PCEP Computer Programming and Python Fundamentals Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are Python data types? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Python Institute often tests the distinction between Python's built-in types and types from other languages (like `char` or `record`) to catch candidates who assume Python has a dedicated character type or who confuse database terminology with Python data structures.
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
✓
float
Option A (float) is correct because float is a built-in Python numeric type used to represent floating-point (decimal) numbers such as 3.14. Option B (list) is correct because list is a built-in Python sequence type that holds an ordered, mutable collection of items, e.g., [1, 2, 3]. Option D (dict) is correct because dict is a built-in Python mapping type that stores key-value pairs, e.g., {"a": 1}. Option C (char) is not a Python data type; Python has no distinct char type and represents single characters as strings of length one. Option E (record) is not a built-in Python data type; record-like structures are typically emulated with dicts, tuples, or classes such as namedtuple or dataclass.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
float
Why this is correct
float is a built-in numeric type representing double-precision floating-point values, created via literals such as 3.14 or the float() constructor. It is distinct from int and complex, and is one of the three correct selections.
- ✓
list
Why this is correct
A list is a built-in Python sequence type, holding an ordered, mutable collection of arbitrary objects. It satisfies the question's requirement for a genuine Python data type, unlike control-flow keywords or operators. Lists are defined with square brackets and support indexing, slicing and in-place modification.
- ✗
char
Why it's wrong here
Python has no char type; single characters are simply strings of length one, and there is no separate character class. It is tempting because C, Java and C# all provide char, so programmers migrating from those languages expect an equivalent primitive to exist.
- ✓
dict
Why this is correct
A dictionary stores an unordered collection of key-value pairs, making it one of Python's core built-in data types alongside list, tuple, set, str, int and float. It satisfies the stem's requirement for a genuine Python data type, unlike functions or modules, which are objects but not types themselves.
- ✗
record
Why it's wrong here
Python has no record type; structured data is expressed through classes, named tuples or dictionaries instead. It is tempting because Pascal and some database languages define record as a composite type, making it look like a plausible built-in alongside list and tuple.
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