Question 75 of 498
PCEP Practice Question: Data Types, Variables, Basic I/O and Operators
Which TWO of the following are valid Python variable names?
⚠ Common exam trap
Python Institute often tests the rule that hyphens and spaces are invalid in variable names, as candidates may confuse Python with other languages (like Lisp or CSS) where hyphens are allowed, or mistakenly think spaces can be used for readability.
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
✓
_count
(_count) is correct because Python allows variable names to start with an underscore, and it contains only letters, underscores, and digits. Underscore-prefixed names are commonly used for internal or private variables, but they are syntactically valid.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
_count
Why this is correct
Underscore allowed at start.
- ✓
my_var
Why this is correct
Valid characters: letters, underscores.
- ✗
var-name
Why it's wrong here
Hyphen not allowed.
- ✗
2nd_var
Why it's wrong here
Cannot start with a digit.
- ✗
var name
Why it's wrong here
Space not allowed.
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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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