Certified Associate in Python Programming
The Certified Associate in Python Programming certification is a skilled credential that gauges the proficiency of candidates in performing coding tasks relevant to the basics of programming in the Python language and the fundamental understandings and skills used in object-oriented programming.
Targeted Audience
This exam is for individuals who want to build their careers as developers.
Recommended Prerequisites and Knowledge
The test has no prerequisites, however, knowledge of broad computer programming concepts such as conditional execution, loops, Python programming language syntax, semantics, and the runtime environment, as well as general coding practises and object-oriented programming, is encouraged.
Exam Details
- Credential Name: PCAP – Certified Associate in Python Programming
- Exam Code/Current Exam Version: PCAP-31-02 (Pearson VUE, retiring), PCAP-31-03 (Pearson VUE/OnVUE online proctoring)
- Exam Level: Associate
- Pre-requisites: None
- Duration: 65 minutes (exam) + 10 minutes (Non-Disclosure Agreement/Tutorial)
- Number of Questions: 40
- Format: Single-choice and multiple-choice questions | Python 3.x
- Passing score: 70% (PCAP-31-02, PCAP-31-03)
- Exam Price: USD 295
- Language: English
For More Details See – Certified Associate in Python Programming FAQ
Exam Syllabus
The Certified Associate in Python Programming exam covers the following exam blocks –
Control and Evaluations (25%)
Objectives covered by the block (10 exam items)
- basic concepts: interpreting and the interpreter, compilation and the compiler, language elements, lexis, syntax and semantics, Python keywords, instructions, indenting
- literals: Boolean, integer, floating-point numbers, scientific notation, strings
- operators: unary and binary, priorities and binding
- numeric operators: ** * / % // + –
- bitwise operators: ~ & ^ | << >>
- string operators: * +
- Boolean operators: not and or
- relational operators ( == != > >= < <= ), building complex Boolean expressions
- assignments and shortcut operators
- accuracy of floating-point numbers
- basic input and output: input(), print(), int(), float(), str() functions
- formatting print() output with end= and sep= arguments
- conditional statements: if, if-else, if-elif, if-elif-else
- the pass instruction
- simple lists: constructing vectors, indexing and slicing, the len() function
- simple strings: constructing, assigning, indexing, slicing comparing, immutability
- building loops: while, for, range(), in, iterating through sequences
- expanding loops: while-else, for-else, nesting loops and conditional statements
- controlling loop execution: break, continue
Data Aggregates (25%)
Objectives covered by the block (10 exam items)
- strings in detail: ASCII, UNICODE, UTF-8, immutability, escaping using the \ character, quotes and apostrophes inside strings, multiline strings, copying vs. cloning, advanced slicing, string vs. string, string vs. non-string, basic string methods (upper(), lower(), isxxx(), capitalize(), split(), join(), etc.) and functions (len(), chr(), ord()), escape characters
- lists in detail: indexing, slicing, basic methods (append(), insert(), index()) and functions (len(), sorted(), etc.), del instruction, iterating lists with the for loop, initializing, in and not in operators, list comprehension, copying and cloning
- lists in lists: matrices and cubes
- tuples: indexing, slicing, building, immutability
- tuples vs. lists: similarities and differences, lists inside tuples and tuples inside lists
- dictionaries: building, indexing, adding and removing keys, iterating through dictionaries as well as their keys and values, checking key existence, keys(), items() and values() methods
Functions and Modules (25%)
Objectives covered by the block (10 exam items)
- defining and invoking your own functions and generators
- return and yield keywords, returning results, the None keyword, recursion
- parameters vs. arguments, positional keyword and mixed argument passing, default parameter values
- converting generator objects into lists using the list() function
- name scopes, name hiding (shadowing), the global keyword
- lambda functions, defining and using
- map(), filter(), reduce(), reversed(), sorted() functions and the sort() method
- the if operator
- import directives, qualifying entities with module names, initializing modules
- writing and using modules, the __name__ variable
- pyc file creation and usage
- constructing and distributing packages, packages vs. directories, the role of the __init__.py file
- hiding module entities
- Python hashbangs, using multiline strings as module documentation
Classes, Objects, and Exceptions (25%)
Objectives covered by the block (10 exam items)
- defining your own classes, superclasses, subclasses, inheritance, searching for missing class components, creating objects
- class attributes: class variables and instance variables, defining, adding and removing attributes, explicit constructor invocation
- class methods: defining and using, the self parameter meaning and usage
- inheritance and overriding, finding class/object components
- single inheritance vs. multiple inheritance
- name mangling
- invoking methods, passing and using the self argument/parameter
- the __init__ method
- the role of the __str__ method
- introspection: __dict__, __name__, __module__, __bases__ properties, examining class/object structure
- writing and using constructors
- hasattr(), type(), issubclass(), isinstance(), super() functions
- using predefined exceptions and defining your own ones
- the try-except-else-finally block, the raise statement, the except-as variant
- exceptions hierarchy, assigning more than one exception to one except branch
- adding your own exceptions to an existing hierarchy
- assertions
- the anatomy of an exception object
- input/output basics: opening files with the open() function, stream objects, binary vs. text files, newline character translation, reading and writing files, bytearray objects
- read(), readinto(), readline(), write(), close() methods
Preparation Guide for the Certified Associate in Python Programming Exam
When it comes to examinations, preparation is everything, and preparing effectively is the ultimate talent that every examinee should have. Preparation also produces the essence and suggestions of confidence, rhythm, and pace that are appropriate and advantageous for the exam. As a result, for an overall successful preparation, the materials listed below will aid every aspirant.
Learning Resource 1 – Official website
Exam syllabus, practice exams, and a course in conjunction with Cisco are among the many useful and decent materials available on the official website for applicants. It also has two comprehensive courses that may be taken together.
Learning Resource 2 – Python Essentials 1 (Basics)
So this course is the first part of the set offered by the official website in collaboration with the channel, Tube interactive. It’s sponsored by the Python institute. The primary intent of the course is to educate candidates from a beginner’s level of programming knowledge that allows learners to design, write, debug, and run programs encoded in the Python language and to understand the basic concepts of software development technology.
The Mode of this course is an Online self-study course. The course is of 42 hours and aspirants are expected to dedicate 7 hours per week. The course is available in English. It’s free of cost.
Learning Resource 3 – Python Essentials 2 (Intermediate)
This course is the second part of the set and it begins from the last street that the first part left its conclusions at. The fundamental of this course is to teach the examinees the skills of the more progressive elements of Python programming language syntax, semantics, the runtime environment, and with general coding techniques and object-oriented programming (OOP). The mode of this course is an online self-study course, and it’s free of cost. The course’s total duration is 42 hours and is also available in English.
Learning Resource 4 – Online Forum
During the preparations, it is critical to have reliable content. It is always worthwhile to study from a reliable source. A wealth of resources leads to a wealth of knowledge. An internet forum is essentially a resource and note library. It’s a one-stop shop for practise exams, material, notes, supplementary papers, and so on.
Practice Tests
Practicing is one of the steps that many aspirants feel lazy to complete. The practice phase plays a very meaningful role here. As mentioned above, online forums can also help aspirants to get access to many practice tests, in fact, many different types. So it’s suggested for candidates to practice as much as they can for favorable results.
