Exam: PCEP-30-02
Status: ACTIVE
The PCEP-30-02 exam consists of single-select, multiple-select, coding, scenario-based, and interactive items that assess a candidate’s ability to write, understand, and debug simple Python programs. The exam evaluates practical knowledge of Python syntax, semantics, control flow, data types, functions, and basic problem-solving techniques.
Each item is worth a maximum of 40 points. After completion, the candidate’s raw score is normalized and presented as a percentage.
The exam is divided into four blocks, each covering core areas of Python programming. The weight of each block reflects its relative importance in the overall exam.
The table below summarizes the distribution of exam items and their corresponding weight within the total exam.
Block Number | Block Name | Number of Items | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Computer Programming and Python Fundamentals | 7 | 18% |
2 | Control Flow – Conditional Blocks and Loops | 8 | 29% |
3 | Data Collections – Tuples, Dictionaries, Lists, and Strings | 7 | 25% |
4 | Functions and Exceptions | 8 | 28% |
30 | 100% |
Last updated: February 23, 2022
Aligned with Exam PCEP-30-02
Objectives covered by the block → 7 exam items
PCEP-30-02 1.1 – Understand fundamental terms and definitions
PCEP-30-02 1.2 – Understand Python’s logic and structure
PCEP-30-02 1.3 – Introduce literals and variables into code and use different numeral systems
PCEP-30-02 1.4 – Choose operators and data types adequate to the problem
PCEP-30-02 1.5 – Perform Input/Output console operations
Objectives covered by the block → 8 exam items
PCEP-30-02 2.1 – Make decisions and branch the flow with the if instruction
PCEP-30-02 2.2 – Perform different types of iterations
Objectives covered by the block → 7 exam items
PCEP-30-02 3.1 – Collect and process data using lists
PCEP-30-02 3.2 – Collect and process data using tuples
PCEP-30-02 3.3 Collect and process data using dictionaries
PCEP-30-02 3.4 Operate with strings
7 objectives & 19 sub-objectives covered by the block → 8 exam items
PCEP-30-02 4.1 – Decompose the code using functions
PCEP-30-02 4.2 – Organize interaction between the function and its environment
PCEP-30-02 4.3 – Python Built-In Exceptions Hierarchy
PCEP-30-02 4.4 – Basics of Python Exception Handling
Download PCEP-30-02 Exam Syllabus in PDF
The Minimally Qualified Candidate (MQC) for the PCEP™ certification demonstrates foundational knowledge of programming concepts and the Python language. The MQC can write, analyze, and troubleshoot simple Python programs using standard programming constructs, basic data structures, and built-in functions. They are capable of applying logical thinking to solve straightforward problems and follow established programming practices.
Block 1: Basic Concepts
The MQC understands fundamental programming principles such as syntax, semantics, and logic flow. They can work with literals, variables, comments, and simple expressions, and they know how to perform input and output operations. They understand Python’s execution model, indentation rules, and basic error messages.
Block 2: Data Types, Evaluations, and Basic I/O Operations
The MQC is familiar with Python’s basic data types (int, float, str, bool) and can perform arithmetic and logical operations. They can use built-in functions for type conversion and understand operator precedence. The MQC can read input from the user, process it, and display formatted output using print() and input() functions.
Block 3: Control Flow – Loops and Conditional Statements
The MQC can construct simple decision-making and looping structures using if, elif, else, for, and while. They understand Boolean conditions, comparison, and logical operators, and can use loops to process sequences or repeat actions. They can apply break and continue statements to control loop execution.
Block 4: Data Collections, Functions, and Exceptions
The MQC can create and manipulate basic data structures such as lists, tuples, dictionaries, and strings. They understand how to define and call user-defined functions, pass parameters, and return values. The MQC is also familiar with the concept of variable scope and can use built-in modules (e.g., math, random) effectively. They can recognize and handle simple exceptions using try and except blocks to prevent program crashes.
Overall, the MQC demonstrates a solid understanding of the fundamental elements of programming with Python. They can design, code, and test small programs independently, forming a strong foundation for progression to more advanced Python programming and problem-solving certifications.
To pass the PCEP-30-02 exam, a candidate must achieve a cumulative average score of at least 70% across all exam blocks.