The correct answer is that the job bookmark is enabled, causing the job to skip already processed data. This happens because AWS Glue job bookmarks maintain a persistent state in a DynamoDB table to track which files have been processed; on the first run, all data is new and ingested, but on subsequent runs, the bookmark mechanism compares file metadata and skips any files it has already seen, so new data added to the same input location is ignored unless the bookmark is reset or the job is configured to process new partitions. On the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer Associate MLA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Glue job bookmark behavior, often appearing as a trap where candidates assume new files in a folder are automatically picked up—they are not, because bookmarks track by file path and modification time, not by folder contents. A common memory tip is "bookmarks remember what they’ve seen; reset to refresh the scene."
MLA-C01 Data Preparation for Machine Learning Practice Question
This MLA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data preparation for machine learning. 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.
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. A Glue job runs successfully the first time but on subsequent runs with new data (added to the same input location), the job does not process the new data. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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 bookmark is enabled, causing the job to skip already processed data
Option C is correct because when a Glue job bookmark is enabled, the job tracks previously processed data using a persistent state stored in a DynamoDB table. On subsequent runs, the bookmark mechanism skips files that have already been processed, so new data added to the same input location is ignored unless the bookmark is reset or the job is configured to process new partitions. This explains why the first run succeeds but later runs do not process new data.
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 script location is incorrect
Why it's wrong here
If the script location were wrong, the job would fail on the first run.
✗
The MaxRetries is set to 0, so the job does not retry on failure
Why it's wrong here
MaxRetries does not affect processing of new data.
✓
The job bookmark is enabled, causing the job to skip already processed data
Why this is correct
Job bookmarks prevent reprocessing; new data in same path is ignored unless bookmarks are reset.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The WorkerType is Standard, which does not support incremental processing
Why it's wrong here
WorkerType affects resource allocation, not incremental processing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
AWS often tests the misconception that job bookmarks are always beneficial for incremental processing, but candidates forget that bookmarks cause the job to skip already processed data by default, which can lead to missing new data if the bookmark is not reset or the job is not designed to handle new files in the same location.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Glue job bookmarks work by writing a checkpoint to a DynamoDB table (one per job) that records the last processed file path, timestamp, or partition. For S3 sources, the bookmark compares file modification times or partition values; for JDBC sources, it uses a column (e.g., last_updated) to track new rows. A subtle behavior is that if the input path contains nested partitions and the bookmark is enabled, only new partitions are processed, but if the data is added to an existing partition (e.g., overwriting a file), the bookmark may skip it unless the job is configured with 'reprocess' or the bookmark is reset.
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
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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Data Preparation for Machine Learning — This question tests Data Preparation for Machine Learning — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The job bookmark is enabled, causing the job to skip already processed data — Option C is correct because when a Glue job bookmark is enabled, the job tracks previously processed data using a persistent state stored in a DynamoDB table. On subsequent runs, the bookmark mechanism skips files that have already been processed, so new data added to the same input location is ignored unless the bookmark is reset or the job is configured to process new partitions. This explains why the first run succeeds but later runs do not process new data.
What should I do if I get this MLA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first", "most likely". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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