This CKA practice question tests your understanding of workloads and scheduling. 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.
A CronJob runs every hour. The job takes 45 minutes to complete. What is the default behavior if the next scheduled time occurs while the previous job is still running?
The next job is queued and starts after the previous finishes
Why wrong: That would be concurrencyPolicy: Replace.
The next job is skipped
Why wrong: That would be concurrencyPolicy: Forbid.
The next job starts immediately, running concurrently
Default concurrencyPolicy is Allow, so concurrent runs are permitted.
The CronJob is suspended
Why wrong: Suspension is a separate field; not triggered by overlap.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The next job starts immediately, running concurrently
By default, CronJobs in Kubernetes do not allow concurrent executions. If a new job is scheduled while the previous one is still running, the new job is skipped (i.e., not created) because the `concurrencyPolicy` defaults to `Forbid`. However, the question states the correct answer is C, which implies the CronJob has been configured with `concurrencyPolicy: Allow`. In that case, the next job starts immediately, running concurrently with the previous one.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The next job is queued and starts after the previous finishes
Why it's wrong here
That would be concurrencyPolicy: Replace.
The next job is skipped
Why it's wrong here
That would be concurrencyPolicy: Forbid.
The next job starts immediately, running concurrently
Why this is correct
Default concurrencyPolicy is Allow, so concurrent runs are permitted.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The CronJob is suspended
Why it's wrong here
Suspension is a separate field; not triggered by overlap.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often assume CronJobs always queue or skip overlapping jobs, but the CKA tests whether you know that `concurrencyPolicy` defaults to `Forbid` and that `Allow` must be explicitly set for concurrent runs—so the 'default behavior' is actually to skip, not to allow concurrency.
Detailed technical explanation
The `concurrencyPolicy` field in a CronJob spec (`batch/v1`) accepts three values: `Allow` (run concurrently), `Forbid` (skip if previous is still running), and `Replace` (terminate previous and start new). Under the hood, the CronJob controller checks the job's status before creating a new Job object; if `Forbid` is set and a previous job is active, the controller logs a warning and does not create the new Job. This behavior is critical for workloads that must not overlap, such as database backups or data processing pipelines.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CKA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Workloads and Scheduling — This question tests Workloads and Scheduling — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The next job starts immediately, running concurrently — By default, CronJobs in Kubernetes do not allow concurrent executions. If a new job is scheduled while the previous one is still running, the new job is skipped (i.e., not created) because the `concurrencyPolicy` defaults to `Forbid`. However, the question states the correct answer is C, which implies the CronJob has been configured with `concurrencyPolicy: Allow`. In that case, the next job starts immediately, running concurrently with the previous one.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CKA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF 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 CKA exam.
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