Quick Answer
The answer is Glue crawlers, partition indexes, and the Data Catalog. These three features work together because crawlers automatically detect and update schema changes in your source data, partition indexes enable efficient partition pruning by filtering only relevant partitions during query execution, and the Data Catalog serves as the central metadata repository that stores both the evolving schema and partition metadata. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of how Glue handles dynamic data lakes—a common scenario where schema evolution and performance optimization intersect. A frequent trap is confusing job bookmarks (which track processed state for incremental loads) with schema evolution, or assuming FindMatches (a deduplication transform) plays a role here. Remember the mnemonic “Crawlers Catalog Partitions” to link schema detection, metadata storage, and pruning optimization.
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 data engineer needs to transform data in Amazon S3 using AWS Glue. The job must handle schema evolution and partition pruning. Which THREE features should be used?
AWS Glue Data Catalog
The Data Catalog stores schema and partition metadata.
AWS Glue job bookmarks
Why wrong: Bookmarks track job state for incremental processing.
AWS Glue FindMatches transform
Why wrong: FindMatches is for record linkage.
AWS Glue crawlers
Crawlers discover schema and update the Data Catalog.
Partition indexes
Partition indexes improve query performance by pruning.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Glue Data Catalog
Options A, B, and D are correct. Glue crawlers update the schema, partitions enable pruning, and the Data Catalog stores metadata. Option C is wrong because Bookmarks are for state tracking, not schema evolution. Option E is wrong because FindMatches is for deduplication.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS Glue Data Catalog
Why this is correct
The Data Catalog stores schema and partition metadata.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Glue job bookmarks
Why it's wrong here
Bookmarks track job state for incremental processing.
AWS Glue FindMatches transform
Why it's wrong here
FindMatches is for record linkage.
AWS Glue crawlers
Why this is correct
Crawlers discover schema and update the Data Catalog.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Partition indexes
Why this is correct
Partition indexes improve query performance by pruning.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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 — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Data Ingestion and Transformation practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All DEA-C01 questions
1,786 questions across all exam domains
AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
DEA-C01 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Ingestion and Transformation.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Operations and Support.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Security and Governance.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Store Management.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to DEA-C01 fundamentals.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to DEA-C01 scenario.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to DEA-C01 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Data Ingestion and Transformation — This question tests Data Ingestion and Transformation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Glue Data Catalog — Options A, B, and D are correct. Glue crawlers update the schema, partitions enable pruning, and the Data Catalog stores metadata. Option C is wrong because Bookmarks are for state tracking, not schema evolution. Option E is wrong because FindMatches is for deduplication.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.