- A
Create a separate pipeline for the development branch and configure it with the test stage.
Why wrong: While this would work, it is less efficient than using a single pipeline with a branch filter. Managing multiple pipelines adds complexity.
- B
Add a test stage in the pipeline and configure a 'branch' filter on the source action to only trigger for the development branch.
This is the recommended approach. The source action's 'Branch' field can be set to 'development', so the pipeline only executes when changes are pushed to that branch. The test stage will then run as part of that execution.
- C
Add a test stage in the pipeline and configure a 'branch' condition on the test action using a Lambda function.
Why wrong: You cannot add conditions directly to actions in CodePipeline. Using a Lambda function to check the branch would require custom logic and is overly complex.
- D
Add a test stage in the pipeline and use a 'Manual approval' action that requires a human to verify the branch.
Why wrong: Manual approval would require human intervention every time, which is not efficient and does not automatically limit the pipeline to the development branch.
DVA-C02 Deployment Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 using AWS CodePipeline with a two-stage pipeline: Source (CodeCommit) and Deploy (Elastic Beanstalk). The developer wants to add a test stage that runs unit tests using AWS CodeBuild. The test stage should run only when a specific branch (development) is pushed. Which approach should the developer use?
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
Add a test stage in the pipeline and configure a 'branch' filter on the source action to only trigger for the development branch.
Option B is correct because AWS CodePipeline allows you to configure a 'branch' filter directly on the source action (CodeCommit) to restrict which branch triggers the pipeline execution. By adding a test stage with a CodeBuild action and setting the source action's 'Branch' filter to 'development', the pipeline will only run the test stage when changes are pushed to that specific branch. This is the simplest and most native approach, requiring no additional compute or manual intervention.
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.
- ✗
Create a separate pipeline for the development branch and configure it with the test stage.
Why it's wrong here
While this would work, it is less efficient than using a single pipeline with a branch filter. Managing multiple pipelines adds complexity.
- ✓
Add a test stage in the pipeline and configure a 'branch' filter on the source action to only trigger for the development branch.
Why this is correct
This is the recommended approach. The source action's 'Branch' field can be set to 'development', so the pipeline only executes when changes are pushed to that branch. The test stage will then run as part of that execution.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add a test stage in the pipeline and configure a 'branch' condition on the test action using a Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
You cannot add conditions directly to actions in CodePipeline. Using a Lambda function to check the branch would require custom logic and is overly complex.
- ✗
Add a test stage in the pipeline and use a 'Manual approval' action that requires a human to verify the branch.
Why it's wrong here
Manual approval would require human intervention every time, which is not efficient and does not automatically limit the pipeline to the development branch.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often overcomplicate the solution by considering Lambda functions or separate pipelines, when AWS CodePipeline natively supports branch filtering directly on the source action, which is the simplest and most correct approach.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CodePipeline's source action for CodeCommit uses a CloudWatch Events rule (or webhook) that monitors the repository for push events. When you configure a 'Branch' filter, the rule includes a 'detail.referenceName' condition that matches the branch name (e.g., 'refs/heads/development'), ensuring the pipeline execution is only initiated for that branch. This filter is evaluated before the pipeline starts, so no compute resources are consumed for non-matching branches, making it cost-effective and efficient.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
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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: Add a test stage in the pipeline and configure a 'branch' filter on the source action to only trigger for the development branch. — Option B is correct because AWS CodePipeline allows you to configure a 'branch' filter directly on the source action (CodeCommit) to restrict which branch triggers the pipeline execution. By adding a test stage with a CodeBuild action and setting the source action's 'Branch' filter to 'development', the pipeline will only run the test stage when changes are pushed to that specific branch. This is the simplest and most native approach, requiring no additional compute or manual intervention.
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: Jun 11, 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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