Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP-31-03) Practice Exam

The Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP-31-03) exam, offered by Pearson VUE, validates your fundamental knowledge and skills in using Python for programming.  It's an entry-level certification geared towards individuals new to Python or those seeking to solidify their grasp of the basics.

Who should take this Exam?

• Individuals with limited or no prior programming experience seeking to learn the fundamentals of Python.
• Professionals wanting to transition into a career involving Python programming.
• Students pursuing a degree or qualification in computer science or related fields.

Roles and Responsibilities:

While not directly tied to specific job titles, the knowledge and skills assessed in this exam can be valuable for roles like:

• Junior software developers
• Python programmers in training
• QA testers who want to automate tasks with Python
• Anyone working with data who wants to leverage Python for analysis or manipulation

Exam Details:

• Format: 85 multiple-choice questions
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Passing Score: 70%
• Delivery: Testing center or online proctored

Course Outline 

The Certified Associate in Python Programming (PCAP-31-03) Exam covers the following topics - 

Domain 1: Understanding Modules and Packages (12%)

1.1 Describe the Import and use modules and packages

• import variants: import, from import, import as, import *
• advanced qualifying for nested modules
• the dir() function
• the sys.path variable

1.2 Describe Perform evaluations using the math module

• functions: ceil(), floor(), trunc(), factorial(), hypot(), sqrt()

1.3 Describe and create random values using the random module

• functions: random(), seed(), choice(), sample()

1.4 Identify host platform properties using the platform module

• functions: platform(), machine(), processor(), system(), version(), python_implementation(), python_version_tuple()

1.5 Build and use user-defined modules and packages

• idea and rationale;
• the __pycache__ directory
• the __name__ variable
• public and private variables
• the __init__.py file
• searching for/through modules/packages
• nested packages vs. directory trees

Domain 2: Understanding Exceptions (14%)

2.1 Learn to handle errors using Python-defined exceptions

• except, except:-except, except:-else:, except (e1, e2)
• the hierarchy of exceptions
• raise, raise ex
• assert
• event classes
• except E as e
• the arg property

2.2 Extend the Python exceptions hierarchy with self-defined exceptions

• self-defined exceptions
• defining and using self-defined exceptions

Domain 3: Overview of Strings (18%)

3.1 Overview of machine representation of characters

• encoding standards: ASCII, UNICODE, UTF-8, code points, escape sequences

3.2 Explain Operate on strings

• functions: ord(), chr()
• indexing, slicing, immutability
• iterating through strings, concatenating, multiplying, comparing (against strings and numbers)
• operators: in, not in

3.3 Explain to employ built-in string methods

• methods: .isxxx(), .join(), .split(), .sort(), sorted(), .index(), .find(), .rfind()

Domain 4: Understanding Object-Oriented Programming (34%)

4.1 Learn about the Object-Oriented approach

• ideas and notions: class, object, property, method, encapsulation, inheritance, superclass, subclass, identifying class components

4.2 Learn to Employ class and object properties

• instance vs. class variables: declarations and initializations
• the __dict__ property (objects vs. classes)
• private components (instances vs. classes)
• name mangling

4.3 Learn to Equip a class with methods

• declaring and using methods
• the self parameter

4.4 Learn and discover the class structure

• introspection and the hasattr() function (objects vs classes)
• properties: __name__, __module__ , __bases__

4.5 Build a class hierarchy using inheritance

• single and multiple inheritance
• the isinstance() function
• overriding
• operators:
• not is, is
• polymorphism
• overriding the __str__() method
• diamonds

4.6 Learn to construct and initialize objects

• declaring and invoking constructors

Domain 5: Overview of Miscellaneous Topics (22%)

5.1 Learn to create complex lists using list comprehension

• list comprehensions: the if operator, nested comprehensions

5.2 Learn to embed lambda functions into the code

• lambdas: defining and using lambdas
• self-defined functions taking lambdas as arguments
• functions: map(), filter()

5.3 Learn to define and use closures

• closures: meaning and rationale
• defining and using closures

5.4 Learn basic Input/Output terminology

• I/O modes
• predefined streams
• handles vs. streams
• text vs. binary modes

5.5 Learn about Perform Input/Output operations

• the open() function
• the errno variable and its values
• functions: close(), .read(), .write(), .readline(), readlines()
• using bytearray as input/output buffer