The answer is to increase the number of DPUs allocated to the Glue job. This is correct because AWS Glue uses Data Processing Units (DPUs) as a measure of compute capacity, and increasing them allows the job to process data in parallel across more executors, directly reducing execution time for transformations like reading Parquet, filtering rows, and writing to S3. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this tests your understanding of how to optimize Glue job performance by scaling resources, often appearing as a scenario where a job is CPU-bound or I/O-bound. A common trap is choosing to convert Parquet to CSV, which increases file size and slows processing, or reducing partitions, which decreases parallelism. Remember the memory tip: “More DPUs, more speed—Parquet stays lean, partitions stay mean.”
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.
A company uses AWS Glue to transform data in S3. The transformation job reads Parquet files, filters rows, and writes to another S3 bucket. The job takes longer than expected. Which change would MOST likely reduce the job execution time?
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 number of DPUs allocated to the Glue job.
Option B is correct because AWS Glue jobs can benefit from increased DPU allocation for parallel processing. Option A is wrong because converting to CSV would increase size and likely slow processing. Option C is wrong because reducing the number of partitions reduces parallelism, increasing time. Option D is wrong because using a single file does not improve parallelism.
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 a single large file instead of multiple small files.
Why it's wrong here
Multiple small files allow better parallelism than a single large file.
✗
Reduce the number of partitions in the output data.
Why it's wrong here
Fewer partitions reduce parallelism.
✗
Convert the input files from Parquet to CSV format.
Why it's wrong here
CSV is less efficient than Parquet for analytical queries.
✓
Increase the number of DPUs allocated to the Glue job.
Why this is correct
More DPUs allow more parallel processing, reducing runtime.
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 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: Increase the number of DPUs allocated to the Glue job. — Option B is correct because AWS Glue jobs can benefit from increased DPU allocation for parallel processing. Option A is wrong because converting to CSV would increase size and likely slow processing. Option C is wrong because reducing the number of partitions reduces parallelism, increasing time. Option D is wrong because using a single file does not improve parallelism.
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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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
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