The answer is to configure the SageMaker Processing job to use the local instance store for scratch space. This resolves the insufficient disk space issue without increasing cost because local instance store volumes, typically NVMe SSDs, are physically attached to the compute host and provide temporary, high-throughput storage at no additional charge, unlike EBS volumes which incur separate costs. On the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty MLS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of SageMaker Processing instance storage options and cost optimization—a common trap is assuming you must upgrade to a larger instance type, which would raise costs. Remember that local instance store is ephemeral and ideal for scratch data that doesn’t need persistence, while EBS is for durable, persistent storage. A useful memory tip: “Scratch space? Go local—it’s free and fast.”
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 company is using Amazon SageMaker to train a model on a dataset that is updated daily. The data is stored in an S3 bucket. The training pipeline uses AWS Step Functions to orchestrate data preprocessing and model training. The preprocessing step uses a SageMaker Processing job that reads data from S3, cleans it, and writes the output back to S3. The team notices that the training step often fails due to insufficient disk space on the processing instance. Which change should the team make to resolve this issue without increasing cost?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the processing job to use local instance store (SSD) for scratch space.
Option B is correct because using local instance store provides more disk space at no extra cost compared to EBS. Option A is wrong because using a different instance type may increase cost. Option C is wrong because using S3 as intermediate storage is not the issue. Option D is wrong because the team already uses SageMaker Processing, which is appropriate.
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.
✗
Enable automatic scaling for the processing job.
Why it's wrong here
Scaling does not increase disk space per instance.
✗
Use AWS Batch instead of SageMaker Processing.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Batch also runs on EC2 and may have similar disk limitations.
✗
Use a larger instance type with more memory.
Why it's wrong here
Larger instances increase cost and may not address disk space specifically.
✓
Configure the processing job to use local instance store (SSD) for scratch space.
Why this is correct
Local instance store provides additional disk space without additional cost.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
AWS Batch also runs on EC2 and may have similar disk limitations.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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: Configure the processing job to use local instance store (SSD) for scratch space. — Option B is correct because using local instance store provides more disk space at no extra cost compared to EBS. Option A is wrong because using a different instance type may increase cost. Option C is wrong because using S3 as intermediate storage is not the issue. Option D is wrong because the team already uses SageMaker Processing, which is appropriate.
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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