Python Foundations Readiness Check

This short activity can help you decide whether you are ready for Python Foundations. It is not an admissions test, and you do not need to know Python. Allow about 20–30 minutes and use the computer that you would bring to class.

1. Work with files and folders

Using Finder on macOS or File Explorer on Windows:

  1. Open your Documents folder.
  2. Create a folder named python-readiness-check.
  3. Inside it, create a folder named examples.
  4. Return to the python-readiness-check folder.
  5. Explain where that folder is located, starting with Documents.
What this part checks

You should be able to distinguish files from folders, understand that one folder can be inside another, and describe a location such as Documents/python-readiness-check/examples.

2. Navigate from a command prompt

Open Terminal on macOS or Command Prompt on Windows. Then complete these tasks:

  1. Identify the directory where the prompt started.
  2. Display the files and folders in that directory.
  3. Navigate to the python-readiness-check folder you created.
  4. Display its contents and confirm that examples appears.
  5. Navigate into examples.
  6. Return to python-readiness-check.
Show the macOS Terminal commands 
pwd
ls
cd ~/Documents/python-readiness-check
ls
cd examples
pwd
cd ..
pwd
Show the Windows Command Prompt commands 
cd
dir
cd /d "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\python-readiness-check"
dir
cd examples
cd
cd ..
cd

On some managed Windows computers, Documents may be stored in OneDrive. If the third command reports that the path cannot be found, locate the folder in File Explorer and use its actual path. Needing help with a redirected Documents folder does not by itself mean that you are unprepared.

If these commands are completely unfamiliar, pause here and complete the 10-minute command-line preparation, then try this section again.

3. Follow a computational procedure

A weather station recorded these temperatures:

68, 72, 71, 75, and 69

  1. Start a total at zero.
  2. Add each temperature to the total, one at a time.
  3. Divide the total by the number of temperatures.
  4. If the result is greater than 70, report Warm. Otherwise, report Mild.

Answer these questions:

  • What is the final total?
  • What is the average?
  • Should the procedure report Warm or Mild?
  • Which step is repeated?
  • What condition determines the final result?
Show the answers
  • The total is 355.
  • The average is 71.
  • The result is Warm because 71 is greater than 70.
  • Adding a temperature to the total is repeated for each temperature.
  • The final result depends on whether the average is greater than 70.

4. Read a short program

The Python program below follows the same procedure. You do not need to understand every character. Read it slowly and connect each part to the written instructions.

temperatures = [68, 72, 71, 75, 69]

total = 0

for temperature in temperatures:
    total = total + temperature

average = total / len(temperatures)

if average > 70:
    print("Warm")
else:
    print("Mild")

Answer these questions:

  • Which name stores the running total?
  • Which line begins the repeated operation?
  • What comparison determines whether Warm is displayed?
  • What would you change to use 72 as the threshold instead of 70?
Show the answers
  • 'total' stores the running total.
  • 'for temperature in temperatures:' begins the repeated operation.
  • 'average > 70' determines whether Warm is displayed.
  • Change 'average > 70' to 'average > 72' to set the threshold to 72.

5. Notice and report an error

Compare these two lines:

Line A

print("Ready for Python Foundations!)

Line B

print("Ready for Python Foundations!")

What is missing from Line A?

Show the answer

Line A is missing the closing quotation mark after the exclamation point. In programming, small punctuation differences can change whether an instruction is valid.

How did it go?

You appear ready if:

The file and terminal tasks were manageable, and the procedure and program mostly made sense. It is fine if you needed the hints or missed a detail on the first try.

A little preparation should help if:

The reasoning and code made sense, but navigating from the command prompt was difficult. Complete the 10-minute command-line preparation and repeat Part 2.

More introductory preparation is recommended if:

Variables, repetition, and conditions remained unclear even after reading the answers, an introductory programming lesson or course would provide a better foundation before this fast-paced class.

This activity is only a self-assessment. If you are still uncertain, contact Diller Digital and describe which parts felt comfortable and which did not.

Return to Python Foundations prerequisites  |  View the Python Foundations course description