← DVA-C02·Amazon Web Services

Question 1,400 of 1,616

Troubleshooting and Optimization →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is to increase the memory allocation of the Lambda function to the maximum available 10,240 MB. This works because AWS Lambda allocates CPU and network throughput proportionally with memory, so for CPU-bound tasks like pandas transformations on large CSV files, boosting memory directly increases computational power and reduces execution time. Since CloudWatch Logs show memory utilization at only 80% of the current 3,008 MB, the real bottleneck is CPU, not memory, making this the most effective fix without code changes. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that Lambda’s CPU scales linearly with memory—a common trap is assuming you need code optimization or a different runtime when the timeout is actually a resource allocation issue. Remember the memory tip: for CPU-bound Lambda timeouts, think “more memory equals more CPU,” not just more RAM.

DVA-C02 Troubleshooting and Optimization Practice Question

This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. 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 troubleshooting an AWS Lambda function that processes large CSV files (up to 1 GB) uploaded to an Amazon S3 bucket. The function uses Python and the pandas library to perform data transformations. Recently, the function started timing out on large files. CloudWatch Logs show that the function's execution time is close to the 15-minute Lambda timeout, and memory utilization peaks at around 80% of the configured 3,008 MB. The function has not been modified in months. Which action will most likely resolve the timeout issue without requiring code changes?

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.

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Study the full Python automation breakdown →

A
Increase the memory allocation of the Lambda function to the maximum available (10,240 MB)
More memory provides more CPU, speeding up the CPU-intensive pandas processing and reducing execution time below the timeout.
B
Increase the function timeout to the maximum allowed (900 seconds is already the max)
Why wrong: The Lambda function timeout maximum is 900 seconds (15 minutes). The function already reaches this limit; increasing timeout is not possible.
C
Use S3 Select to filter columns and rows before invoking the Lambda function
Why wrong: This would reduce the data size but requires code changes to integrate S3 Select, which violates the 'without code changes' constraint.
D
Increase the batch size of the S3 event notification to invoke the function with multiple files
Why wrong: The function processes one file per invocation; batch size affects how many file events are sent per invocation, but the function still handles one file at a time.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Increase the memory allocation of the Lambda function to the maximum available (10,240 MB)

Increasing the memory allocation to the maximum (10,240 MB) proportionally increases the CPU and network throughput allocated to the Lambda function, which directly reduces execution time for CPU-bound pandas operations. Since memory utilization is only at 80% of the current 3,008 MB, the bottleneck is likely CPU, not memory, and Lambda's CPU scales linearly with memory configuration. This action resolves the timeout without any code changes.

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.

✓
Increase the memory allocation of the Lambda function to the maximum available (10,240 MB)
Why this is correct
More memory provides more CPU, speeding up the CPU-intensive pandas processing and reducing execution time below the timeout.
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.
✗
Increase the function timeout to the maximum allowed (900 seconds is already the max)
Why it's wrong here
The Lambda function timeout maximum is 900 seconds (15 minutes). The function already reaches this limit; increasing timeout is not possible.
✗
Use S3 Select to filter columns and rows before invoking the Lambda function
Why it's wrong here
This would reduce the data size but requires code changes to integrate S3 Select, which violates the 'without code changes' constraint.
✗
Increase the batch size of the S3 event notification to invoke the function with multiple files
Why it's wrong here
The function processes one file per invocation; batch size affects how many file events are sent per invocation, but the function still handles one file at a time.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates assume the function needs more memory because memory utilization is at 80%, but the real bottleneck is CPU, which is tied to memory allocation in Lambda's pricing and performance model.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

AWS Lambda allocates CPU power proportionally to the configured memory, with a baseline of approximately 1 vCPU per 1,769 MB of memory. At 3,008 MB, the function gets roughly 1.7 vCPUs; increasing to 10,240 MB provides up to 6 vCPUs, dramatically accelerating pandas' vectorized operations. This is a common optimization for data-processing Lambdas where the bottleneck is CPU-bound computation, not memory exhaustion.

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.

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.

Related DVA-C02 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Development with AWS Services practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Development with AWS Services.

Security practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Security.

Deployment practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Deployment.

Troubleshooting and Optimization practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Troubleshooting and Optimization.

DVA-C02 fundamentals practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 fundamentals.

DVA-C02 scenario practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 scenario.

DVA-C02 troubleshooting practice questions

Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 troubleshooting.

Practice this exam

Start a free DVA-C02 practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

10 questions 20 questions 30 questions 50 questions Timed 30

DVA-C02 practice-test guide →Study guide →Browse all practice tests

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DVA-C02 question test?

Troubleshooting and Optimization — This question tests Troubleshooting and Optimization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Increase the memory allocation of the Lambda function to the maximum available (10,240 MB) — Increasing the memory allocation to the maximum (10,240 MB) proportionally increases the CPU and network throughput allocated to the Lambda function, which directly reduces execution time for CPU-bound pandas operations. Since memory utilization is only at 80% of the current 3,008 MB, the bottleneck is likely CPU, not memory, and Lambda's CPU scales linearly with memory configuration. This action resolves the timeout without any code changes.

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.

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.

About these practice questions

Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on DVA-C02

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. A developer is troubleshooting an AWS Lambda function that is triggered by an S3 event. The function occasionally fails with a timeout error. CloudWatch logs show that the timeout occurs during the processing of large files. The function has a memory setting of 128 MB and a timeout of 3 seconds. The developer wants to process large files without modifying the code. Which parameter should the developer adjust first?

medium

✓ A.Increase the function's memory
B.Increase the function's timeout
C.Increase the function's reserved concurrency
D.Increase the S3 event notification batch size

Why A: Increasing the function's memory is the correct first step because Lambda allocates CPU proportionally to memory, and more CPU reduces processing time for CPU-bound tasks like decompressing or parsing large files. This directly addresses the timeout by making the function complete faster, without requiring code changes. The current 128 MB setting is the minimum, which provides the least CPU, so even a modest increase can significantly reduce execution time.

Keep practising

Question Discussion

Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.

Loading comments…

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.