This PCEP practice question tests your understanding of data types, variables, basic i/o and operators. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A developer writes the following code: x = 5; y = x; x = 10. What are the values of x and y after execution?
x = 10, y = 5
x is reassigned to 10, y still holds the original 5
x = 5, y = 10
Why wrong: x is reassigned to 10, so x is 10
x = 5, y = 5
Why wrong: x is reassigned to 10
x = 10, y = 10
Why wrong: y is not a reference; it copies the value
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
x = 10, y = 5
In Python, integers are immutable, and the assignment `y = x` copies the reference to the integer object 5, not the variable itself. When `x = 10` is executed, it binds the name `x` to a new integer object 10, while `y` still references the original object 5. Thus, after execution, `x` is 10 and `y` is 5.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
x = 10, y = 5
Why this is correct
x is reassigned to 10, y still holds the original 5
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
x = 5, y = 10
Why it's wrong here
x is reassigned to 10, so x is 10
x = 5, y = 5
Why it's wrong here
x is reassigned to 10
x = 10, y = 10
Why it's wrong here
y is not a reference; it copies the value
Common exam traps
Python Institute often tests the misconception that `y = x` creates a persistent link between variables, leading candidates to incorrectly assume `y` changes when `x` is reassigned.
Detailed technical explanation
In Python, variables are names that reference objects in memory; assignment `y = x` makes `y` point to the same object as `x` at that moment. Since integers are immutable, any operation that changes the value (like `x = 10`) creates a new integer object and rebinds `x`, leaving `y` unchanged. This behavior is fundamental to Python's object model and differs from languages like C++ where variables are memory locations.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the PCEP exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators — This question tests Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: x = 10, y = 5 — In Python, integers are immutable, and the assignment `y = x` copies the reference to the integer object 5, not the variable itself. When `x = 10` is executed, it binds the name `x` to a new integer object 10, while `y` still references the original object 5. Thus, after execution, `x` is 10 and `y` is 5.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This PCEP practice question is part of Courseiva's free Python Institute certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PCEP exam.
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