- A
Use pushdown predicates to filter data at the source
Filters data early, reducing data scanned.
- B
Increase the number of DPUs to the maximum allowed
Why wrong: More DPUs than needed can cause resource contention and overhead.
- C
Use the smallest possible file size for input data
Why wrong: Many small files increase processing overhead.
- D
Enable AWS Glue job metrics and debug logging
Why wrong: Debug logging adds overhead; metrics are for monitoring, not performance.
- E
Use column pruning to select only required columns
Reduces data volume processed and shuffled.
Question 685 of 1,786
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.
Which TWO practices improve the performance of AWS Glue ETL jobs? (Choose two.)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use pushdown predicates to filter data at the source
Pushdown predicates (Option A) improve AWS Glue ETL performance by filtering data at the source before it is read into the job. This reduces the volume of data transferred and processed, which is especially effective when using formats like Parquet or ORC that support predicate pushdown natively. By applying filters early, Glue avoids scanning unnecessary partitions or rows, leading to faster execution and lower costs.
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.
- ✓
Use pushdown predicates to filter data at the source
Why this is correct
Filters data early, reducing data scanned.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the number of DPUs to the maximum allowed
Why it's wrong here
More DPUs than needed can cause resource contention and overhead.
- ✗
Use the smallest possible file size for input data
Why it's wrong here
Many small files increase processing overhead.
- ✗
Enable AWS Glue job metrics and debug logging
Why it's wrong here
Debug logging adds overhead; metrics are for monitoring, not performance.
- ✓
Use column pruning to select only required columns
Why this is correct
Reduces data volume processed and shuffled.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse monitoring features (like enabling metrics and logging) with performance optimizations, or mistakenly believe that maximizing resources (DPUs) always improves speed, ignoring the overhead of small files and the benefits of early filtering and column selection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Pushdown predicates work by leveraging the data source's native filtering capabilities—for example, when reading from Amazon S3 with Parquet files, Glue uses the Parquet row group statistics to skip entire row groups that do not match the filter. Column pruning (Option E) reduces the amount of data read by selecting only the columns needed for transformations, which minimizes I/O and memory usage; this is particularly effective with columnar storage formats like Parquet or ORC, where reading fewer columns directly reduces the data scanned from disk.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
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: Use pushdown predicates to filter data at the source — Pushdown predicates (Option A) improve AWS Glue ETL performance by filtering data at the source before it is read into the job. This reduces the volume of data transferred and processed, which is especially effective when using formats like Parquet or ORC that support predicate pushdown natively. By applying filters early, Glue avoids scanning unnecessary partitions or rows, leading to faster execution and lower costs.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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