Can you explain to me what is the TITLE you will recieve after you pass the IBM 486 exam (Like IBM Certified ........ Professional ???)

Looking forward to your kind responses.

Thanking You.
Best Regards

Dipak
kenzenray@email.com
www.kenzenray.com
# November 1, 2004 12:51 AM

Sachin Jain said:

Congrats Darell Though late,I have also started as per your guideline and hope for positive result.
Davis i wanted to know that whizlabs software was good for practice.If i can have your email id it would be great as i have no of ?
Sachin.jain@elpaso.com
# December 5, 2004 7:08 AM

Darrell said:

Thanks Sachin. Good luck!
# December 5, 2004 1:42 PM

srini said:

Congratulations Darell.
Can u tell me which is better out of these two
[1] IBM 486 : OOAD with UML
[2] OCUP Exam : UML exam by OMG Group.
# December 21, 2004 9:39 AM

Darrell said:

Srini - I'm sorry but I don't really know. I took the IBM 486 because that is what my employer wanted.
# December 21, 2004 2:49 PM

Karthikeyan Sekar said:

Dear Sirs,

Same doubt

[1] IBM 486 : OOAD with UML
[2] OCUP Exam : UML exam by OMG Group.

Which is better?
# January 4, 2005 1:00 AM

Suresh said:

Darrell,
Can you post any links to free sample tests?
I saw some test on IBM site which is paid one.

-Suresh
# January 6, 2005 1:19 AM

Darrell said:

Suresh - I don't know of any. Sorry.
# January 6, 2005 2:41 AM
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