The answer is to review the job's CloudWatch Logs for detailed error messages. This is the correct first step because the generic "Unknown error" from pyWriteDynamicFrame indicates the job failed at the write stage, but the root cause—whether a network timeout, permission issue, or data type mismatch—is hidden behind a vague wrapper. CloudWatch Logs capture the full Apache Spark driver and executor logs, which will surface the underlying exception that AWS Glue suppresses in its high-level error. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that Glue jobs log granular Spark errors to CloudWatch, not just the console output; a common trap is jumping to fix the Redshift connection or schema without first reading the logs. Memory tip: when Glue says "Unknown," your first move is to look at the logs—think "Glue’s error is a mask; CloudWatch is the key to unmask it."
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 data engineer is troubleshooting an AWS Glue ETL job that suddenly started failing with 'An error occurred while calling o103.pyWriteDynamicFrame. Unknown error'. The job writes data to an Amazon Redshift table. Which step should the engineer take FIRST?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Review the job's CloudWatch Logs for detailed error messages.
Option A is correct because the error is generic; checking CloudWatch Logs provides more details. Option B is wrong because it assumes a JDBC driver issue without evidence. Option C is wrong because testing a small dataset may not reproduce the issue. Option D is wrong because the error is not specific to table structure.
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.
✗
Recreate the Redshift table with a different distribution style.
Why it's wrong here
Not likely related to the error.
✗
Test the job with a small sample dataset to isolate the issue.
Why it's wrong here
May not reproduce the error if it's data-dependent.
✗
Update the Redshift JDBC driver version in the Glue job.
Why it's wrong here
Unlikely to be the root cause; should investigate first.
✓
Review the job's CloudWatch Logs for detailed error messages.
Why this is correct
CloudWatch Logs contain the stack trace and root cause.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" 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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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: Review the job's CloudWatch Logs for detailed error messages. — Option A is correct because the error is generic; checking CloudWatch Logs provides more details. Option B is wrong because it assumes a JDBC driver issue without evidence. Option C is wrong because testing a small dataset may not reproduce the issue. Option D is wrong because the error is not specific to table structure.
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: "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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Question Discussion
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