AP CSA Unit 2.4: Nested If Statements Practice

January 5, 2026

Unit 2, Section 2.4

Day 4 Practice • January 10, 2026

🎯 Focus: Nested if Statements

Practice Question

Consider the following code segment:

int x = 5;
int y = 8;

if (x < 10) {
    if (y > 5) {
        x = x + y;
    } else {
        x = x - y;
    }
}

System.out.println(x);

What is printed as a result of executing this code segment?

What This Tests: Nested if statements require evaluating the outer condition first, then the inner condition. Both must be traced carefully.

Output: 13

Mistake: Answer A (5)

This assumes the outer if is false. But 5 < 10 is true, so we DO enter the outer block.

Mistake: Answer C (-3)

This executes the else branch (x - y = 5 - 8 = -3). But y > 5 is true (8 > 5), so we execute x + y, not x - y.

Trace Outside-In

Difficulty: Medium • Time: 2-3 minutes • AP Skill: 2.B - Determine code results

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