Passing the PHP 5.3 ZCE exam
I passed the PHP 5.3 ZCE exam
Today I passed the exam to become a PHP 5.3 ZCE. Like everyone else I had to sign the non-disclosure contract so I can’t go into detail about the questions that were asked, I can however tell my impressions of the exam and how prepared for it.
Differences with the previous exam
The first thing I noticed when I bought the PHP 5.3 exam voucher was that there was no option to order a bundle of preparation tests. There was however a free study guide. The new study guide can not be compared with the previous php|architect’s Zend PHP 5 Certification Study Guide. Were the new free study guide gives a quick overview (including some example questions) of each topic in the exam the original study guide starts with basics of PHP and really covers each topic thorough, except for the new PHP 5.3 features.
How did I prepare myself?
After reading the “old” study guide I found it was time to test my current knowledge about PHP 5. I luckily still had some preparation tests available from the previous PHP 5 exam. I took the exam with the following result:
Not bad at all, but again I realized how much problems I had with streams, I also got a fail for PHP4 vs PHP5 but that was nothing to worry about because thats a topic that doesn’t occur anymore on the new exam. Streams did worry me because I had read that this was a topic that would be definitely tested on the new exam. For the people that still have the preparation tests for the PHP 5 exam I recommend using them, for the people that don’t have an tests left but own a iPad of iPhone I recommend buying the app of PhpRiot (discussed further on).
My opinion about the new exam
I did found the new exam a bit more difficult then the previous one. I do think however the new exam is improved a lot over the old one, I still found some trick questions in the exam, but the trick questions I now encountered were questions that really tested your basic insight in PHP and the ability to observe what the code does. The exam did contain a lot more open questions to be filled in the the previous one, sometimes a function name was asked, sometimes the result of a piece of code. First I was doubting if I should take the exam because I already owned the PHP 5 ZCE certification. I now can say I’m very glad I took the exam, it differs enough from the previous one to be considered as a completely new exam.
Reading list
Below I wrote down a list I absolutely recommend to read before taking the exam. Another tool that was useful to me while preparing was the PhpRiot iPad/iPhone Application. The application contains the offline PHP manual, shortcut to the PhpRiot articles and “Quiz training to help you become a Zend Certified Engineer”, the questions in the quiz can be compared with the actual exam. The application itself is free but only contains 6 quiz sample questions, other questions must be bought. ZCE PHP Training bundles I bought for the application:
- ZCE PHP Training: Arrays 1 (36 questions)
- ZCE PHP Training: Strings 1 (40 questions)
- ZCE PHP Training: Web Features 1 (39 questions)
- ZCE PHP Training: Basics 1 (55 questions)
Blogs
Michelangelo van Dam (DragonBe) about his preparation, thanks for the heads up!
Steven Lloyd Watkin about his experience with the new exam
Lorna Jane her preparation, also check out her other great articles about the new PHP 5.3 features!
Another great article to read, some useful tips for the exam, read carefully
Interesting PHP.net links
Key features of PHP 5.3.0
SPL (study the Graphical Class Hierarchy carefully)
Predefined interfaces
Late static binding
Namespaces
Closures
PHP Date Objects
PCRE
Sprintf
Date and time
Date
strftime
Streams
Compression wrappers
Compression Filters
Thanks to the PHP community
Besides to links above I would also recommend to look at all string and array functions. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the content on the links above. Special thanks to DragonBe and LornaJane for publishing great slideshare presentations and blogposts. I would also like to thank my colleagues at e-sites for arguing with me about general PHP topics each working day π
Good luck to everyone who’s planning to take this exam!
Π³Π΄Π΅ ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ ΡΠ΅Ρ Π½ΠΈΠΊΡΠΌΠ° ΡΠ΅Π±Ρ [url=https://www.frei-diplom9.ru]Π³Π΄Π΅ ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ ΡΠ΅Ρ Π½ΠΈΠΊΡΠΌΠ° ΡΠ΅Π±Ρ[/url] .
Diplomi_ayea
20 Sep 25 at 3:00 am
Π²ΡΠ΅Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ [url=www.zaimy-25.ru/]www.zaimy-25.ru/[/url] .
zaimi_szoa
20 Sep 25 at 3:00 am
ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ ΠΌΠΎΡΠΊΠ²Π° Π»Π΅Π³Π°Π»ΡΠ½ΠΎ [url=http://frei-diplom1.ru/]http://frei-diplom1.ru/[/url] .
Diplomi_hnOi
20 Sep 25 at 3:01 am
ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ Π² Π±ΡΠ³ΡΠ»ΡΠΌΠ΅ [url=www.rudik-diplom1.ru]ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ Π² Π±ΡΠ³ΡΠ»ΡΠΌΠ΅[/url] .
Diplomi_wuer
20 Sep 25 at 3:02 am
Clear Meds Hub: –
Dennisted
20 Sep 25 at 3:02 am
ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ Ρ ΠΏΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎΠ΄ΠΊΠΎΠΉ ΠΌΠΎΠΈΡ [url=https://frei-diplom3.ru/]ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ Ρ ΠΏΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎΠ΄ΠΊΠΎΠΉ ΠΌΠΎΠΈΡ [/url] .
Diplomi_qrKt
20 Sep 25 at 3:08 am
Π²ΡΠ΅ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ [url=http://www.zaimy-22.ru]http://www.zaimy-22.ru[/url] .
zaimi_fhKi
20 Sep 25 at 3:08 am
cialis generic: Generic Cialis without a doctor prescription – EverTrustMeds
Dennisted
20 Sep 25 at 3:08 am
Π²ΡΠ΅ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ [url=zaimy-18.ru]Π²ΡΠ΅ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ[/url] .
zaimi_jwMl
20 Sep 25 at 3:09 am
Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ Π²ΡΠ΅ [url=www.zaimy-20.ru]Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ Π²ΡΠ΅[/url] .
zaimi_soPr
20 Sep 25 at 3:11 am
ΡΠΏΠΈΡΠΎΠΊ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΠΎΠ² ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ [url=www.zaimy-19.ru/]ΡΠΏΠΈΡΠΎΠΊ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΠΎΠ² ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½[/url] .
zaimi_wfKl
20 Sep 25 at 3:11 am
Π²ΡΠ΅ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ Π½Π° ΠΊΠ°ΡΡΡ [url=www.zaimy-21.ru]Π²ΡΠ΅ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ Π½Π° ΠΊΠ°ΡΡΡ[/url] .
zaimi_wikl
20 Sep 25 at 3:11 am
ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ ΠΎ Π²ΡΡΡΠ΅ΠΌ ΠΎΠ±ΡΠ°Π·ΠΎΠ²Π°Π½ΠΈΠΈ Ρ Π·Π°Π½Π΅ΡΠ΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ΠΌ Π² ΡΠ΅Π΅ΡΡΡ [url=www.frei-diplom6.ru/]ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ ΠΎ Π²ΡΡΡΠ΅ΠΌ ΠΎΠ±ΡΠ°Π·ΠΎΠ²Π°Π½ΠΈΠΈ Ρ Π·Π°Π½Π΅ΡΠ΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ΠΌ Π² ΡΠ΅Π΅ΡΡΡ[/url] .
Diplomi_avOl
20 Sep 25 at 3:12 am
ΡΠ΅Ρ Π½ΠΈΠΊΡΠΌ ΡΡΠΎ ΠΊΠ°ΠΊΠΎΠ΅ ΠΎΠ±ΡΠ°Π·ΠΎΠ²Π°Π½ΠΈΠ΅ ΡΠΊΡΠ°ΠΈΠ½Π° [url=https://www.educ-ua7.ru]https://www.educ-ua7.ru[/url] .
Diplomi_vyea
20 Sep 25 at 3:16 am
Π²ΡΠ΅ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ [url=http://zaimy-23.ru/]http://zaimy-23.ru/[/url] .
zaimi_oeSl
20 Sep 25 at 3:20 am
Π²Π·ΠΎ [url=www.zaimy-25.ru]www.zaimy-25.ru[/url] .
zaimi_ikoa
20 Sep 25 at 3:23 am
Π²Π·ΠΎ [url=zaimy-17.ru]Π²Π·ΠΎ[/url] .
zaimi_fcSa
20 Sep 25 at 3:24 am
ΠΌΠΈΠΊΡΠΎ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ [url=www.zaimy-22.ru]www.zaimy-22.ru[/url] .
zaimi_fjKi
20 Sep 25 at 3:35 am
Π»ΡΡΡΠΈΠ΅ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ [url=http://www.zaimy-18.ru]Π»ΡΡΡΠΈΠ΅ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½[/url] .
zaimi_rxMl
20 Sep 25 at 3:35 am
ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ ΡΡΠ°ΡΡΠΉ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ ΡΠ΅Ρ Π½ΠΈΠΊΡΠΌΠ° ΠΏΡΡΡ ΠΏΠ»ΡΡ [url=http://frei-diplom12.ru]ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ ΡΡΠ°ΡΡΠΉ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ ΡΠ΅Ρ Π½ΠΈΠΊΡΠΌΠ° ΠΏΡΡΡ ΠΏΠ»ΡΡ[/url] .
Diplomi_qfPt
20 Sep 25 at 3:37 am
ΠΎΡΠΈΡΠΈΠ°Π»ΡΠ½ΡΠ΅ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ Π½Π° ΠΊΠ°ΡΡΡ Π±Π΅ΡΠΏΠ»Π°ΡΠ½ΠΎ [url=www.zaimy-20.ru]ΠΎΡΠΈΡΠΈΠ°Π»ΡΠ½ΡΠ΅ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ Π½Π° ΠΊΠ°ΡΡΡ Π±Π΅ΡΠΏΠ»Π°ΡΠ½ΠΎ[/url] .
zaimi_xbPr
20 Sep 25 at 3:37 am
ΠΌΠΈΠΊΡΠΎ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ [url=zaimy-21.ru]ΠΌΠΈΠΊΡΠΎ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½[/url] .
zaimi_ubkl
20 Sep 25 at 3:37 am
Π²ΡΠ΅ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ [url=www.zaimy-19.ru]Π²ΡΠ΅ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ[/url] .
zaimi_xmKl
20 Sep 25 at 3:38 am
ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ Ρ ΠΏΡΠΎΠ²Π΅Π΄Π΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ΠΌ [url=http://www.frei-diplom2.ru]ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ Ρ ΠΏΡΠΎΠ²Π΅Π΄Π΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ΠΌ[/url] .
Diplomi_fiEa
20 Sep 25 at 3:42 am
Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ [url=http://zaimy-25.ru]http://zaimy-25.ru[/url] .
zaimi_jwoa
20 Sep 25 at 3:43 am
ΠΌΡΠΎ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌ [url=www.zaimy-23.ru/]www.zaimy-23.ru/[/url] .
zaimi_vkSl
20 Sep 25 at 3:44 am
ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ ΠΎΠ± ΠΎΠΊΠΎΠ½ΡΠ°Π½ΠΈΠΈ ΡΠ΅Ρ Π½ΠΈΠΊΡΠΌΠ° Π² ΠΌΠΎΡΠΊΠ²Π΅ [url=https://www.frei-diplom8.ru]ΠΊΡΠΏΠΈΡΡ Π΄ΠΈΠΏΠ»ΠΎΠΌ ΠΎΠ± ΠΎΠΊΠΎΠ½ΡΠ°Π½ΠΈΠΈ ΡΠ΅Ρ Π½ΠΈΠΊΡΠΌΠ° Π² ΠΌΠΎΡΠΊΠ²Π΅[/url] .
Diplomi_cesr
20 Sep 25 at 3:45 am
Π²ΡΠ΅ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ [url=http://www.zaimy-17.ru]Π²ΡΠ΅ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ Π·Π°ΠΉΠΌΡ[/url] .
zaimi_mkSa
20 Sep 25 at 3:47 am