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.
mylist = [0, 1, 2, 3] print(mylist[1:3])
Refer to the exhibit. What is the output?
mylist = [0, 1, 2, 3] print(mylist[1:3])
[1, 2, 3]
Why wrong: Slice excludes end index.
[0, 1, 2]
Why wrong: Start should be 1, not 0.
[1, 2]
Correct slice.
[2, 3]
Why wrong: Start should be 1, not 2.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
[1, 2]
The code iterates over the list [1, 2, 3] using a for loop. The variable `i` takes each element in order. The loop appends `i` to the new list `result` only if `i` is not equal to 3. Since 3 is the last element, it is skipped, so `result` becomes [1, 2]. The final print outputs [1, 2].
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.
[1, 2, 3]
Why it's wrong here
Slice excludes end index.
[0, 1, 2]
Why it's wrong here
Start should be 1, not 0.
[1, 2]
Why this is correct
Correct slice.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
[2, 3]
Why it's wrong here
Start should be 1, not 2.
Common exam traps
Python Institute often tests the distinction between iterating over list elements versus list indices, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly think the loop variable represents an index (0, 1, 2) rather than the actual list values.
Detailed technical explanation
This question tests the understanding of list iteration and conditional filtering in Python. The `for i in [1, 2, 3]` loop assigns each element to `i`, not the index. The `if i != 3` guard acts as a filter, which is a common pattern for building sublists. In real-world scenarios, this is used to exclude sentinel values or invalid data from a list.
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Control Flow, Loops, Lists and Logic — This question tests Control Flow, Loops, Lists and Logic — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: [1, 2] — The code iterates over the list [1, 2, 3] using a for loop. The variable `i` takes each element in order. The loop appends `i` to the new list `result` only if `i` is not equal to 3. Since 3 is the last element, it is skipped, so `result` becomes [1, 2]. The final print outputs [1, 2].
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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