The correct answer is that the job ran out of memory due to insufficient DPU allocation. When an AWS Glue job fails with an empty error message after running for exactly 3600 seconds, it typically indicates a silent resource exhaustion, such as an out-of-memory error, rather than a code or permission issue. Unlike Python exceptions or IAM failures that produce descriptive logs, memory limits cause the Spark executor to abruptly terminate without writing a clear error to the ErrorMessage field, leaving only the job run state as FAILED. On the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty MLS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Glue’s Spark environment handles resource constraints, and it’s a common trap to confuse a 1-hour execution with a timeout—but the default timeout is 2880 minutes, so the real culprit is insufficient DPUs for the data volume. Memory tip: remember that empty error messages often mean the job silently starved for resources, not that it timed out.
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.
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. A data engineer examines the output of 'aws glue get-job-run' for a failed job. The job run state is FAILED, but ErrorMessage is empty. The job ran for 3600 seconds (1 hour) before failing. What is the MOST likely cause of the failure?
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The job ran out of memory due to insufficient DPU allocation.
Option D is correct because the job ran for exactly 1 hour and then failed with no error message, indicating it hit the timeout. The default timeout is 2880 minutes (48 hours), but the job may have a custom timeout set. However, the exhibit shows Timeout: 2880 minutes, which is not hit. Wait, ExecutionTime: 3600 seconds = 60 minutes. The Timeout is 2880 minutes, so not timeout. Another common cause is out-of-memory. But the question states 'empty error message' - often Glue jobs fail silently due to resource constraints like memory. Option D: The job ran out of memory because MaxCapacity is 10 DPUs, which may be insufficient for the data size. Option A is wrong because permissions would show Access Denied error. Option B is wrong because Python errors would appear in logs. Option C is wrong because no error message suggests it's not a connection timeout.
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 JDBC connection to the source database timed out.
Why it's wrong here
Timeouts usually produce error messages.
✗
The IAM role does not have sufficient permissions to access S3.
Why it's wrong here
Permissions errors would appear in ErrorMessage.
✓
The job ran out of memory due to insufficient DPU allocation.
Why this is correct
Out-of-memory errors may not always produce a detailed error message in the job run output.
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.
✗
The Python script has a syntax error.
Why it's wrong here
Syntax errors would be reported in logs.
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: The job ran out of memory due to insufficient DPU allocation. — Option D is correct because the job ran for exactly 1 hour and then failed with no error message, indicating it hit the timeout. The default timeout is 2880 minutes (48 hours), but the job may have a custom timeout set. However, the exhibit shows Timeout: 2880 minutes, which is not hit. Wait, ExecutionTime: 3600 seconds = 60 minutes. The Timeout is 2880 minutes, so not timeout. Another common cause is out-of-memory. But the question states 'empty error message' - often Glue jobs fail silently due to resource constraints like memory. Option D: The job ran out of memory because MaxCapacity is 10 DPUs, which may be insufficient for the data size. Option A is wrong because permissions would show Access Denied error. Option B is wrong because Python errors would appear in logs. Option C is wrong because no error message suggests it's not a connection timeout.
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.
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.
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Question Discussion
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