The answer is to increase spark.executor.memory to allocate more memory per executor. This is correct because the OutOfMemoryError occurs when individual executors run out of heap space to process their assigned partitions, and raising this parameter directly expands the JVM heap available to each executor process. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of Spark resource configuration in Amazon EMR, where common traps include confusing driver memory with executor memory or assuming that adding more instances or reducing partitions will fix a per-executor memory shortage. A key memory tip is to remember that executors do the heavy lifting of data processing, so executor memory is your primary lever for OOM errors, while driver memory handles coordination and collecting results. Think of it as "executor memory for execution, driver memory for direction."
DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 Amazon EMR to run Spark jobs on data stored in S3. After upgrading the EMR cluster to a new release, one of the Spark jobs fails with 'OutOfMemoryError' in the executor. Which configuration change is MOST likely to resolve this issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Increase spark.executor.memory to allocate more memory per executor.
Option D is correct because increasing spark.executor.memory gives more memory per executor. Option A is wrong because increasing driver memory helps the driver, not executors. Option B is wrong because the number of instances doesn't directly fix executor memory. Option C is wrong because reducing partitions may cause data skew and more memory pressure.
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.
✗
Increase the number of core nodes in the EMR cluster.
Why it's wrong here
Adding nodes increases total capacity but does not fix per-executor memory limits.
✗
Decrease spark.sql.shuffle.partitions to reduce overhead.
Why it's wrong here
Fewer partitions may cause larger partitions, worsening memory issues.
✗
Increase spark.driver.memory in the Spark configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Driver memory is for the driver process, not executors.
✓
Increase spark.executor.memory to allocate more memory per executor.
Why this is correct
More memory per executor prevents OutOfMemoryError.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
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 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
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 Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Increase spark.executor.memory to allocate more memory per executor. — Option D is correct because increasing spark.executor.memory gives more memory per executor. Option A is wrong because increasing driver memory helps the driver, not executors. Option B is wrong because the number of instances doesn't directly fix executor memory. Option C is wrong because reducing partitions may cause data skew and more memory pressure.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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