Question 154 of 498
PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators
A program evaluates the expression: (True or False) and not (True and False). What is the result?
⚠ Common exam trap
Python Institute often tests the precedence of `not` over `and` and `or`, so the trap here is that candidates incorrectly apply `not` to the entire expression or forget that `not` binds tighter than `and`, leading them to evaluate `not (True and False)` as `False` instead of `True`.
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
✓
True
The expression `(True or False) and not (True and False)` evaluates step by step: `True or False` is `True`, `True and False` is `False`, `not False` is `True`, and finally `True and True` is `True`. In Python, boolean operators `or`, `and`, and `not` follow standard precedence (`not` highest, then `and`, then `or`), and the result is a boolean value.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Error
Why it's wrong here
No error in this expression
- ✗
None
Why it's wrong here
Expression returns a boolean, not None
- ✗
False
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect due to misordering of operations
- ✓
True
Why this is correct
Correct evaluation as described
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on PCEP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Consider: x = True; y = False; z = x and not y or x. What is the value of z?
hard- ✓ A.True
- B.None
- C.Error
- D.False
Why A: The expression `x and not y or x` is evaluated with operator precedence: `not` has the highest precedence, then `and`, then `or`. Given `x = True` and `y = False`, `not y` evaluates to `True`. Then `x and True` is `True and True`, which is `True`. Finally, `True or x` (where `x` is `True`) short-circuits to `True`. Thus, `z` is `True`.
Variation 2. What is the result of the expression: (1 and 0) or (not False and True)?
hard- ✓ A.True
- B.False
- C.0
- D.1
Why A: 1 and 0 evaluates to 0 (falsy). not False evaluates to True, so not False and True evaluates to True. 0 or True evaluates to True (the last truthy value).
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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