How to programmatically test if assertions are enabled?

assertion, java, ocpjp, scjp

Solution

I use this

boolean assertOn = false;
// *assigns* true if assertions are on.
assert assertOn = true;

I am not sure this is the "official" way.

Problem

One of the correct answers from OCP Java SE 6 Programmer Practice Exams is: You can programmatically test wheather assertions have been enabled without throwing an `AssertionError`. How can I do that?

Original source