- A
Frequency encoding
Why wrong: Frequency encoding loses target information and may not help the model.
- B
Label encoding
Why wrong: Label encoding is similar to ordinal encoding and imposes arbitrary integer order.
- C
Ordinal encoding
Why wrong: Ordinal encoding imposes arbitrary order, which may mislead the model.
- D
Target encoding
Target encoding uses target mean per category, capturing predictive signal in one column.
- E
One-hot encoding
One-hot encoding creates 50 dummy variables, which is acceptable for medium cardinality and does not assume any order.
Question 629 of 1,000
mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
MLA-C01 Practice Question: A data scientist is preparing a dataset for a…
This MLA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of mla-c01 exam topics. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 data scientist is preparing a dataset for a multiclass classification problem. The dataset has a categorical feature with 50 unique values (medium cardinality) and a target variable with 5 classes. The scientist wants to encode the categorical feature in a way that captures the relationship with the target while keeping the number of output features manageable. Which TWO encoding methods should the scientist consider? (Select TWO.)
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
✓
Target encoding
Target encoding captures the target relationship and produces a single numeric column. Ordinal encoding assigns integers but may imply order. One-hot encoding creates 50 columns, which may be acceptable but increases dimensionality. Frequency encoding loses target signal. The best choices are target encoding (directly uses target) and one-hot encoding (if dimensionality is acceptable).
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.
- ✗
Frequency encoding
Why it's wrong here
Frequency encoding loses target information and may not help the model.
- ✗
Label encoding
Why it's wrong here
Label encoding is similar to ordinal encoding and imposes arbitrary integer order.
- ✗
Ordinal encoding
Why it's wrong here
Ordinal encoding imposes arbitrary order, which may mislead the model.
- ✓
Target encoding
Why this is correct
Target encoding uses target mean per category, capturing predictive signal in one column.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
One-hot encoding
Why this is correct
One-hot encoding creates 50 dummy variables, which is acceptable for medium cardinality and does not assume any order.
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
Label encoding is similar to ordinal encoding and imposes arbitrary integer order.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which MLA-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.
Related practice questions
Related MLA-C01 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
ML Model Development practice questions
Practise MLA-C01 questions linked to ML Model Development.
Data Preparation for Machine Learning practice questions
Practise MLA-C01 questions linked to Data Preparation for Machine Learning.
Deployment and Orchestration of ML Workflows practice questions
Practise MLA-C01 questions linked to Deployment and Orchestration of ML Workflows.
ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance, and Security practice questions
Practise MLA-C01 questions linked to ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance, and Security.
ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance and Security practice questions
Practise MLA-C01 questions linked to ML Solution Monitoring, Maintenance and Security.
MLA-C01 fundamentals practice questions
Practise MLA-C01 questions linked to MLA-C01 fundamentals.
MLA-C01 scenario practice questions
Practise MLA-C01 questions linked to MLA-C01 scenario.
MLA-C01 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise MLA-C01 questions linked to MLA-C01 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free MLA-C01 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this MLA-C01 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Target encoding — Target encoding captures the target relationship and produces a single numeric column. Ordinal encoding assigns integers but may imply order. One-hot encoding creates 50 columns, which may be acceptable but increases dimensionality. Frequency encoding loses target signal. The best choices are target encoding (directly uses target) and one-hot encoding (if dimensionality is acceptable).
What should I do if I get this MLA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which MLA-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.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This MLA-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 MLA-C01 exam.
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.
Sign in to join the discussion.