How I passed a PCEP exam

I have been working with Python for few years, although it hasn’t been my primary job-it was more of a help while automating a boring task or programming a GUI application to add some personal touch to a process. But all that time, while working on some complex stuff, I constantly felt that I never learned the very basics of python, regardless of numerous paper books, video courses and articles I have read on the subject.

So once again, I decided to take an exam on that subject matter. Amazingly, there are not many options when it comes to Python exams-only Python Institute offers such exams. There are entry level exam, associate level and two professional level exams offered (second professional level exam still not available).

The one I focused on is PCEP-short for Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (sort of…). Current exam code is PCEP-30–02, previous version, which is being retired, is PCEP-30–01. Allegedly, all these can be taken either at home or in local PearsonVUE test centers. I like to take exams in test centers, it somehow makes me more concentrated, but both test centers in my home towns answered that the entry level PCEP was not available. So, I had to take them via the Internet.

This exam is the entry level, and not so expensive, costing only $59 for a single shot exam. All this and more, can be found at Python Institute’s page for PCEP https://pythoninstitute.org/pcep There is a well-defined syllabus for this exam, which I will not discuss much, because all this is found at the appropriate page: https://pythoninstitute.org/pcep-exam-syllabus

All I will say is that it contains enough (and more) of the basic stuff you need to know to begin with python. There are four sections, more or less to be taken sequentially:

1. Basics of python
2. Conditionals and loops
3. Basic data structures
4. Functions and exceptions.

There are numerous books, web pages and video courses dedicated to Python, because it is so wide topic, but the one I suggest is the Python institute’s own course on PCEP- it is called Python Essentials 1, and it covers PCEP. In case you are wondering, there is also Python Essentials 2, and it covers the associate level exam, PCAP. Not the most intuitive naming, but you will manage it. It is available at: https://edube.org/study/pe1

You can sign up or login here, and quickly get to the dashboard, with table of contents to the left, study area in the middle and online Python interpreter to the right:

There is theory, coding exercises, questions and all sort of material, except videos. I find it useful, and I have gone through all these, it might have taken me around two weeks.

One thing you may find interesting: if you every attended Cisco Academy, like I did, and still have active Cisco Academy account, you can access learning material online with them: only it is called PCAP: Programming Essentials in Python, and it consists of PCEP and PCAP learning material. Bit confusing again. The course itself is a copy of Python Institute’s own material, with slight visual changes, this is the original one:

and this is what the Cisco version looks like. You can take whichever you like, the functionality is the same.

A thorough studying from the course material should be enough, in my opinion, to successfully pass the test. I did not look for fresh exam dumps, but I came across this fabulous question bank on the Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/python-certifications-pcep-pcap-pcpp-3-in-1-pack2023

It has 430 PCEP questions, but also PCAP and PCPP questions. And I can tell you, these are very difficult, very clearly constructed, and cover all the topics from the exam. Also, a detailed explanation of each question is offered.

The questions on the real exam I encountered were different, and in different format (a lot of drag and drops, which surprised me a bit), but were approximately 60% of the difficulty level encountered in Ana’s questions.

So, if you passed the exam material from Python Institute, passed the Ana’s questions from Udemy, had a good night sleep prior to the exam, you are ready to go and pass your first Python exam. Good luck!

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