Contestant Number: _______________

Time: _________
Rank: _________

PYTHON
PROGRAMMING-PILOT
(355)

REGIONAL – 2021

PRODUCTION PORTION:

Program 1: Low-Level Encryption _______________ (310 points)

TOTAL POINTS _____________ (310 points)

Test Time: 90 minutes

PYTHON PROGRAMMING
REGIONAL 2021
Page 2 of 5

GENERAL GUIDELINES:
Failure to adhere to any of the following rules will result in disqualification:
1. Contestant must hand in this test booklet and all printouts if any. Failure to do so will result in
disqualification.
2. No equipment, supplies, or materials other than those specified for this event are allowed in the
testing area. No previous BPA tests and/or sample tests (handwritten, photocopied, or keyed) are
allowed in the testing area.
3. Electronic devices will be monitored according to ACT standards.

You will have ninety (90) minutes to complete your work.

Your name and/or school name should not appear on work you submit for scoring.

1. Create a folder on the flash drive provided using your contestant number as the name of the folder.
2. Copy your entire solution/project into this folder.
3. Submit your entire solution/project so that the graders may open your project to review the source
code.
4. Ensure that the files required to run your program are present and will execute on the flash drive
provided.

*Note that the flash drive letter may not be the same when the program is scored as it was when you
created the program.

* It is recommended that you use relative paths rather than absolute paths to ensure that the program
will run regardless of the flash drive letter.

The graders will not compile or alter your source code to correct for this.
Submissions that do not contain source code will not be scored.

Assumptions to make when taking this assessment:

• The user will not enter invalid input.

• The input file will only contain valid input strings that only contain upper and lower case
letters.

Development Standards:

• Your Code must use a consistent variable naming convention.

• All functions (if any) must be documented with comments explaining the purpose of the
method, the input parameters (if any), and the output (if any).
• If you create a class, then you must document the class and its methods.
PYTHON PROGRAMMING-PILOT
REGIONAL 2021
Page 3 of 5

Low-Level Encryption and Decryption

As an entry-level programmer, you have been asked to create a set low level encryption and decryption
algorithms. Each algorithm will be in the form of a function. You will also create a program that asks the user to
enter a string input. This program will then encrypt the inputted string and print it to the screen. The program will
then decrypt the string and print the original string back to the screen.

Input:
The program will read a series of strings from an input file named “plainText.txt”. There will be only one string
per line with no spaces.

Encryption / Decryption:
The encryption / decryption will be done in two phases. The first phase will be a “Reverse Cypher”. An example
of this would be the string “Zoo” will now be stored as “ooZ”. The second phase will use a “Ceasar Cyper”. This
cypher will rotate the letters of the string by 10 positions. All upper case letters will need to remain upper case
after encryption and lower case letter must remain lower case. An example would be the string “ooZ” will be
encrypted to “yyJ”. You will notice that the letter “Z” when rotated 10 positions became the letter “J”. A couple
of portions of the ASCII table has been provided to help you with this part.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122

The decryption will require you to reverse the two phases used in the encryption phase.

Output:
Your program will need to write the encrypted to strings to a file named “encryptedText.txt” and to the screen.
After this is completed, your program will need to read the encrypted strings from “encryptedText.txt” and
decrypt. Once they are decrypted, the strings should be written to the screen. When the program is run, the output
should resemble the example below.

Sample Run
Encrypted:
yyJ
hyP
owkXdckV
owkXdcbsP
kmsbowKpYcodkdCnodsxE
PYTHON PROGRAMMING-PILOT
REGIONAL 2021
Page 4 of 5

Decrypted:
Zoo
Fox
LastName
FirstName
UnitedStatesOfAmerica

Requirements:

1. You must create an application called Encryption.

2. Your program will contain a function for encryption that will take in a string and return the encrypted
string.
3. Your program will contain a function for Decryption that will take in a string and return the decrypted
string.
4. Your contestant number must appear as a comment at the top of the main source code file.
5. The program will display the output like the example above.
PYTHON PROGRAMMING-PILOT
REGIONAL 2021
Page 5 of 5

Solution and Project

The project is present on the flash drive 15 points

The project is named Encryption 15 points

Program Execution
The program runs from the USB flash drive 15 points
If the program does not execute, then the remaining items in this section receive a score of zero.

The program runs to completion with no error codes 20 points

There are the same number of encrypted strings as decrypted strings 20 points

Source Code Review

The source code is properly commented

A comment containing the contestant number is present 10 points
Functions and code sections are commented 20 points
There are two separate functions for encrypting and decrypting 30 points
Each function has code to reverse the string 20 points

Each function has to code to encrypt/decrypt each character in the string 30 points
while maintaining the character’s case (upper or lower)

_______ 30 points
Code is present to read the strings from the file
Code is present to write the strings to the file _______
15 points

All files are opened and closed properly 30 points

Code uses a consistent variable naming convention 10 points

Total Points =____ / 310 points

 PYTHON
PROGRAMMING-PILOT
(355)

REGIONAL – 2021

PRODUCTION PORTION:

Program 1: Low-Level Encryption _______________ (310 points)

TOTAL POINTS _____________ (310 points)

PYTHON PROGRAMMING
REGIONAL 2021
Page 2 of 7

GENERAL GUIDELINES:
Failure to adhere to any of the following rules will result in disqualification:
1. Contestant must hand in this test booklet and all printouts if any. Failure to do so will result in
disqualification.
2. No equipment, supplies, or materials other than those specified for this event are allowed in the
testing area. No previous BPA tests and/or sample tests (handwritten, photocopied, or keyed) are
allowed in the testing area.
3. Electronic devices will be monitored according to ACT standards.

You will have ninety (90) minutes to complete your work.

Your name and/or school name should not appear on work you submit for scoring.

1. Create a folder on the flash drive provided using your contestant number as the name of the folder.
2. Copy your entire solution/project into this folder.
3. Submit your entire solution/project so that the graders may open your project to review the source
code.
4. Ensure that the files required to run your program are present and will execute on the flash drive
provided.

*Note that the flash drive letter may not be the same when the program is scored as it was when you
created the program.

* It is recommended that you use relative paths rather than absolute paths to ensure that the program
will run regardless of the flash drive letter.

The graders will not compile or alter your source code to correct for this.
Submissions that do not contain source code will not be scored.

Assumptions to make when taking this assessment:

• The user will not enter invalid input.

• The input file will only contain valid input strings that only contain upper and lower case
letters.

Development Standards:

 Your Code must use a consistent variable naming convention.

 All functions (if any) must be documented with comments explaining the purpose of the
method, the input parameters (if any), and the output (if any).
 If you create a class, then you must document the class and its methods.
PYTHON PROGRAMMING-PILOT
REGIONAL KEY 2021
Page 3 of 7

Low-Level Encryption and Decryption

As an entry-level programmer, you have been asked to create a set low level encryption and
decryption algorithms. Each algorithm will be in the form of a function. You will also create a
program that asks the user to enter a string input. This program will then encrypt the inputted string
and print it to the screen. The program will then decrypt the string and print the original string back
to the screen.

Input:
The program will read a series of strings from an input file named “plainText.txt”. There will be
only one string per line with no spaces.

Encryption / Decryption:
The encryption / decryption will be done in two phases. The first phase will be a “Reverse Cypher”.
An example of this would be the string “Zoo” will now be stored as “ooZ”. The second phase will
use a “Ceasar Cyper”. This cypher will rotate the letters of the string by 10 positions. All upper case
letters will need to remain upper case after encryption and lower case letter must remain lower case.
An example would be the string “ooZ” will be encrypted to “yyJ”. You will notice that the letter
“Z” when rotated 10 positions became the letter “J”. A couple of portions of the ASCII table has
been provided to help you with this part.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122

The decryption will require you to reverse the two phases used in the encryption phase.

Output:
Your program will need to write the encrypted to strings to a file named “encryptedText.txt” and to
the screen. After this is completed, your program will need to read the encrypted strings from
“encryptedText.txt” and decrypt. Once they are decrypted, the strings should be written to the
screen. When the program is run, the output should resemble the example below.

Sample Run
Encrypted:
yyJ
hyP
owkXdckV
owkXdcbsP
kmsbowKpYcodkdCnodsxE
PYTHON PROGRAMMING-PILOT
REGIONAL KEY 2021
Page 4 of 7

Decrypted:
Zoo
Fox
LastName
FirstName
UnitedStatesOfAmerica

Requirements:

1. You must create an application called Encryption.

2. Your program will contain a function for encryption that will take in a string and return the
encrypted string.
3. Your program will contain a function for Decryption that will take in a string and return
the decrypted string.
4. Your contestant number must appear as a comment at the top of the main source code
file.
5. The program will display the output like the example above.
PYTHON PROGRAMMING-PILOT
REGIONAL KEY 2021
Page 5 of 7

Solution and Project

The project is present on the flash drive 15 points

The project is named Encryption 15 points

Program Execution
The program runs from the USB flash drive 15 points
If the program does not execute, then the remaining items in this section receive a score of zero.

The program runs to completion with no error codes 20 points

There are the same number of encrypted strings as decrypted strings 20 points

Output matches required format. 30 points

Source Code Review

The source code is properly commented

A comment containing the contestant number is present 10 points
Functions and code sections are commented 20 points
There are two separate functions for encrypting and decrypting 30 points
Each function has code to reverse the string 20 points

Each function has to code to encrypt/decrypt each character in the string 30 points
while maintaining the character’s case (upper or lower)

_______ 30 points
Code is present to read the strings from the file
Code is present to write the strings to the file _______
15 points

All files are opened and closed properly 30 points

Code uses a consistent variable naming convention 10 points

Total Points =____ / 310 points

PYTHON PROGRAMMING-PILOT
REGIONAL KEY 2021
Page 6 of 7

Suggested Solution

'''
This function will encrypt the given string by first reversing the string then by rotating the
the characters in the string forward by 10 letters based on the ASCII table. It will then return
the encrypted string

'''
def encrypt(text):
result = ""
s=10
# Reverses the string
text = text[::-1]
# transverse the plain text
for i in range(len(text)):
char = text[i]
# Encrypt uppercase characters in plain text

if (char.isupper()):
result += chr((ord(char) + s - 65) % 26 + 65)
# Encrypt lowercase characters in plain text
else:
result += chr((ord(char) + s - 97) % 26 + 97)
return result

'''
This function will decrypt the given string by first rotating the
the characters in the string backward by 10 letters based on the ASCII table then by reversing the
string. The function then will return the decrypted string.

'''
def decrypt(text):
result = ""
s=10
# transverse the plain text
for i in range(len(text)):
char = text[i]
# Encrypt uppercase characters in plain text

if (char.isupper()):
result += chr((ord(char) - s + 65) % 26 + 65)
# Encrypt lowercase characters in plain text
else:
result += chr((ord(char) - (s + 12) + 97) % 26 + 97)
#Reverses the string
result = result[::-1]
return result
PYTHON PROGRAMMING-PILOT
REGIONAL KEY 2021
Page 7 of 7

'''
The main program
'''

'''
To read plain text from an input file and encrypt it. Then write the encrypted
text to an output file.
'''
iFile = open("plainText.txt", "r") #open file as read
oFile = open("encryptedText.txt", "w")#open file as write
print ("Encrypted:\n")

for text in iFile:

newTxt = encrypt(text.strip()) #use .strip to remove the newline character

print (newTxt)
oFile.write(newTxt + '\n')

iFile.close()
oFile.close()

'''
To read encrypted text from an input file and decrypt it. Then print the decrypted
text to the screen
'''
print ("\nDecrypted:\n")

iFile = open("encryptedText.txt", "r")

for text in iFile:
print(decrypt(text.strip()))