CCDV-F Tools and MCP Integration Practice Question
A developer registers a tool named get_order_status with an input_schema that declares order_id as a string. During testing, Claude repeatedly emits tool_use blocks where order_id is the numeric value 10482 instead of a string. The downstream API rejects numeric IDs. Which change most reliably fixes this at the tool-definition layer?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is treating a schema-clarity problem as a sampling or budget problem and tuning max_tokens instead of the tool definition.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add a description to the order_id property stating it must be a string, and include a format or pattern hint in the schema.
Tool argument types are steered by the tool definition itself, so the durable fix is to make the expected type explicit through property descriptions and schema constraints. Describing order_id as a quoted string with a numeric pattern gives Claude the signal it needs, and validating the payload before calling the downstream API provides defense in depth.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Add a description to the order_id property stating it must be a string, and include a format or pattern hint in the schema.
Why this is correct
Property-level descriptions and schema constraints are part of the tool definition Claude sees, so clarifying that order_id is a quoted string and adding a pattern such as ^[0-9]+ guides generation toward the correct JSON type. This addresses the root cause at the definition layer rather than patching behavior after the fact.
- ✗
Set the tool_choice parameter to force get_order_status on every turn.
Why it's wrong here
tool_choice controls whether and which tool Claude invokes, not the shape of the arguments it produces. Forcing the tool would not stop Claude from emitting a numeric order_id, so it leaves the type mismatch unresolved and may cause unnecessary invocations on unrelated turns.
- ✗
Raise max_tokens so Claude has more room to format the argument correctly.
Why it's wrong here
max_tokens limits total output length and has no bearing on JSON value types. The argument is already being produced within the token budget; the issue is a schema-clarity problem. Increasing the limit wastes tokens and latency without influencing whether a number or a quoted string is generated.
- ✗
Change input_schema to declare order_id as an integer so the numeric output becomes valid.
Why it's wrong here
Relaxing the schema to accept an integer may make the immediate payload valid, but it contradicts the downstream API contract that requires a string. The tool definition should describe the real interface expected by the system, so changing the declared type to match faulty output silently breaks the integration contract.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Anthropic exam blueprint
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