The answer is to increase the spark.executor.memory configuration. This resolves the OutOfMemoryError because each executor’s JVM heap is the primary workspace for processing partitions; when large files from S3 exceed the default memory limit, the executor runs out of space and crashes. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Spark resource tuning on EMR, often appearing as a trap where candidates confuse scaling executors horizontally with increasing per-executor capacity. The key insight is that adding more executors (Option C) spreads the same total memory across more containers, leaving each executor just as starved, while reducing cores (Option A) actually lowers parallelism and can make memory pressure worse. Remember the mnemonic “OOM needs MEM” — when a single executor fails, always look to raise its individual memory ceiling before adjusting count or cores.
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 runs an Amazon EMR cluster with Spark jobs that process data from Amazon S3. The data engineer receives an alert that one of the Spark jobs failed with an OutOfMemoryError. The job processes large files and uses the default Spark configurations. Which configuration change is MOST likely to resolve the 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 the spark.executor.memory configuration.
Option D is correct because increasing spark.executor.memory gives each executor more memory to handle large data processing. Option A is wrong because reducing the number of cores would reduce parallelism, potentially worsening the problem. Option B is wrong because dynamic allocation is enabled by default and helps, but the issue is executor memory. Option C is wrong because increasing the number of executors without increasing memory per executor does not address the OOM per executor.
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 spark.executor.memory configuration.
Why this is correct
Increasing executor memory directly addresses the 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.
✗
Increase the number of executors.
Why it's wrong here
More executors spread the load but each executor still has the same memory limit.
✗
Disable dynamic resource allocation.
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic allocation helps manage resources; disabling it could worsen the issue.
✗
Decrease the number of cores per executor.
Why it's wrong here
This reduces parallelism and may not help with memory.
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 the spark.executor.memory configuration. — Option D is correct because increasing spark.executor.memory gives each executor more memory to handle large data processing. Option A is wrong because reducing the number of cores would reduce parallelism, potentially worsening the problem. Option B is wrong because dynamic allocation is enabled by default and helps, but the issue is executor memory. Option C is wrong because increasing the number of executors without increasing memory per executor does not address the OOM per executor.
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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