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AP CSA Unit-Level MCQ

If/Else Tracing

Practice mode with 15 Java-focused questions, immediate answer checks, and explanations.

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What if/else tracing covers

In an if / else if / else chain, Java tests conditions in order and executes only the first branch whose condition is true, skipping the rest entirely. Independent if statements behave differently: each one is tested, so more than one body can run. Without braces, an if controls only the single statement that follows it, and the next line runs unconditionally regardless of indentation.

Where students lose points

Students trace an else-if chain as though every condition is checked, which produces the wrong output whenever two conditions overlap. The second trap is trusting indentation over braces, since Java ignores whitespace. Condition order also matters: putting a broad condition before a narrow one makes the narrow branch unreachable.

How it shows up on the AP exam

Unit 2 selection, and one of the highest-frequency code-tracing formats on the MCQ. It also drives FRQ scoring, where an unreachable branch loses the point even when the logic inside it is correct.

For practice use only.

If/Else Tracing MCQ Practice

AP CSA if/else tracing practice: which branch actually runs, why else-if chains stop at the first match, and how missing braces change control flow.

Question 1 of 15

Answered 0 of 15

Choose one answer.

Code Tracing 01 - If/Else Tracing: track the final printed value.

int score = 18;
if (score > 36)
  System.out.print("A");
else if (score > 28)
  System.out.print("B");
else if (score > 20)
  System.out.print("C");
else
  System.out.print("D");

All 15 if/else tracing questions

Work through the interactive quiz above first. This is the full if/else tracing question set with worked solutions, so students can review any question after attempting it.

  1. 1.Code Tracing 01 - If/Else Tracing: track the final printed value.

    int score = 18;
if (score > 36)
  System.out.print("A");
else if (score > 28)
  System.out.print("B");
else if (score > 20)
  System.out.print("C");
else
  System.out.print("D");
    • D
    • A
    • B
    • C
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: D

    An if/else-if chain stops at the first true condition.

  2. 2.Code Tracing 12 - If/Else Tracing: follow the variable updates.

    int change = -2;
if (change > 0)
  System.out.print("up");
else if (change < 0)
  System.out.print("down");
else
  System.out.print("same");
    • The code does not compile.
    • down
    • up
    • same
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: down

    Only one branch of the if/else-if/else chain executes.

  3. 3.Code Tracing 28 - If/Else Tracing: trace the branch and loop path.

    int total = 38;
int bonus = 3;
int penalty = 10;
if (total % 2 == 0)
  total += bonus;
else
  total -= penalty;
System.out.print(total);
    • 42
    • 41
    • 31
    • 38
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: 41

    The parity test chooses exactly one update to total.

  4. 4.Code Tracing 39 - If/Else Tracing: watch the index changes.

    int value = 46;
int x = 5;
int y = 5;
if (value > 30) {
  value -= x;
} else {
  value += y;
}
System.out.print(value);
    • The code does not compile.
    • A runtime exception is thrown.
    • 41
    • 46
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: 41

    The condition determines which block changes value before it is printed.

  5. 5.Code Tracing 50 - If/Else Tracing: evaluate the state change step by step.

    int a = 54;
int b = 7;
int c = 7;
int d = 3;
if (a > c)
  if (b > d)
    System.out.print("X");
  else
    System.out.print("Y");
else
  System.out.print("Z");
    • Y
    • Z
    • The code does not compile.
    • X
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: X

    The inner if is considered only when the outer condition is true.

  6. 6.What is printed by the following code segment?

    int n = 15;
String s = "";
if (n > 20) { s = "a"; }
else if (n > 10) { s = "b"; }
if (n > 5) { s += "c"; }
else { s += "d"; }
System.out.print(s);
    • ac
    • b
    • bc
    • bcd
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: bc

    The chain assigns b, and the separate if that follows appends c because it is tested independently.

  7. 7.What is printed by the following code segment?

    int a = 5;
int b = 10;
if (a > b)
{
    System.out.print("x");
}
else if (a == b)
{
    System.out.print("y");
}
else if (a < b)
{
    System.out.print("z");
}
else
{
    System.out.print("w");
}
    • w
    • y
    • zw
    • z
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: z

    The three conditions cover every case, so the trailing else is unreachable for any pair of int values.

  8. 8.What is printed by the following code segment?

    int score = 85;
String g;
if (score >= 90) { g = "A"; }
else { g = "B"; }
if (score >= 80) { g = g + "+"; }
System.out.print(g);
    • B+
    • A+
    • B
    • A
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: B+

    The chain assigns B, and the independent if then appends the plus sign because 85 clears 80.

  9. 9.What is printed by the following code segment?

    int x = 0;
if (x > 0) { x = 1; }
else if (x < 0) { x = -1; }
else { x = 100; }
if (x == 100) { x /= 4; }
System.out.print(x);
    • 100
    • 25
    • 0
    • 1
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: 25

    The final else runs because 0 is neither positive nor negative, and the later if then divides the updated value.

  10. 10.What is printed by the following code segment?

    int a = 7;
int b = 0;
if (a % 2 == 1)
{
    b += 1;
}
if (a % 3 == 1)
{
    b += 2;
}
if (a % 5 == 2)
{
    b += 4;
}
System.out.print(b);
    • 5
    • 3
    • 7
    • 1
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: 7

    All three remainders match, so every independent if fires and the values 1, 2, and 4 accumulate.

  11. 11.What is printed by the following code segment?

    String s = "hello";
if (s.length() > 3)
{
    if (s.charAt(0) == 'h')
    {
        s = s.substring(1);
    }
}
if (s.length() > 3)
{
    s = s.substring(0, 3);
}
System.out.print(s);
    • hel
    • ello
    • hello
    • ell
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: ell

    The first block drops the leading character, and the second then tests the shortened string and keeps three characters.

  12. 12.What is printed by the following code segment?

    int n = 4;
int r = 0;
if (n > 0)
    r = 1;
    r = 2;
System.out.print(r);
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • The code does not compile.
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: 2

    Without braces the if controls only the first statement, so the second assignment always runs regardless of the condition.

  13. 13.What is printed by the following code segment?

    int a = 2;
if (a == 1) { a = 10; }
if (a == 2) { a = 20; }
if (a == 20) { a = 30; }
System.out.print(a);
    • 20
    • 30
    • 2
    • 10
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: 30

    Each independent if tests the value as it stands at that moment, so the second change cascades into the third.

  14. 14.What is printed by the following code segment?

    int t = 70;
String s;
if (t < 60) { s = "cold"; }
else if (t < 80) { s = "mild"; }
else { s = "hot"; }
System.out.print(s.length() + s.substring(0, 1));
    • 4mild
    • 4c
    • 4m
    • 3m
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: 4m

    The chain selects mild, whose length is 4, and the first character is appended as text.

  15. 15.What is printed by the following code segment?

    int v = 3;
int out = v > 5 ? 1 : v > 2 ? 2 : 3;
System.out.print(out);
    • 3
    • 1
    • The code does not compile.
    • 2
    Show worked solution

    Correct answer: 2

    Conditional operators nest from the right, so the second test runs when the first fails and selects 2.