Language semantics in the Python assessment

What it covers

Core Python behaviour: identity versus equality, mutability, default and keyword arguments, hashing, exceptions, classes and decorators.

Topics in the practice set for this area

• identity vs equality
• operators
• function arguments
• mutability
• hashing
• exceptions
• classes / decorators

How it is tested

In the timed assessment, questions in this area use these formats: code you write, multiple choice, short answer. Each attempt draws its own set of questions, and this area gets its own sub-score on the credential when the attempt includes enough questions from it. The assessment questions themselves are never published; the practice set below is written separately for study.

What to practice

• Show why a mutable default argument keeps its value between calls and how to avoid it.
• Explain when `is` and `==` differ, with an example for each.
• Write a small decorator that preserves the wrapped function's name.

Try a practice question

From the free practice set (7 questions in this area). Answers and explanations are in the practice set.

• `is` vs. `==` in Python:
• What's the result of `'a' * 3`?
• `@staticmethod` differs from `@classmethod` because:

More Python study guides

• How to Pass the Provyn Python Assessment
• Idiomatic data handling
• Concurrency & async
• Typing & tooling