The answer is the cost model, execution environment, and integration with other AWS services. When choosing between AWS Glue and Amazon EMR for data transformation, a data engineer must evaluate whether the job benefits from Glue’s serverless, pay-per-DPU pricing or EMR’s per-instance model, which offers more control over cluster configuration and cost for long-running or custom workloads. The execution environment matters because Glue provides a managed Spark or Python shell with automatic scaling, while EMR gives full access to the underlying EC2 instances for fine-tuned performance tuning. Integration with services like AWS Lake Formation or Redshift Spectrum also differs, as Glue offers native catalog integration and EMR supports broader ecosystem tools like Hive or Presto. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between managed serverless and customizable cluster-based services, with a common trap being to assume both output only to S3 or that only Glue uses clusters. Remember the mnemonic “C-E-I” for Cost, Execution, and Integration to keep the three deciding factors straight.
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 THREE factors should a data engineer consider when choosing between AWS Glue and Amazon EMR for a data transformation job? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The level of control over the execution environment and dependencies
Options A, B, and C are correct. Option D is not a direct factor because both can output to S3. Option E is incorrect because EMR also uses clusters.
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.
✗
The ability to output results to Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
Both can output to S3.
✗
The support for Apache Spark
Why it's wrong here
Both support Spark.
✓
The level of control over the execution environment and dependencies
Why this is correct
EMR offers more control; Glue is less customizable.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The need for a serverless vs. cluster-based environment
Why this is correct
Glue is serverless; EMR requires cluster management.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The cost model: pay per DPU for Glue vs. per instance for EMR
Why this is correct
Pricing models differ significantly.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Both can output to S3.
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 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 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: The level of control over the execution environment and dependencies — Options A, B, and C are correct. Option D is not a direct factor because both can output to S3. Option E is incorrect because EMR also uses clusters.
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.
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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