Oracle Beta Certification Information when how what exams for certifications and their end dates

http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=182 Oracle Certification Oracle Certification Program Beta Exams Beta exams are pre-production exams used by Oracle to evaluate new exam questions with the participation of a live audience. Beta exam questions go through a rigorous development and evaluation process before being released to the public. Data gathered during beta testing are used to select the best questions for the production exam, and to eliminate questions that are ambiguous, too easy or too difficult, or unhelpful in evaluating a participant's knowledge. Beta exams are offered at a deeply discounted price; candidates usually have 2.5 to 3.5 hours to complete the exam, and may see 120 - 220 questions. Please consider carefully whether a beta exam is the right choice for you. Select the categories below to see a list of all available beta exams at present: Database Java and Middleware Server and Storage Systems Applications Important Information on Beta Exams Identifying a Beta Exam Oracle Certification Beta Exam numbers begin with "1Z1"; Oracle Certification Production Exam numbers begin with "1Z0". Both versions of the exam have the same suffix. For example, a beta version of an exam may be 1Z1-512. The production version of this exam will be 1Z0-512. Registering for a Beta Exam Beta exam registration is available worldwide through Pearson VUE’s Online registration system or by telephone. Visit the Oracle Certification exam registration web page for registration details. Beta exams are also available at Oracle Testing Centers (OTC). Beta exam vouchers are not available, however, production exam vouchers you have purchased may be used to pay for beta exams. However, the full value of the voucher will be forfeited. Partial amounts may not be deducted from a voucher. If your voucher is worth $195US and you use it to purchase the beta exam at $50US, you will forfeit the remaining $145US and your voucher will not be valid for further use. The Beta Exam is only available for testing appointments during the Beta Exam Period. Taking a Beta Exam As a part of the Beta exam, each beta candidate must complete a brief demographic survey. The survey results are kept entirely confidential. Candidates’ responses are compiled and used to calibrate the exam. Beta exams contain more questions than the final version of the certification tests. Beta exams contain 120-220 questions compared with approximately 50-100 questions on a production exam. Beta exams usually allow 2.5-3.5 hours for completion. With the higher number of questions, you may not have as much time to spend on each question of a beta exam as you will during the final exam. You also may not have as much time at the end of the exam to review your answers. Feedback is integral to the beta testing process. We encourage candidates to include comments on specific exam questions. There is a feature in the test that will allow you to do this. You can add your comments as you are working through the exam, or you can mark specific questions and return to add your comments once you are finished answering the exam questions. Beta Exams may only be taken once. Scoring a Beta Exam You will only be scored on the questions that are chosen for the final exam. Since you are graded only on the questions selected for the production version of the certification exam, it may take up to 11 weeks after the close of the beta period to receive your exam results from Pearson VUE. Passing a beta exam is the same as passing a production exam. For example, if you were to pass all the beta versions of the exams required within an Oracle Certification path, you will earn your Oracle Certification credential and receive the certificate in the mail. Beta Exam Status and Availability Mouse over each exam status for an explanation of that status Database Beta Exam Status Beta Exam Close Date (Beta end dates are tentative and subject to change without notice.) Approximately When to Expect your Score Report Approximate Expected Production Exam Release Date 1Z1-027 Oracle Exadata Database Machine X3 Administration Production December 29, 2012 March 18, 2013 March 5, 2013 1Z1-117 Oracle Database 11g Release 2: SQL Tuning Production December 29, 2012 April 1, 2013 March 15, 2013 1Z1-028 Oracle Database Cloud Administration In Development TBD 11 weeks from beta close date 10 weeks from beta close date Java and Middleware Beta Exam Status Beta Exam Close Date (Beta end dates are tentative and subject to change without notice.) Approximately When to Expect your Score Report Approximate Expected Production Exam Release Date 1Z1-468 Oracle Cloud Application Foundation Essentials Open March 30, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-459 Oracle Identity Governance Suite 11g Essentials Production January 19, 2013 February 28, 2013 February 13, 2013 1Z1-467 M2M Platform Certified Architecture Essentials Open April 13, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-807 Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect Certified Master Exam (Step 1 of 3) Open April 13, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-478 Oracle SOA Suite 11g Essentials Open March 30, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date Server and Storage Systems Beta Exam Status Beta Exam Close Date (Beta end dates are tentative and subject to change without notice.) Approximately When to Expect your Score Report Approximate Expected Production Exam Release Date 1Z1-822 Oracle Solaris 11 Advanced System Administration Open April 27, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date Applications Beta Exam Status Beta Exam Close Date (Beta end dates are tentative and subject to change without notice.) Approximately When to Expect your Score Report Approximate Expected Production Exam Release Date 1Z1-564 Oracle Communications Services Gatekeeper 5 Essentials Production December 15, 2012 February 7, 2013 January 23, 2013 1Z1-586 Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking 11 Trade Finance Implementation Essentials Post Beta Review February 16, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-589 Oracle Global Trade Management 6 Essentials Open February 2, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-594 Oracle FLEXCUBE Direct Banking 6 Implementation Essentials Production January 12, 2013 March 6, 2013 February 19, 2013 1Z1-509 Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management 7 Advanced Implementation Essentials Open April 13, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-463 Oracle Retail Demand Forecasting 13.3 Functional Implementer Essentials Production December 15, 2012 February 18, 2013 February 1, 2013 1Z1-455 Oracle Retail Store Inventory Management 13.2 Functional Implementer Essentials Production February 2, 2013 April 4, 2013 March 20, 2013 1Z1-453 Oracle Retail Merchandising System 13.2 Foundation Functional Implementer Essential Production January 5, 2013 February 21, 2013 February 6, 2013 1Z1-454 Oracle Retail Price Management 13.2 Functional Implementer Essentials Post Beta Review March 2, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-465 Oracle RightNow CX Cloud Service 2012 Essentials Production January 5, 2013 February 14, 2013 February 7, 2013 1Z1-469 Oracle Fusion Distributed Order Orchestration 11g Essentials Open March 23, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-466 Project Lifecycle Management Essentials Open April 13, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-472 Oracle Fusion Customer Relationship Management 11g Incentive Compensation Essentials Post Beta Review March 2, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-461 Oracle Endeca Information Discovery 2.3 Essentials Post Beta Review March 2, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-470 Oracle Fusion Procurement 11g Essentials Open April 13, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-464 Oracle Enterprise Taxation and Policy Management 2 Essentials Open May 4, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-480 Oracle RightNow CX Cloud Service 2013 Technical Essentials Open May 4, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-471 Oracle Endeca Commerce 3.1 Implementation Developer Essentials Open May 4, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date 1Z1-474 Oracle Taleo Recruiting Cloud Service 2012 Essentials Open May 18, 2013 11 weeks from exam close date 10 weeks from exam close date