The correct answer is to enable job bookmarks and use G.2X workers to optimize AWS Glue job performance and memory. Job bookmarks track previously processed data in your S3 source, ensuring that only new or changed files are read during each hourly run, which directly reduces processing time and eliminates redundant work. The G.2X worker type provides double the memory of the standard G.1X worker, giving your Spark executors the headroom needed to handle variable data spikes without failing. On the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty MLS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of Glue’s built-in optimization features versus superficial fixes like changing schedule frequency or downsizing workers—a common trap is assuming more frequent runs solve performance issues, when they actually compound them. Remember the memory tip: “Bookmarks block reprocessing, G.2X gives memory excess.”
MLS-C01 Data Engineering Practice Question
This MLS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data engineering. 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 team is building a data pipeline that ingests data from an Amazon S3 bucket, transforms it using AWS Glue, and loads it into Amazon Redshift for analysis. The Glue job runs on a schedule every hour. The team has noticed that the job takes longer than expected and sometimes fails due to memory issues. The data volume is variable, with occasional spikes. Which solution should the team implement to optimize the pipeline?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable job bookmarks to process only new data and use a G.2X worker type for more memory.
Option C is correct because Glue Job Bookmarks help track processed data and avoid reprocessing, and using a larger worker type with more memory can handle spikes. Option A is wrong because increasing the schedule frequency would not address the root cause. Option B is wrong because using a smaller worker type would worsen memory issues. Option D is wrong because Spark is already used internally.
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.
✗
Decrease the number of workers to reduce memory contention.
Why it's wrong here
Fewer workers may cause memory issues to persist.
✓
Enable job bookmarks to process only new data and use a G.2X worker type for more memory.
Why this is correct
Job bookmarks prevent reprocessing and larger workers provide more memory.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the schedule frequency to run the job more often with smaller data increments.
Why it's wrong here
More frequent runs may increase overhead but not fix memory issues.
✗
Replace AWS Glue with Amazon EMR using Spark.
Why it's wrong here
EMR also uses Spark and requires more management.
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 MLS-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 Engineering — This question tests Data Engineering — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable job bookmarks to process only new data and use a G.2X worker type for more memory. — Option C is correct because Glue Job Bookmarks help track processed data and avoid reprocessing, and using a larger worker type with more memory can handle spikes. Option A is wrong because increasing the schedule frequency would not address the root cause. Option B is wrong because using a smaller worker type would worsen memory issues. Option D is wrong because Spark is already used internally.
What should I do if I get this MLS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which MLS-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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This MLS-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 MLS-C01 exam.
Question Discussion
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