PCEP Control Flow, Loops, Lists and Logic Practice Question
This PCEP practice question tests your understanding of control flow, loops, lists and logic. 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 junior developer writes a Python script to sum all numbers greater than 10 from a list. The code is:
numbers = [5, 12, 8, 15, 3]
total = 0
for num in numbers:
if num > 10:
total = total + 1
print(total)
The output is 2, but the expected sum is 27 (12+15). Which change will produce the correct output?
Why wrong: total becomes a list; adding an integer to a list appends, but printing total would output a list.
B
Change `total = total + 1` to `total += num`
Adds the number value instead of 1, giving the correct sum.
C
Change `if num > 10:` to `if num >= 10:`
Why wrong: This would include 10 if present, but the sum would still be 27 if 10 were not there; however, the problem is that the code counts instead of sums.
D
Change `for num in numbers:` to `for num in range(numbers):`
Why wrong: range() expects an integer, not a list; this causes a TypeError.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change `total = total + 1` to `total += num`
Option B is correct because the original code increments `total` by 1 for each qualifying number, counting them instead of summing their values. Changing `total = total + 1` to `total += num` adds the actual number to the accumulator, producing the correct sum of 12 + 15 = 27.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Change `total = 0` to `total = []`
Why it's wrong here
total becomes a list; adding an integer to a list appends, but printing total would output a list.
✓
Change `total = total + 1` to `total += num`
Why this is correct
Adds the number value instead of 1, giving the correct sum.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Change `if num > 10:` to `if num >= 10:`
Why it's wrong here
This would include 10 if present, but the sum would still be 27 if 10 were not there; however, the problem is that the code counts instead of sums.
✗
Change `for num in numbers:` to `for num in range(numbers):`
Why it's wrong here
range() expects an integer, not a list; this causes a TypeError.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse counting with summing — they see `total = total + 1` and think it's accumulating values, but it actually increments by a constant, not by the variable `num`.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
total becomes a list; adding an integer to a list appends, but printing total would output a list.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `+=` operator is an augmented assignment that performs in-place addition, equivalent to `total = total + num`. In Python, this operator works with mutable types (e.g., lists) as well, but here it correctly accumulates integer values. A real-world scenario is processing sensor readings where you need the sum of values exceeding a threshold, not just a count of outliers.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Control Flow, Loops, Lists and Logic — This question tests Control Flow, Loops, Lists and Logic — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change `total = total + 1` to `total += num` — Option B is correct because the original code increments `total` by 1 for each qualifying number, counting them instead of summing their values. Changing `total = total + 1` to `total += num` adds the actual number to the accumulator, producing the correct sum of 12 + 15 = 27.
What should I do if I get this PCEP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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