Microsoft Technology Associate

Exam 98-388: Introduction to Programming

using Java
This is an entry level certification that is intended for application developers working with Java. The MTA
exams are targeted at secondary and immediate post-secondary level students of software development,
and other entry-level software developers. The code in the 98-388: Introduction to Programming Using
Java exam, uses Java SE. The syntax used in this exam is compatible with Java 6 SE through the most
recent release.

These Java developers and students require instruction and/or hands-on experience (150 hours) with Java,
are familiar with its features and capabilities, and understand how to write, debug and maintain well-
formed, well documented Java code.

Objective Domain
• Describe the use of main in a Java application.
Understand o Signature of main, why it is static; how to consume an
instance of your own class; command-line arguments
Java
• Perform basic input and output using standard packages.
Fundamentals o Print statements; importing and using the Scanner class

• Evaluate the scope of a variable.

o Declaring a variable within a block, class, method

• Declare and use primitive data type variables.

Work with o Data types include byte, char, int, double, short, long,
float, boolean; identify when precision is lost;
Data Types, initialization; how primitives differ from wrapper object
types such as Integer and Boolean
Variables,
• Construct and evaluate code that manipulates strings.
and o String class and string literals, comparisons,
Expressions concatenation, case and length; String.format methods;
string operators; converting a primitive data type to a
string; the immutable nature of strings; initialization; null

• Construct and evaluate code that creates, iterate, and

manipulates arrays and array lists.

o One- and two-dimensional arrays, including

initialization, null, size, iterating elements, accessing
elements; array lists, including adding and removing
elements, traversing the list
 Exam 98-388: Introduction to Programming using Java

Work with • Construct and evaluate code that performs parsing, casting and conversion.

Data Types, o Implementing code that casts between primitive data types, converts primitive types to
equivalent object types, or parses strings to numbers
Variables, • Construct and evaluate arithmetic expressions.
and o Arithmetic operators, assignment, compound assignment operators, operator
precedence
Expressions

• Construct and evaluate code that uses branching statements.

Implement o If, else, else if, switch; single-line vs. block; nesting; logical and relational operators
Flow
Control • Construct and evaluate code that uses loops.

o While, for, for each, do while; break and continue; nesting; logical, relational, and unary
operators

Perform • Construct and evaluate a class definition.

Object- o Constructors; constructor overloading; one class per .java file; this keyword; inheritance
and overriding at a basic level
Oriented
• Declare, implement, and access data members in a class.
Programming o Private, public, protected; instance data members; static data members; using static
final to create constants; describe encapsulation

• Declare, implement, and access methods.

o Private, public, protected; method parameters; return type; void; return value; instance
methods; static methods; overloading

• Instantiate and use a class object in a program.

o Instantiation; initialization; null; accessing and modifying data members; accessing

methods; accessing and modifying static members; importing packages and classes

Compile • Troubleshoot syntax errors, logic errors, and runtime errors.

and Debug
o Print statement debugging; output from the javac command; analyzing code for logic
Code errors; console exceptions after running the program; evaluating a stack trace

• Implement exception handling.

o Try catch finally; exception class; exception class types; displaying exception information

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