diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_compilerop.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_compilerop.py
index aa531b8..b939bb6 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_compilerop.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_compilerop.py
@@ -66,8 +66,6 @@ def test_compiler_check_cache():
     cp.cache('x=1', 99)
     # Ensure now that after clearing the cache, our entries survive
     linecache.checkcache()
-    for k in linecache.cache:
-        if k.startswith('<ipython-input-99'):
-            break
-    else:
-        raise AssertionError('Entry for input-99 missing from linecache')
+    assert any(
+        k.startswith("<ipython-input-99") for k in linecache.cache
+    ), "Entry for input-99 missing from linecache"
diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_debugger.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_debugger.py
index d331285..4b4af22 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_debugger.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_debugger.py
@@ -242,10 +242,8 @@ def test_interruptible_core_debugger():
     """
     def raising_input(msg="", called=[0]):
         called[0] += 1
-        if called[0] == 1:
-            raise KeyboardInterrupt()
-        else:
-            raise AssertionError("input() should only be called once!")
+        assert called[0] == 1, "input() should only be called once!"
+        raise KeyboardInterrupt()
 
     tracer_orig = sys.gettrace()
     try:
diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_hooks.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_hooks.py
index bd37526..6e0b1c1 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_hooks.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_hooks.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+import pytest
 from IPython.core.error import TryNext
 from IPython.core.hooks import CommandChainDispatcher
 
@@ -41,12 +42,9 @@ def test_command_chain_dispatcher_ff():
     fail2 = Fail("fail2")
     dp = CommandChainDispatcher([(0, fail1), (10, fail2)])
 
-    try:
+    with pytest.raises(TryNext) as e:
         dp()
-    except TryNext as e:
-        assert str(e) == "fail2"
-    else:
-        assert False, "Expected exception was not raised."
+    assert str(e.value) == "fail2"
 
     assert fail1.called is True
     assert fail2.called is True
diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_logger.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_logger.py
index e53385f..71c4e6b 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_logger.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_logger.py
@@ -7,12 +7,8 @@ import pytest
 from IPython.utils.tempdir import TemporaryDirectory
 
 def test_logstart_inaccessible_file():
-    try:
+    with pytest.raises(IOError):
         _ip.logger.logstart(logfname="/")   # Opening that filename will fail.
-    except IOError:
-        pass
-    else:
-        assert False  # The try block should never pass.
 
     try:
         _ip.run_cell("a=1")                 # Check it doesn't try to log this
diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_magic.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_magic.py
index 9c08926..2c37c3e 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_magic.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_magic.py
@@ -132,10 +132,10 @@ def test_config_print_class():
         _ip.magic('config TerminalInteractiveShell')
 
     stdout = captured.stdout
-    if not re.match("TerminalInteractiveShell.* options", stdout.splitlines()[0]):
-        print(stdout)
-        raise AssertionError("1st line of stdout not like "
-                             "'TerminalInteractiveShell.* options'")
+    assert re.match(
+        "TerminalInteractiveShell.* options", stdout.splitlines()[0]
+    ), f"{stdout}\n\n1st line of stdout not like 'TerminalInteractiveShell.* options'"
+
 
 def test_rehashx():
     # clear up everything
@@ -1219,12 +1219,9 @@ def test_edit_interactive():
     n = ip.execution_count
     ip.run_cell("def foo(): return 1", store_history=True)
 
-    try:
+    with pytest.raises(code.InteractivelyDefined) as e:
         _run_edit_test("foo")
-    except code.InteractivelyDefined as e:
-        assert e.index == n
-    else:
-        raise AssertionError("Should have raised InteractivelyDefined")
+    assert e.value.index == n
 
 
 def test_edit_cell():
diff --git a/IPython/utils/tests/test_text.py b/IPython/utils/tests/test_text.py
index 72660d4..72cbbcb 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/tests/test_text.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/tests/test_text.py
@@ -70,13 +70,14 @@ def test_columnize_random():
             out = text.columnize(items, row_first=row_first, displaywidth=displaywidth)
             longer_line = max([len(x) for x in out.split('\n')])
             longer_element = max(rand_len)
-            if longer_line > displaywidth:
-                print("Columnize displayed something lager than displaywidth : %s " % longer_line)
-                print("longer element : %s " % longer_element)
-                print("displaywidth : %s " % displaywidth)
-                print("number of element : %s " % nitems)
-                print("size of each element :\n %s" % rand_len)
-                assert False, "row_first={0}".format(row_first)
+            assert longer_line <= displaywidth, (
+                f"Columnize displayed something lager than displaywidth : {longer_line}\n"
+                f"longer element : {longer_element}\n"
+                f"displaywidth : {displaywidth}\n"
+                f"number of element : {nitems}\n"
+                f"size of each element : {rand_len}\n"
+                f"row_first={row_first}\n"
+            )
 
 
 # TODO: pytest mark.parametrize once nose removed.
@@ -103,9 +104,9 @@ def eval_formatter_check(f):
     ns = dict(n=12, pi=math.pi, stuff='hello there', os=os, u=u"café", b="café")
     s = f.format("{n} {n//4} {stuff.split()[0]}", **ns)
     assert s == "12 3 hello"
-    s = f.format(' '.join(['{n//%i}'%i for i in range(1,8)]), **ns)
+    s = f.format(" ".join(["{n//%i}" % i for i in range(1, 8)]), **ns)
     assert s == "12 6 4 3 2 2 1"
-    s = f.format('{[n//i for i in range(1,8)]}', **ns)
+    s = f.format("{[n//i for i in range(1,8)]}", **ns)
     assert s == "[12, 6, 4, 3, 2, 2, 1]"
     s = f.format("{stuff!s}", **ns)
     assert s == ns["stuff"]
@@ -133,9 +134,9 @@ def eval_formatter_slicing_check(f):
     pytest.raises(SyntaxError, f.format, "{n:x}", **ns)
 
 def eval_formatter_no_slicing_check(f):
-    ns = dict(n=12, pi=math.pi, stuff='hello there', os=os)
-    
-    s = f.format('{n:x} {pi**2:+f}', **ns)
+    ns = dict(n=12, pi=math.pi, stuff="hello there", os=os)
+
+    s = f.format("{n:x} {pi**2:+f}", **ns)
     assert s == "c +9.869604"
 
     s = f.format("{stuff[slice(1,4)]}", **ns)
@@ -187,10 +188,11 @@ def test_strip_email():
 
 
 def test_strip_email2():
-    src = '> > > list()'
-    cln = 'list()'
+    src = "> > > list()"
+    cln = "list()"
     assert text.strip_email_quotes(src) == cln
 
+
 def test_LSString():
     lss = text.LSString("abc\ndef")
     assert lss.l == ["abc", "def"]
@@ -198,6 +200,7 @@ def test_LSString():
     lss = text.LSString(os.getcwd())
     assert isinstance(lss.p[0], Path)
 
+
 def test_SList():
     sl = text.SList(["a 11", "b 1", "a 2"])
     assert sl.n == "a 11\nb 1\na 2"