Free PCED – Certified Entry-Level Data Analyst with Python Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the PCED – Certified Entry-Level Data Analyst with Python practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Which observation is quantitative data rather than a category label?

   1. A. A customer's preferred delivery method
   2. B. The mass of a parcel in kilograms
   3. C. A parcel's delivery-status description
   4. D. A customer's chosen product color

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Statistics Canada defines a numeric variable as "a quantifiable characteristic whose values are numbers (except numbers which are codes standing up for categories)." Mass measures an amount. Delivery method, status, and color describe categories.

   Reference: Statistics: Power from Data! — 4.2 Types of variables — 4.2 Types of variables — Numeric variables

2. 2Which Python statement assigns the integer value 12 to the variable count?

   1. A. count == 12, using two equals signs
   2. B. count = 12, using a single equals sign
   3. C. 12 = count, placing the literal on the left
   4. D. count != 12, using the not-equal operator

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The Python tutorial states, "The equal sign (=) is used to assign a value to a variable." The single equals sign performs assignment. The double equals and inequality operators compare values, while putting a literal on the left is not a valid assignment target.

   Reference: The Python Tutorial — An Informal Introduction to Python — An Informal Introduction to Python — Using Python as a Calculator — Numbers, variable assignment

3. 3Why use with open('data.txt', encoding='utf-8') as f when reading a file in Python?

   1. A. It automatically removes malformed records from the file.
   2. B. It keeps the file open after the block for subsequent scripts.
   3. C. It closes the file when the block ends, even if an exception occurs.
   4. D. It converts every value read from the file into a number.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The tutorial explains that with ensures the file is "properly closed after its suite finishes, even if an exception is raised". The context manager manages the resource; it does not validate records, keep the file open afterward, or infer numeric types.

   Reference: The Python Tutorial — Input and Output — 7.2 Reading and Writing Files — with

4. 4An analyst wants readers to compare sales totals across eight unrelated product categories. Which simple chart type most directly supports comparing category sizes?

   1. A. A pie chart with eight similarly sized slices
   2. B. A line chart connecting categories in an arbitrary order
   3. C. A scatter plot using two continuous measurement axes
   4. D. A bar chart with one bar for each product category

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The guidance states that bar charts "work well when comparing the size of different categories." Separate bars support this comparison. Eight similar pie slices are hard to compare; connecting unrelated categories suggests continuity; scatter plots address paired measurements.

   Reference: Government Analysis Function — Data visualisation: charts — Bar charts — Using bar charts

5. 5A dataset stores one sale per row, with fixed columns for sale date, product code, and amount. What feature makes this structured data?

   1. A. Each record includes a numerical measurement.
   2. B. The records were collected through a website.
   3. C. Every record follows the same predefined schema.
   4. D. The file contains a large number of observations.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: AWS states, "Structured data must always comply with a strict format, known as a predefined data model or schema." The fixed fields supply that schema. A numeric value, a collection channel, or a large volume does not by itself establish structure.

   Reference: What’s the Difference Between Structured Data and Unstructured Data? — Key differences — Data format

6. 6Evaluate 2 * 'ab' + 'c' in Python. Which result follows from the string repetition and concatenation?

   1. A. 'aabbc'
   2. B. 'ababcabc'
   3. C. 'abcabc'
   4. D. 'ababc'

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The tutorial explains, "Strings can be concatenated (glued together) with the + operator, and repeated with *". Repeating ab twice gives abab, then concatenating c gives ababc. The alternatives duplicate individual characters, repeat the completed expression, or concatenate an extra group.

   Reference: The Python Tutorial — An Informal Introduction to Python — 3.1.2 Text — concatenation and repetition

7. 7For a text file positioned at its beginning, which call directly reads its remaining lines into a list?

   1. A. f.readlines()
   2. B. f.readline()
   3. C. f.read()
   4. D. f.tell()

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Python states, "If you want to read all the lines of a file in a list you can also use list(f) or f.readlines()." Among the listed calls, readlines returns the list. readline returns one line, read returns text, and tell reports position.

   Reference: The Python Tutorial — Input and Output — 7.2.1 Methods of File Objects — reading lines

8. 8Which chart type does the Government Analysis Function recommend for comparing two monthly time series on one chart?

   1. A. A pie chart
   2. B. A line chart
   3. C. A clustered bar chart
   4. D. A stacked bar chart

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The guidance states, "when you have more than one time series on a chart, do not use a bar chart, use a line chart instead." Lines support comparing changes over the common timeline. Pie slices show parts of a whole; the specified guidance prefers lines over bar arrangements here.

   Reference: Government Analysis Function — Data visualisation: charts — Bar charts — Time series

9. 9Why is a raw recording of a customer-support conversation generally classified as unstructured data?

   1. A. Its conversational content does not fit a predefined tabular schema.
   2. B. Its spoken statements cannot be used as evidence in an analysis.
   3. C. Its digital storage prevents the content from having any organization.
   4. D. Its audio format means that no numerical information can be present.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: AWS explains, "Unstructured data doesn’t fit a schema." A raw conversation does not provide fixed fields for its substantive content. Unstructured content can still be stored, analyzed, and contain spoken numbers; the classification concerns its data model.

   Reference: What’s the Difference Between Structured Data and Unstructured Data? — Key differences — Data format

10. 10Given values = [10, 20, 30, 40, 50], what is values[1:4] in Python?

    1. A. [10, 20, 30, 40]
    2. B. [20, 30, 40, 50]
    3. C. [20, 30, 40]
    4. D. [10, 20, 30]

    Answer: C

    Explanation: The tutorial states, "Like strings (and all other built-in sequence types), lists can be indexed and sliced:" and explains slice bounds as "the start is always included, and the end always excluded." Positions 1, 2, and 3 therefore yield [20, 30, 40]. The other lists include the excluded stop or start at zero.

    Reference: The Python Tutorial — An Informal Introduction to Python — 3.1.3 Lists — indexing and slicing; 3.1.2 Text — slice bounds