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Python Institute PCAP Practice Test

Python Institute PCAP Practice Test

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Questions updated at Aug 26, 2026, 10:47 PM CDT

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Today's 10 Python Institute PCAP questions

Use this Python Institute PCAP practice test to review Python Institute PCAP Certified Associate Python Programmer. Questions rotate daily and each answer links back to the source used to write it.

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Question 1 of 10
Objective Use the math module 1. Modules and Packages (12%)

A billing rule evaluates ```python import math x = -3.7 print(math.ceil(x), math.floor(x), math.trunc(x)) ``` What is printed?

Concept tested:
Source:Python Standard Library — math
Question 2 of 10
Objective Distinguish streams, handles, and modes 5. Miscellaneous - Comprehensions, Lambdas, Closures, and I/O (22%)

A file contains raw image bytes that must not be decoded as text. Which mode should be used to open it for reading?

Concept tested:
Question 3 of 10
Objective Use lambda, map, and filter 5. Miscellaneous - Comprehensions, Lambdas, Closures, and I/O (22%)

A pipeline must convert every input number to its square, then retain only squared values above 10. Which conceptual pairing is correct?

Concept tested:
Question 4 of 10
Objective Operate on strings 3. Strings (18%)

Two separately obtained strings must be compared for the same textual value. Which operator is the correct semantic choice?

Concept tested:
Question 5 of 10
Objective Define and integrate custom exceptions 2. Exceptions (14%)

What escapes `validate()`? ```python class ValidationError(Exception): pass def validate(): try: raise ValidationError("bad") except ValidationError: print("audit") raise ```

Concept tested:
Question 6 of 10
Objective Use instance and class properties 4. Object-Oriented Programming (34%)

What is printed? ```python class Ticket: prefix = "INC" a = Ticket() b = Ticket() print(a.prefix, b.prefix) ```

Concept tested:
Question 7 of 10
Objective Import and qualify modules and packages 1. Modules and Packages (12%)

A utility uses ```python from math import sqrt print(sqrt(81)) ``` Which namespace effect explains why `sqrt(81)` needs no `math.` prefix?

Concept tested:
Question 8 of 10
Objective Use built-in string methods 3. Strings (18%)

What is printed? ```python print("bananana".rfind("na")) ```

Concept tested:
Question 9 of 10
Objective Handle, raise, and inspect built-in exceptions 2. Exceptions (14%)

What happens? ```python def parse(): return int("x") def run(): return parse() try: run() except ValueError: print("caught") ```

Concept tested:
Question 10 of 10
Objective Build inheritance hierarchies 4. Object-Oriented Programming (34%)

What is printed? ```python class Item: def __str__(self): return "ITEM" print(Item()) ```

Concept tested:
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The free daily Python Institute PCAP set includes crawlable question text, answer choices, correct answer labels, objective mapping, and source links. Only the first SEO card includes answer explanations and any extra learning features. Pro-only bank questions stay locked; this section mirrors only the 10 free daily questions already shown on this page.

Question 1 A billing rule evaluates ```python import math x = -3.7 print(math.ceil(x), math.floor(x), math.trunc(x)) ``` What is printed?

Answer choices

  1. A. `-3 -4 -3`
  2. B. `-4 -4 -3`
  3. C. `-3 -3 -4`
  4. D. `-4 -3 -4`

Correct answer

`-3 -4 -3`

`ceil` moves toward positive infinity, `floor` toward negative infinity, and `trunc` removes the fractional part toward zero; each returns an integer here.

Wrong-answer review

  • B. `-4 -4 -3`: Incorrect. This choice would produce different behavior from the code shown.
  • C. `-3 -3 -4`: Incorrect. This choice applies a different Python rule than the one exercised in the scenario.
  • D. `-4 -3 -4`: Incorrect. This choice does not match the behavior required by the code or the documented rule.

Extra learning features

Interview question

Q: How do `math.ceil()`, `math.floor()`, and `math.trunc()` differ for a negative value, and why is saying they all 'round' insufficient? Strong answer: `ceil` moves toward positive infinity, `floor` toward negative infinity, and `trunc` toward zero. For `-3.7`, those results are `-3`, `-4`, and `-3`. The direction matters most when the input is negative.

  • ceil toward +infinity
  • floor toward -infinity
  • trunc toward zero
  • negative-number behavior

Caution: Listen for the direction of each operation, not vague language such as 'round up' without explaining negative values.

Why this matters

This matters because PCAP expects you to apply the exact Python rule, not a keyword association: `ceil` moves toward positive infinity, `floor` toward negative infinity, and `trunc` removes the fractional part toward zero; each returns an integer here. In real programs, misunderstanding this behavior can choose the wrong numerical result or return type, especially around negative rounding and function-specific behavior.

Objective/domain: 1. Modules and Packages (12%)

Source: Python Standard Library — math

Question 2 A file contains raw image bytes that must not be decoded as text. Which mode should be used to open it for reading?

Answer choices

  1. A. `'r'`
  2. B. `'rt'`
  3. C. `'rb'`
  4. D. `'w'`

Correct answer

`'rb'`

Objective/domain: 5. Miscellaneous - Comprehensions, Lambdas, Closures, and I/O (22%)

Source: Python Standard Library — io

Question 3 A pipeline must convert every input number to its square, then retain only squared values above 10. Which conceptual pairing is correct?

Answer choices

  1. A. Use `lambda` alone for both steps because `map` and `filter` cannot accept lambda functions.
  2. B. Use `filter` for the squaring transformation and `map` only to remove values below 10.
  3. C. Use `map` for both steps because `filter` can only operate on strings.
  4. D. Use `map` for the squaring transformation and `filter` for the greater-than-10 selection.

Correct answer

Use `map` for the squaring transformation and `filter` for the greater-than-10 selection.

Objective/domain: 5. Miscellaneous - Comprehensions, Lambdas, Closures, and I/O (22%)

Source: Python Functional Programming HOWTO

Question 4 Two separately obtained strings must be compared for the same textual value. Which operator is the correct semantic choice?

Answer choices

  1. A. Use `is` because equal strings are required to be the same object.
  2. B. Use `==` to compare their values.
  3. C. Use `in` because equality is defined as substring membership.
  4. D. Use `:=` because assignment expressions also compare string content.

Correct answer

Use `==` to compare their values.

Objective/domain: 3. Strings (18%)

Source: Python Standard Library — Built-in Types

Question 5 What escapes `validate()`? ```python class ValidationError(Exception): pass def validate(): try: raise ValidationError("bad") except ValidationError: print("audit") raise ```

Answer choices

  1. A. A new empty `ValidationError` replaces the original message before leaving the function.
  2. B. No exception; the handler consumes it because `raise` has no operand.
  3. C. A new `RuntimeError` is raised because a bare `raise` cannot be used with custom exceptions.
  4. D. The same `ValidationError` is re-raised after `audit` is printed.

Correct answer

The same `ValidationError` is re-raised after `audit` is printed.

Objective/domain: 2. Exceptions (14%)

Source: Python Tutorial — Errors and Exceptions

Question 6 What is printed? ```python class Ticket: prefix = "INC" a = Ticket() b = Ticket() print(a.prefix, b.prefix) ```

Answer choices

  1. A. `INC None`
  2. B. `INC INC`
  3. C. An `AttributeError`
  4. D. `None None`

Correct answer

`INC INC`

Objective/domain: 4. Object-Oriented Programming (34%)

Source: Python Tutorial — Classes

Question 7 A utility uses ```python from math import sqrt print(sqrt(81)) ``` Which namespace effect explains why `sqrt(81)` needs no `math.` prefix?

Answer choices

  1. A. The statement renames the `math` module itself to `sqrt` for the rest of the process.
  2. B. The `from math import sqrt` statement binds the selected name `sqrt` directly in the importing module's namespace.
  3. C. The statement changes Python's built-in `sqrt` function to point at `math.sqrt`.
  4. D. The statement imports every public name from `math` and merely displays `sqrt` first.

Correct answer

The `from math import sqrt` statement binds the selected name `sqrt` directly in the importing module's namespace.

Objective/domain: 1. Modules and Packages (12%)

Source: Python Tutorial — Modules

Question 8 What is printed? ```python print("bananana".rfind("na")) ```

Answer choices

  1. A. `4`
  2. B. `6`
  3. C. `2`
  4. D. `-1`

Correct answer

`6`

Objective/domain: 3. Strings (18%)

Source: Python Standard Library — Built-in Types

Question 9 What happens? ```python def parse(): return int("x") def run(): return parse() try: run() except ValueError: print("caught") ```

Answer choices

  1. A. Nothing is printed because exceptions cannot cross function-call boundaries.
  2. B. A `TypeError` replaces the `ValueError` when control returns from `parse()`.
  3. C. The interpreter retries `int('x')` once before allowing any outer handler to run.
  4. D. `caught` is printed because the unhandled `ValueError` propagates through `parse()` and `run()` to the matching outer handler.

Correct answer

`caught` is printed because the unhandled `ValueError` propagates through `parse()` and `run()` to the matching outer handler.

Objective/domain: 2. Exceptions (14%)

Source: Python Tutorial — Errors and Exceptions

Question 10 What is printed? ```python class Item: def __str__(self): return "ITEM" print(Item()) ```

Answer choices

  1. A. `ITEM`
  2. B. `<Item>` exactly
  3. C. `None`
  4. D. An `AttributeError`

Correct answer

`ITEM`

Objective/domain: 4. Object-Oriented Programming (34%)

Source: Python Language Reference — Data Model

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