11. PCAP Practice Exam

Introduction

In this final module of our Introduction to Python course, we will consolidate everything that we have learnt by taking a practice Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP) examination paper (aligned to exam version PCAP-31-02).

Python Certification

A formal certification in any skill is a worthwhile endeavour, most importantly for personal growth but also to enable employers to validate your knowledge. As technology continues to advance rapidly and as organisations become more data-driven, the need for employees to have a strong grounding in coding and fundamental computing principles is just as important as foundations in mathematics and language skills. A certification in a programming language, such as Python, is therefore an immensely valuable asset for both employees and modern organisations.

PCAP Exam

The Python Institute is an independent non-profit project set up by the Open Education and Development Group (OpenEDG) to promote the Python programming language, train the next generation of Python programmers, and to support professional careers in Python programming and related technologies. They offer independent and vendor-neutral certification in the Python programming language across the following three competency levels:

• Entry Level - Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (PCEP) certification.
  Enables individuals to validate their knowledge of fundamental computer programming concepts including data types, functions, conditions, loops and the basics of Python programming language syntax, semantics and its runtime environment.
  
  
• Associate - Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP) certification.
  Enables individuals to validate their knowledge of general computer programming concepts including everying in the PCEP syllabus plus conditional execution, loops, intermediate Python programming syntax, semantics and its runtime environment, object oriented programming, general coding techniques and best practices.
  
  
• Professional - Certified Professional in Python Programming (PCPP 1 and PCPP 2) certification.
  Enables individuals to validate their professional credentials as an advanced Python software developer including everything in the PCEP and PCAP syllabuses plus advanced object oriented programming, mathematics, science and engineering-oriented Python modules, graphical user interface (GUI) programming, network programming, testing principles and techniques, software design patterns, database programming, and creating complete software services and systems.

Our Introduction to Python course has been purposely aligned to the PCAP examination syllabus (exam version PCAP-31-02), as this provides learners with a strong coding foundation from which to develop a modern professional career in Data Science, Software Engineering and/or Data Engineering amongst other career pathways.

Exam Information

Further information on the PCAP examination may be found on the PCAP Certification webpage, the key points of which are listed below (correct as of September 2020):

• Exam Code: PCAP-31-02 (Pearson Vue) or PCAP-NP-31-02 (OpenEDG Testing Service)
• Pre-Requisites: None
• Duration: 65 minutes (exam)
• Number of Questions: 40
• Format: Single and multiple choice
• Language: English
• Pass Mark: 70%
• Full Exam Price: USD 295.00

Exam Syllabus

The PCAP examination syllabus (exam version PCAP-31-02), to which our Introduction to Python course is aligned, covers four major areas in Python 3.x programming, namely:

• Control and Evaluations (10 exam questions)
• Data Aggregates (10 exam questions)
• Functions and Modules (10 exam questions)
• Classes, Objects and Exceptions (10 exam questions)

Each area is worth 25% of the total examination mark, with each question worth 1 point. The pass mark is 70%, or 28 points out of a maximum of 40 points. Details of the topics covered in each of these four areas may be found on the PCAP Exam Syllabus webpage.

Exam Price

The full exam fee is USD 295.00. Retakes are unlimited as long as those retakes are at least 15 days apart. Please refer to the PCAP Testing Policies webpage for further information.

PCAP Practice Exam

To help learners prepare for the PCAP examination, a sample PCAP-31-02 examination paper is provided below, with answers cross-referenced with the relevant modules in our Introduction to Python course.

Control and Evaluations

Question 1

2 ** 3 ** 2 ** 1

Question 2

Peter's sister's name's "Anna"

Question 3

i = 250
while len(str(i)) > 72:
    i *= 2
else:
    i //= 2
print(i)

Question 4

n = 0
while n < 4:
    n += 1
    # insert your code here

1 2 3 4

Question 5

x = 0
y = 2
z = len("Python")
x = y > z
print(x)

Question 6

Val = 1
Val2 = 0
Val = Val ^ Val2
Val2 = Val ^ Val2
Val = Val ^ Val2

Question 7

z, y, x = 2, 1, 0
x, z = z, y
y = y - z
# put line here
print(x, y, z)

0, 1, 2

Question 8

a = 0
b = a ** 0
if b < a + 1:
    c = 1
elif b == 1:
    c = 2
else:
    c = 3
print(a + b + c)

Question 9

i = 10
while i > 0 :
    i -= 3
    print("*")
    if i <= 3:
        break
else:
    print("*")

Question 10

# Example 1
for i in range(1, 4, 2):
    print("*")

# Example 2
for i in range(1, 4, 2):
    print("*", end="")

# Example 3
for i in range(1, 4, 2):
    print("*", end="**")

# Example 4
for i in range(1, 4, 2):
    print("*", end="**")
print("***")

Data Aggregates

Question 11

Question 12

x = "20"
y = "30"
print(x > y)

Question 13

s = "Hello, Python!"
print(s[-14:15])

Question 14

lst = ["A", "B", "C", 2, 4]
del lst[0:-2]
print(lst)

Question 15

dict = { 'a': 1, 'b': 2, 'c': 3 }
for item in dict:
    print(item)

Question 16

s = 'python'
for i in range(len(s)):
    i = s[i].upper()
print(s, end="")

Question 17

lst = [i // i for i in range(0,4)]
sum = 0
for n in lst:
    sum += n
print(sum)

Question 18

lst = [[c for c in range(r)] for r in range(3)]
for x in lst:
    for y in x:
        if y < 2:
            print('*', end='')

Question 19

lst = [2 ** x for x in range(0, 11)]
print(lst???)

Question 20

lst1 = "12,34"
lst2 = lst1.split(',')
print(len(lst1) < len(lst2))

Functions and Modules

Question 21

def fun(a, b=0, c=5, d=1):
    return a ** b ** c

print(fun(b=2, a=2, c=3))

Question 22

x = 5
f = lambda x: 1 + 2
print(f(x))

Question 23

from math import pi as xyz # line 01
print(pi) # line 02

Question 24

Question 25

from random import randint
for i in range(10):
    print(random(1, 5))

Question 26

x = 1 # line 1
def a(x): # line 2
    return 2 * x # line 3
x = 2 + a(x) # line 4
print(a(x)) # line 5

Question 27

a = 'hello' # line 1
def x(a,b): # line 2
    z = a[0] # line 3
    return z # line 4
print(x(a)) # line 5

Question 28

s = 'SPAM'
def f(x):
    return s + 'MAPS'
print(f(s))

Question 29

Question 30

def gen():
    lst = range(5)
    for i in lst:
        yield i*i

for i in gen():
    print(i, end="")

Classes and Exceptions

Question 31

Question 32

Question 33

Question 34

# Example 1
x = 1
y = 0
z = x%y
print(z)

# Example 2
x = 1
y = 0
z = x/y
print(z)

Question 35

x = 0
try:
    print(x)
    print(1 / x)
except ZeroDivisionError:
    print("ERROR MESSAGE")
finally:
    print(x + 1)
print(x + 2)

Question 36

class A:
    def a(self):
        print("A", end='')

class B(A):
    def a(self):
        print("B", end='')

class C(B):
    def b(self):
        print("B", end='')

a = A()
b = B()
c = C()

a.a()
b.a()
c.b()

Question 37

try:
    print("Hello")
    raise Exception
    print(1/0)
except Exception as e:
    print(e)

Question 38

# Example 1
class CriticalError(Exception):
    def __init__(self, message='ERROR MESSAGE A'):
        Exception.__init__(self, message)

raise CriticalError
raise CriticalError("ERROR MESSAGE B")

# Example 2
class CriticalError(Exception):
    def __init__(self, message='ERROR MESSAGE A'):
        Exception.__init__(self, message)

raise CriticalError("ERROR MESSAGE B")

Question 39

file = open(test.txt)
# insert code here
file.close()

Question 40

f = open("file.txt", "w")
f.close()

Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to complete our Introduction to Python course. You now have a strong coding foundation which includes knowledge of general computing concepts, common data structures, control flow, functions and object oriented programming, from which to develop a modern professional career in data science, software engineering and/or data engineering amongst other career pathways.

What's Next

Schedule a PCAP examination to test your knowledge and become certified in a skill that is in high-demand across all industries!