- A
The SAM template contains a syntax error.
A malformed template prevents CloudFormation from creating a changeset, resulting in this error.
- B
The S3 bucket specified for artifacts does not exist.
Why wrong: A missing S3 bucket causes an upload error, not a changeset creation failure.
- C
The IAM user does not have permission to create CloudFormation stacks.
Why wrong: Insufficient permissions cause an 'AccessDeniedException' before changeset creation.
- D
AWS CodeDeploy is not configured for the application.
Why wrong: CodeDeploy is not required for SAM deployments; its absence does not cause this error.
Question 592 of 1,616
Fix AWS SAM Deploy Error: Failed to Create Changeset
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. 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 developer is deploying a serverless application using the AWS Serverless Application Model (SAM). The developer runs 'sam deploy' and receives an error: 'Error: Failed to create changeset for the stack.' What is a common cause of this error?
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
✓
The SAM template contains a syntax error.
The 'Failed to create changeset for the stack' error typically occurs when the SAM template contains a syntax error, such as invalid YAML formatting, missing required properties, or incorrect resource definitions. AWS CloudFormation validates the template before creating a changeset, and any syntax issue will cause the changeset creation to fail immediately. This is the most common cause because SAM templates are YAML-based and prone to indentation or structural mistakes.
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 SAM template contains a syntax error.
Why this is correct
A malformed template prevents CloudFormation from creating a changeset, resulting in this error.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The S3 bucket specified for artifacts does not exist.
Why it's wrong here
A missing S3 bucket causes an upload error, not a changeset creation failure.
- ✗
The IAM user does not have permission to create CloudFormation stacks.
Why it's wrong here
Insufficient permissions cause an 'AccessDeniedException' before changeset creation.
- ✗
AWS CodeDeploy is not configured for the application.
Why it's wrong here
CodeDeploy is not required for SAM deployments; its absence does not cause this error.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse changeset creation failures with permission or bucket issues, but the error message specifically points to template validation, not infrastructure or IAM problems.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When 'sam deploy' runs, it first packages the template and uploads artifacts to S3, then calls CloudFormation's CreateChangeSet API. CloudFormation parses the template and validates it against the AWS resource schema; any YAML syntax error (e.g., incorrect indentation, missing quotes, or invalid intrinsic function like Fn::Sub) will cause the API to reject the template with a ValidationError. This is distinct from runtime errors or permission issues, which occur at different stages of the deployment lifecycle.
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 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.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Deployment — This question tests Deployment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The SAM template contains a syntax error. — The 'Failed to create changeset for the stack' error typically occurs when the SAM template contains a syntax error, such as invalid YAML formatting, missing required properties, or incorrect resource definitions. AWS CloudFormation validates the template before creating a changeset, and any syntax issue will cause the changeset creation to fail immediately. This is the most common cause because SAM templates are YAML-based and prone to indentation or structural mistakes.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 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
This DVA-C02 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 DVA-C02 exam.
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