- A
All three services are completely free for the entire 12-month period because the startup is using the Free Tier.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the AWS Free Tier has specific monthly usage limits. The 10 GB of S3 storage exceeds the 5 GB free allowance, so overage charges apply.
- B
The EC2 instance usage will be free for up to 750 hours per month; the S3 storage will be free for the first 5 GB, with standard charges for the additional 5 GB; the RDS storage will be free for the first 20 GB.
This is accurate. EC2 free tier provides 750 hours per month, enough for continuous usage. S3 free tier includes 5 GB, so extra 5 GB is billed. RDS free tier includes 20 GB of storage, so 1 GB is within the free limit.
- C
The EC2 instance usage will be free for up to 750 hours per month; the S3 storage will be free for up to 10 GB; the RDS storage will be free for up to 20 GB.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because the S3 free tier limit is 5 GB, not 10 GB. The startup would be charged for the additional 5 GB of S3 storage.
- D
The EC2 instance usage will be free for the first 750 hours total over the 12-month period; the S3 storage will be free for the first 5 GB; the RDS storage will be free for the first 20 GB.
Why wrong: This is incorrect. The EC2 free tier limit resets monthly (750 hours per month), not as a cumulative total across 12 months. The startup would exceed the limit quickly if it were total.
CLF-C02 Billing, Pricing, and Support Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of billing, pricing, and support. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A startup is building a prototype web application on AWS and is eligible for the AWS Free Tier. They plan to use a single t2.micro Amazon EC2 instance running continuously (24 hours per day, 7 days per week), 10 GB of Amazon S3 Standard storage, and 1 GB of Amazon RDS for MySQL storage. Which of the following statements accurately describes how these services will be billed during the first 12 months under the Free Tier, assuming they stay within the Free Tier limits for each service?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The EC2 instance usage will be free for up to 750 hours per month; the S3 storage will be free for the first 5 GB, with standard charges for the additional 5 GB; the RDS storage will be free for the first 20 GB.
Option B is correct because the AWS Free Tier for EC2 provides 750 hours of t2.micro instance usage per month, not total over 12 months. S3 Standard storage is free for the first 5 GB, so the additional 5 GB incurs standard charges. RDS for MySQL storage is free for the first 20 GB, so the 1 GB used is fully covered.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
All three services are completely free for the entire 12-month period because the startup is using the Free Tier.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the AWS Free Tier has specific monthly usage limits. The 10 GB of S3 storage exceeds the 5 GB free allowance, so overage charges apply.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question specified that all usage is within the Free Tier limits for each service and the Free Tier offers unlimited usage for all services during the first 12 months. For example, a question stating 'A startup uses only services that are entirely free under the AWS Free Tier for 12 months with no usage limits' would make this answer correct.
- ✓
The EC2 instance usage will be free for up to 750 hours per month; the S3 storage will be free for the first 5 GB, with standard charges for the additional 5 GB; the RDS storage will be free for the first 20 GB.
Why this is correct
This is accurate. EC2 free tier provides 750 hours per month, enough for continuous usage. S3 free tier includes 5 GB, so extra 5 GB is billed. RDS free tier includes 20 GB of storage, so 1 GB is within the free limit.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The EC2 instance usage will be free for up to 750 hours per month; the S3 storage will be free for up to 10 GB; the RDS storage will be free for up to 20 GB.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because the S3 free tier limit is 5 GB, not 10 GB. The startup would be charged for the additional 5 GB of S3 storage.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question stated that the startup uses 5 GB of S3 Standard storage instead of 10 GB, and the Free Tier limits for S3 were 10 GB (which is not the case). Alternatively, if the question specified a different service with a 10 GB free limit, such as Amazon DynamoDB (25 GB free), this option could apply.
- ✗
The EC2 instance usage will be free for the first 750 hours total over the 12-month period; the S3 storage will be free for the first 5 GB; the RDS storage will be free for the first 20 GB.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect. The EC2 free tier limit resets monthly (750 hours per month), not as a cumulative total across 12 months. The startup would exceed the limit quickly if it were total.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question described a Free Tier that offers a one-time allocation of 750 hours for the entire 12-month period, such as a limited-time promotional credit or a non-monthly free usage allowance.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The CLF-C02 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The EC2 instance usage will be free for up to 750 hours per month; the S3 storage will be free for the first 5 GB, with standard charges for the additional 5 GB; the RDS storage will be free for the first 20 GB.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
This is accurate. EC2 free tier provides 750 hours per month, enough for continuous usage. S3 free tier includes 5 GB, so extra 5 GB is billed. RDS free tier includes 20 GB of storage, so 1 GB is within the free limit.
✗All three services are completely free for the entire 12-month period because the startup is using the Free Tier.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The AWS Free Tier for EC2 provides 750 hours per month, not unlimited usage. S3 Standard storage is free for 5 GB, not all 10 GB. RDS for MySQL is free for 20 GB, but the question states only 1 GB is used, so that part is correct, but the other two services are not completely free.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question specified that all usage is within the Free Tier limits for each service and the Free Tier offers unlimited usage for all services during the first 12 months. For example, a question stating 'A startup uses only services that are entirely free under the AWS Free Tier for 12 months with no usage limits' would make this answer correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may mistakenly believe the AWS Free Tier provides unlimited free usage for all services, or they may overlook the specific per-service limits (e.g., 750 hours/month for EC2, 5 GB for S3).
✗The EC2 instance usage will be free for up to 750 hours per month; the S3 storage will be free for up to 10 GB; the RDS storage will be free for up to 20 GB.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The AWS Free Tier for S3 Standard storage provides 5 GB for free, not 10 GB. The option incorrectly states that 10 GB is free, while in reality, only the first 5 GB are free, and the additional 5 GB incur standard charges.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question stated that the startup uses 5 GB of S3 Standard storage instead of 10 GB, and the Free Tier limits for S3 were 10 GB (which is not the case). Alternatively, if the question specified a different service with a 10 GB free limit, such as Amazon DynamoDB (25 GB free), this option could apply.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may mistakenly believe that the Free Tier covers the exact usage amounts mentioned in the scenario (10 GB S3, 1 GB RDS) without checking the actual Free Tier limits, or they might confuse the S3 Free Tier limit (5 GB) with a higher number.
✗The EC2 instance usage will be free for the first 750 hours total over the 12-month period; the S3 storage will be free for the first 5 GB; the RDS storage will be free for the first 20 GB.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The Free Tier provides 750 hours of EC2 per month, not total over 12 months. The startup runs a t2.micro continuously (730 hours/month), so they stay within the monthly limit, but the option incorrectly states a total 750-hour cap.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question described a Free Tier that offers a one-time allocation of 750 hours for the entire 12-month period, such as a limited-time promotional credit or a non-monthly free usage allowance.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse cumulative monthly limits with a total annual cap, especially if they misinterpret '12-month Free Tier' as a single pool of resources rather than recurring monthly limits.
Analysis generated from the official CLF-C02blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing the monthly Free Tier limits (e.g., 750 hours per month for EC2) with a cumulative 12-month total, and assuming S3 offers 10 GB free instead of the actual 5 GB limit.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The AWS Free Tier for EC2 t2.micro instances resets monthly, so running 24/7 (720 hours in a 30-day month) stays within the 750-hour limit, but any partial month or extra instance would exceed it. S3 Standard storage billing is per GB-month, and the first 5 GB are free; the remaining 5 GB would be billed at the standard rate (approximately $0.023 per GB). RDS for MySQL storage under the Free Tier covers up to 20 GB of magnetic or general-purpose SSD, so 1 GB is fully free.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Billing, Pricing, and Support — This question tests Billing, Pricing, and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The EC2 instance usage will be free for up to 750 hours per month; the S3 storage will be free for the first 5 GB, with standard charges for the additional 5 GB; the RDS storage will be free for the first 20 GB. — Option B is correct because the AWS Free Tier for EC2 provides 750 hours of t2.micro instance usage per month, not total over 12 months. S3 Standard storage is free for the first 5 GB, so the additional 5 GB incurs standard charges. RDS for MySQL storage is free for the first 20 GB, so the 1 GB used is fully covered.
What should I do if I get this CLF-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CLF-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CLF-C02 exam.
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