This PCEP practice question tests your understanding of functions, tuples, dictionaries and exceptions. 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.
What does the following code output?
try:
x = int('abc') except ValueError:
print('Invalid')The program crashes
Why wrong: The exception is caught, so no crash.
Invalid
The ValueError is raised and caught, printing 'Invalid'.
(Nothing printed)
Why wrong: An exception occurs, so the except block executes.
abc
Why wrong: No print statement for 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
Invalid
The code attempts to convert the string 'abc' to an integer using int(). Since 'abc' is not a valid integer, Python raises a ValueError. The except block catches this specific exception and executes print('Invalid'), so the output is 'Invalid'. Option B is correct because the exception is handled gracefully without crashing.
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.
The program crashes
Why it's wrong here
The exception is caught, so no crash.
Invalid
Why this is correct
The ValueError is raised and caught, printing 'Invalid'.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
(Nothing printed)
Why it's wrong here
An exception occurs, so the except block executes.
abc
Why it's wrong here
No print statement for the value.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests whether candidates understand that a caught exception does not crash the program; the trap here is that some candidates think any error causes a crash, but the except block prevents that.
Detailed technical explanation
The int() function raises a ValueError when the input string is not a valid integer literal (e.g., containing non-numeric characters). In Python, exception handling with try/except allows the program to continue execution after an error, which is critical in real-world applications like user input validation where malformed data must be handled without crashing the entire program.
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
Functions, Tuples, Dictionaries and Exceptions — This question tests Functions, Tuples, Dictionaries and Exceptions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Invalid — The code attempts to convert the string 'abc' to an integer using int(). Since 'abc' is not a valid integer, Python raises a ValueError. The except block catches this specific exception and executes print('Invalid'), so the output is 'Invalid'. Option B is correct because the exception is handled gracefully without crashing.
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 25, 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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