The correct choices are partitioning by high-cardinality columns, using columnar formats like Parquet, and increasing the number of DPUs, as these directly target AWS Glue job optimization for cost and performance. Partitioning reduces the amount of data scanned per run, while columnar formats minimize I/O and compression overhead, both lowering costs. Increasing DPUs accelerates processing for hundreds of GB of data, though you must balance speed against cost. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of Glue’s Spark-based execution model and the trade-offs between resource allocation and data layout. A common trap is assuming that moving data to HDFS or reducing DPUs will help—neither applies here, as S3 is the native source and fewer DPUs increase runtime. Remember the mnemonic “PDP” for Partition, columnar format (Parquet), and DPU increase to recall the three optimization levers.
DEA-C01 Data Ingestion and Transformation Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data ingestion and transformation. 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 company uses AWS Glue to transform data stored in S3. The Glue job runs daily and processes data in the range of hundreds of GB. The data engineer wants to optimize the job for cost and performance. Which THREE actions should be taken? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Increase the number of DPUs for the job
Option A is correct because using columnar formats like Parquet improves performance and reduces data scanned. Option B is correct because partitioning reduces data processed. Option D is correct because increasing the number of DPUs can speed up the job, but must be balanced with cost. Option C is wrong because S3 is already the source; moving to HDFS is not relevant. Option E is wrong because reducing DPUs would increase runtime.
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.
✗
Store intermediate data in HDFS on Amazon EMR
Why it's wrong here
Adds complexity and cost without clear benefit.
✓
Increase the number of DPUs for the job
Why this is correct
More DPUs can reduce runtime, improving cost if job runs shorter.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Reduce the number of DPUs to save cost
Why it's wrong here
Would increase runtime, potentially increasing cost.
✓
Use columnar data formats such as Parquet
Why this is correct
Improves performance and reduces data scanned.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Partition the data by date or other high-cardinality columns
Why this is correct
Reduces the amount of data processed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Data Ingestion and Transformation — This question tests Data Ingestion and Transformation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Increase the number of DPUs for the job — Option A is correct because using columnar formats like Parquet improves performance and reduces data scanned. Option B is correct because partitioning reduces data processed. Option D is correct because increasing the number of DPUs can speed up the job, but must be balanced with cost. Option C is wrong because S3 is already the source; moving to HDFS is not relevant. Option E is wrong because reducing DPUs would increase runtime.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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This DEA-C01 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 DEA-C01 exam.
Question Discussion
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