Perfect, this is Problem 3: Number Guessing Game.

This problem is different from BMI and grade because here the main ideas are:

• import random
• function
• difficulty choice
• random number generation
• while loop
• limited attempts
• try / except
• validating integer guesses
• validating range
• comparing numbers
• break / continue

Problem 3 — Perfect Exam Solution

This is the clean version I would write in the exam.

# Task 3: Number Guessing Game

import random

def guess():
    while True:
        difficulty = input("Choose difficulty: easy or hard: ").lower()

        if difficulty == "easy":
            max_number = 50
            attempts = 10
            break
        elif difficulty == "hard":
            max_number = 100
            attempts = 7
            break
        else:
            print("Invalid difficulty. Please choose easy or hard.")

    secret_number = random.randint(1, max_number)

    print(f"I chose a number between 1 and {max_number}.")

    while attempts > 0:
        try:
            user_guess = int(input("Enter your guess: "))

            if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
                print(f"Invalid guess. Enter a number between 1 and {max_number}.")
                continue

            attempts -= 1

            if user_guess == secret_number:
                print("Correct!")
                return

            elif user_guess > secret_number:
                print("Too high!")

            else:
                print("Too low!")

            print(f"Guesses remaining: {attempts}")

        except ValueError:
            print("Please enter an integer number.")

    print(f"You ran out of guesses. The number was {secret_number}.")


guess()

This is a very good exam answer because it satisfies every bullet:

Requirement	Code part
Create function guess()	def guess():
Easy difficulty: 1–50, 10 guesses	max_number = 50, attempts = 10
Hard difficulty: 1–100, 7 guesses	max_number = 100, attempts = 7
Random number	random.randint(1, max_number)
Too high / too low / correct	if user_guess == secret_number, elif user_guess > secret_number, else
Guesses remaining	print(f"Guesses remaining: {attempts}")
Reveal number if attempts finish	final print(...) after loop
Reject non-integers	try / except ValueError
Reject out-of-range guesses	if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number

Example run

User chooses easy:

Choose difficulty: easy or hard: easy
I chose a number between 1 and 50.
Enter your guess: 25
Too low!
Guesses remaining: 9
Enter your guess: 40
Too high!
Guesses remaining: 8
Enter your guess: 35
Correct!

If user runs out:

You ran out of guesses. The number was 17.

Step-by-step explanation

1. Import random

At the top we write:

import random

This allows us to use Python’s random module.

Without this line, this will not work:

random.randint(1, max_number)

Python would say:

NameError: name 'random' is not defined

So for any random-number problem, remember:

import random

2. Create the function

The task says:

So we write:

def guess():

Everything inside the function must be indented:

def guess():
    print("Game starts")

At the end, we call the function:

guess()

Without calling it, the game will not start.

3. Difficulty choice

The task says:

We write:

difficulty = input("Choose difficulty: easy or hard: ").lower()

The .lower() is useful because it converts the input to lowercase.

So these all become "easy":

Easy
EASY
easy
EaSy

That makes your code safer.

Then:

if difficulty == "easy":
    max_number = 50
    attempts = 10
    break
elif difficulty == "hard":
    max_number = 100
    attempts = 7
    break
else:
    print("Invalid difficulty. Please choose easy or hard.")

Meaning:

• If easy, number range is 1 to 50 and user has 10 tries.
• If hard, number range is 1 to 100 and user has 7 tries.
• If user types something else, ask again.

Why use while True for difficulty?

This part:

while True:
    difficulty = input("Choose difficulty: easy or hard: ").lower()

    if difficulty == "easy":
        max_number = 50
        attempts = 10
        break
    elif difficulty == "hard":
        max_number = 100
        attempts = 7
        break
    else:
        print("Invalid difficulty.")

means:

“Keep asking until the user gives a correct difficulty.”

If user writes:

medium

the code prints:

Invalid difficulty.

and asks again.

When user finally writes:

easy

then we set values and use:

break

to stop the difficulty loop.

4. Generate random number

After we know the difficulty, we create the secret number:

secret_number = random.randint(1, max_number)

If difficulty is easy:

max_number = 50

So this becomes:

secret_number = random.randint(1, 50)

If difficulty is hard:

max_number = 100

So this becomes:

secret_number = random.randint(1, 100)

Important:

random.randint(1, 50)

includes both 1 and 50.

So possible numbers are:

1, 2, 3, ..., 49, 50

5. Main guessing loop

This is the main game:

while attempts > 0:

It means:

“As long as the user still has attempts, keep asking for guesses.”

Example:

attempts = 10

The loop continues while attempts are:

10, 9, 8, 7, ..., 1

When attempts becomes:

0

the loop stops.

Then this line runs:

print(f"You ran out of guesses. The number was {secret_number}.")

6. Input validation with try / except

Inside the loop:

try:
    user_guess = int(input("Enter your guess: "))

We use int() because guesses must be whole numbers.

If user types:

25

then:

user_guess = 25

But if user types:

hello

Python cannot do:

int("hello")

So it gives ValueError.

That is why we write:

except ValueError:
    print("Please enter an integer number.")

This prevents the program from crashing.

7. Reject out-of-range guesses

The task says:

For easy mode, guesses must be between 1 and 50.

For hard mode, guesses must be between 1 and 100.

Since we use max_number, we can write one condition for both:

if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
    print(f"Invalid guess. Enter a number between 1 and {max_number}.")
    continue

Meaning:

• If guess is smaller than 1, reject.
• If guess is bigger than max number, reject.

Example in easy mode:

max_number = 50

If user guesses:

80

then:

user_guess > max_number

is true.

So print:

Invalid guess. Enter a number between 1 and 50.

Then:

continue

means skip the rest of this loop and ask again.

Very important: invalid guesses should not count

In our code, this comes before reducing attempts:

if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
    print("Invalid guess.")
    continue

attempts -= 1

So if the guess is invalid, Python reaches continue and does not run:

attempts -= 1

That means invalid guesses do not reduce attempts.

This is usually the best interpretation of “reject invalid input.”

8. Count attempts

After the guess is valid, we count it:

attempts -= 1

This means:

attempts = attempts - 1

Example:

attempts = 10

After one valid guess:

attempts = 9

After another valid guess:

attempts = 8

So:

attempts -= 1

is just a short way to subtract 1.

9. Compare guess with secret number

This part decides what message to print:

if user_guess == secret_number:
    print("Correct!")
    return

elif user_guess > secret_number:
    print("Too high!")

else:
    print("Too low!")

Meaning:

If guess equals secret number

if user_guess == secret_number:

Then:

print("Correct!")
return

The game ends.

Here return exits the function completely.

If guess is bigger than secret number

elif user_guess > secret_number:

Then print:

Too high!

Example:

secret_number = 30
user_guess = 45

45 is too high.

Otherwise guess is smaller

else:
    print("Too low!")

Example:

secret_number = 30
user_guess = 20

20 is too low.

10. Show guesses remaining

After each valid wrong guess:

print(f"Guesses remaining: {attempts}")

This uses an f-string.

Example:

attempts = 8

Then:

print(f"Guesses remaining: {attempts}")

prints:

Guesses remaining: 8

What is an f-string?

This:

print(f"Guesses remaining: {attempts}")

means Python puts the value of attempts inside the text.

Example:

attempts = 5

Then:

f"Guesses remaining: {attempts}"

becomes:

Guesses remaining: 5

You can also write it without f-string:

print("Guesses remaining:", attempts)

Both are correct.

For exam, either is fine.

What does return do here?

In this code:

if user_guess == secret_number:
    print("Correct!")
    return

return stops the whole function.

So if user guesses correctly, the game ends immediately.

Without return, the loop might continue or the “ran out of guesses” message might appear incorrectly.

Alternative:

break

You could also use break, but then after the loop you must be careful not to print the losing message.

For this problem, return is clean and simple.

What does continue do?

This line:

continue

means:

“Skip the rest of this loop and go back to the top.”

In this part:

if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
    print("Invalid guess.")
    continue

attempts -= 1

If guess is invalid, Python prints the message and goes back to ask again.

It does not subtract attempts.

So:

continue

is useful when invalid input should be rejected.

What does break do?

We use break in the difficulty loop:

if difficulty == "easy":
    max_number = 50
    attempts = 10
    break

break means:

“Stop this loop.”

So after valid difficulty is chosen, we leave the difficulty loop and start the game.

Full beginner-friendly version without f-strings

If f-strings confuse you, this version is also correct:

# Task 3: Number Guessing Game

import random

def guess():
    while True:
        difficulty = input("Choose difficulty: easy or hard: ").lower()

        if difficulty == "easy":
            max_number = 50
            attempts = 10
            break
        elif difficulty == "hard":
            max_number = 100
            attempts = 7
            break
        else:
            print("Invalid difficulty. Please choose easy or hard.")

    secret_number = random.randint(1, max_number)

    print("I chose a number between 1 and", max_number)

    while attempts > 0:
        try:
            user_guess = int(input("Enter your guess: "))

            if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
                print("Invalid guess. Enter a number between 1 and", max_number)
                continue

            attempts = attempts - 1

            if user_guess == secret_number:
                print("Correct!")
                return
            elif user_guess > secret_number:
                print("Too high!")
            else:
                print("Too low!")

            print("Guesses remaining:", attempts)

        except ValueError:
            print("Please enter an integer number.")

    print("You ran out of guesses. The number was", secret_number)


guess()

This is a little simpler visually.

Shorter version if you panic in exam

This version is less perfect because difficulty validation is simpler, but it is still understandable.

import random

def guess():
    difficulty = input("Choose difficulty: easy or hard: ").lower()

    if difficulty == "easy":
        max_number = 50
        attempts = 10
    elif difficulty == "hard":
        max_number = 100
        attempts = 7
    else:
        print("Invalid difficulty")
        return

    secret_number = random.randint(1, max_number)

    while attempts > 0:
        try:
            user_guess = int(input("Enter your guess: "))

            if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
                print("Out of range")
                continue

            attempts -= 1

            if user_guess == secret_number:
                print("Correct!")
                return
            elif user_guess > secret_number:
                print("Too high!")
            else:
                print("Too low!")

            print("Guesses remaining:", attempts)

        except ValueError:
            print("Enter an integer.")

    print("You lost. The number was", secret_number)


guess()

This is easier to memorize. The first version is better, but this one is okay if you are under time pressure.

Code pattern to memorize

For number guessing games, memorize this skeleton:

import random

def guess():
    secret = random.randint(1, 100)
    attempts = 7

    while attempts > 0:
        try:
            guess = int(input("Enter guess: "))

            attempts -= 1

            if guess == secret:
                print("Correct")
                return
            elif guess > secret:
                print("Too high")
            else:
                print("Too low")

            print("Attempts left:", attempts)

        except ValueError:
            print("Enter integer")

    print("The number was", secret)

guess()

Then add difficulty and range validation.

Main theory from this problem

1. random.randint(a, b)

random.randint(1, 50)

gives a random integer from 1 to 50.

Important: both sides are included.

So:

random.randint(1, 3)

can give:

1, 2, or 3

Not 0. Not 4.

2. while attempts > 0

This loop is perfect for limited tries.

while attempts > 0:

means keep looping while the user still has guesses.

Every valid guess:

attempts -= 1

When attempts becomes 0, the loop stops.

3. try / except

Use this when the user must enter a number.

try:
    guess = int(input("Enter guess: "))
except ValueError:
    print("Enter an integer")

This catches inputs like:

hello
12.5
abc

Since the task says reject non-integers, using int() is correct.

4. if / elif / else

Used for comparing guess and secret number:

if user_guess == secret_number:
    print("Correct!")
elif user_guess > secret_number:
    print("Too high!")
else:
    print("Too low!")

This is the heart of the game.

5. return

Used to stop the game when the answer is correct:

return

It exits the function completely.

6. continue

Used to reject bad guesses without counting them:

continue

Example:

if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
    print("Invalid guess")
    continue

So the program goes back to ask again.

7. break

Used to stop a loop when something valid happens:

break

In our code, we use it after valid difficulty is selected.

Common mistakes in this problem

Mistake 1: Forgetting to import random

Wrong:

secret_number = random.randint(1, 50)

without:

import random

Correct:

import random

secret_number = random.randint(1, 50)

Mistake 2: Using random.randint() wrongly

Wrong:

secret_number = random.randint(50)

Correct:

secret_number = random.randint(1, 50)

randint() needs two numbers:

random.randint(start, end)

Mistake 3: Not converting input to int

Wrong:

user_guess = input("Enter guess: ")

Then this compares string to number:

if user_guess > secret_number:

That causes problems.

Correct:

user_guess = int(input("Enter guess: "))

Mistake 4: Counting invalid guesses

Bad order:

attempts -= 1

if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
    print("Invalid guess")
    continue

This subtracts attempt even when guess is invalid.

Better order:

if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
    print("Invalid guess")
    continue

attempts -= 1

Invalid guess does not count.

Mistake 5: Forgetting to stop after correct answer

Wrong:

if user_guess == secret_number:
    print("Correct!")

But no return or break.

Correct:

if user_guess == secret_number:
    print("Correct!")
    return

Mistake 6: Wrong comparison signs

Correct:

if user_guess == secret_number:
    print("Correct!")
elif user_guess > secret_number:
    print("Too high!")
else:
    print("Too low!")

Do not confuse:

=

and:

==

This is assignment:

x = 5

This is comparison:

x == 5

For checking equality, always use:

==

Mistake 7: Difficulty case problem

If you write:

difficulty = input("Choose difficulty: ")

if difficulty == "easy":

and user types:

Easy

then it will not match.

Better:

difficulty = input("Choose difficulty: ").lower()

Now "Easy" becomes "easy".

Should invalid input reduce attempts?

Usually no.

Because the task says:

Reject means do not accept it as a guess.

So this should not reduce attempts:

hello
-5
200

Only valid guesses should reduce attempts.

That is why we write:

if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
    print("Invalid guess")
    continue

attempts -= 1

Similar problems they can ask in the make-up exam

This problem tests loops, random, validation, and attempts. The make-up may not be exactly “number guessing game,” but it can be very close.

Similar Problem 1: Number guessing game with 3 difficulty levels

They could add medium:

Easy: 1–50, 10 guesses
Medium: 1–75, 8 guesses
Hard: 1–100, 7 guesses

Solution:

import random

def guess():
    while True:
        difficulty = input("Choose easy, medium, or hard: ").lower()

        if difficulty == "easy":
            max_number = 50
            attempts = 10
            break
        elif difficulty == "medium":
            max_number = 75
            attempts = 8
            break
        elif difficulty == "hard":
            max_number = 100
            attempts = 7
            break
        else:
            print("Invalid difficulty.")

    secret_number = random.randint(1, max_number)

    while attempts > 0:
        try:
            user_guess = int(input("Enter guess: "))

            if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
                print("Out of range.")
                continue

            attempts -= 1

            if user_guess == secret_number:
                print("Correct!")
                return
            elif user_guess > secret_number:
                print("Too high!")
            else:
                print("Too low!")

            print("Guesses remaining:", attempts)

        except ValueError:
            print("Enter an integer.")

    print("You lost. Number was", secret_number)

guess()

Only difference: more elif.

Similar Problem 2: Guess dice roll

They could ask:

Code:

import random

def dice_guess():
    secret_number = random.randint(1, 6)
    attempts = 3

    while attempts > 0:
        try:
            user_guess = int(input("Guess dice number from 1 to 6: "))

            if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > 6:
                print("Enter a number between 1 and 6.")
                continue

            attempts -= 1

            if user_guess == secret_number:
                print("Correct!")
                return
            else:
                print("Wrong!")
                print("Guesses remaining:", attempts)

        except ValueError:
            print("Enter an integer.")

    print("You lost. The number was", secret_number)

dice_guess()

Same skeleton, just smaller range and attempts.

Similar Problem 3: PIN guessing game

They could ask:

Code:

import random

def pin_game():
    pin = random.randint(1000, 9999)
    attempts = 5

    while attempts > 0:
        try:
            guess = int(input("Enter 4-digit PIN: "))

            if guess < 1000 or guess > 9999:
                print("PIN must be 4 digits.")
                continue

            attempts -= 1

            if guess == pin:
                print("Correct PIN!")
                return
            else:
                print("Wrong PIN.")
                print("Attempts left:", attempts)

        except ValueError:
            print("Enter only integers.")

    print("You failed. The PIN was", pin)

pin_game()

Same pattern:

random.randint()
while attempts > 0
try / except
range check
attempts -= 1
if correct return

Similar Problem 4: Random math quiz

They could ask:

Code:

import random

def math_quiz():
    a = random.randint(1, 20)
    b = random.randint(1, 20)
    correct_answer = a + b
    attempts = 3

    print("What is", a, "+", b, "?")

    while attempts > 0:
        try:
            answer = int(input("Enter answer: "))

            attempts -= 1

            if answer == correct_answer:
                print("Correct!")
                return
            else:
                print("Wrong.")
                print("Attempts left:", attempts)

        except ValueError:
            print("Enter an integer.")

    print("You lost. Correct answer was", correct_answer)

math_quiz()

This is very similar but instead of comparing too high/too low, you compare answer with correct answer.

Similar Problem 5: Guess a random word

They could ask:

Code:

import random

def word_guess():
    words = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
    secret_word = random.choice(words)
    attempts = 3

    while attempts > 0:
        guess = input("Guess the word: ").lower()

        attempts -= 1

        if guess == secret_word:
            print("Correct!")
            return
        else:
            print("Wrong!")
            print("Attempts left:", attempts)

    print("You lost. The word was", secret_word)

word_guess()

New thing:

random.choice(words)

This chooses one random item from a list.

For numbers, use:

random.randint(1, 100)

For list items, use:

random.choice(list_name)

Important mini-cheat sheet

Random number

import random

number = random.randint(1, 100)

Random item from list

item = random.choice(["apple", "banana", "cherry"])

Limited attempts

attempts = 5

while attempts > 0:
    attempts -= 1

Validate integer

try:
    guess = int(input("Enter guess: "))
except ValueError:
    print("Enter an integer.")

Validate range

if guess < 1 or guess > 100:
    print("Out of range.")
    continue

Compare guess

if guess == secret:
    print("Correct")
elif guess > secret:
    print("Too high")
else:
    print("Too low")

Stop after correct answer

return

Skip invalid input

continue

Final version to memorize

Practice this one. It covers everything in the task.

# Task 3: Number Guessing Game

import random

def guess():
    while True:
        difficulty = input("Choose difficulty: easy or hard: ").lower()

        if difficulty == "easy":
            max_number = 50
            attempts = 10
            break
        elif difficulty == "hard":
            max_number = 100
            attempts = 7
            break
        else:
            print("Invalid difficulty. Please choose easy or hard.")

    secret_number = random.randint(1, max_number)

    print("I chose a number between 1 and", max_number)

    while attempts > 0:
        try:
            user_guess = int(input("Enter your guess: "))

            if user_guess < 1 or user_guess > max_number:
                print("Invalid guess. Enter a number between 1 and", max_number)
                continue

            attempts -= 1

            if user_guess == secret_number:
                print("Correct!")
                return
            elif user_guess > secret_number:
                print("Too high!")
            else:
                print("Too low!")

            print("Guesses remaining:", attempts)

        except ValueError:
            print("Please enter an integer number.")

    print("You ran out of guesses. The number was", secret_number)


guess()

The main recipe is:

import random

secret = random.randint(1, max_number)

while attempts > 0:
    guess = int(input(...))
    attempts -= 1

    if guess == secret:
        return
    elif guess > secret:
        print("Too high")
    else:
        print("Too low")

This problem is basically: random number + while loop + attempts + validation + comparison.