Quick Answer
The answer is that the node is under memory pressure and cannot admit the pod. This is correct because when a Kubernetes node’s kubelet detects memory pressure, it sets a corresponding condition that triggers eviction thresholds, causing the scheduler to refuse admission for new pods—except those with a Guaranteed QoS class—to prevent further resource exhaustion. On the Certified Kubernetes Administrator CKA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of kubelet node conditions and pod scheduling constraints, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly blame resource requests or taints. A common memory tip is to recall that “memory pressure” means the node is protecting itself, not that the pod lacks resources; the pod stays Pending because the node actively rejects new workloads. Remember: pressure blocks admission, not resources.
This CKA practice question tests your understanding of cluster architecture, installation and configuration. 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.
An admin runs 'kubectl get pods' and sees a pod in 'Pending' state for a long time. 'kubectl describe pod' shows '0/1 nodes are available: 1 node has memory pressure'. Which 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: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
The node's disk is full.
Why wrong: Disk pressure would show disk pressure message.
The pod's image pull secret is missing.
Why wrong: Image pull issues cause ImagePullBackOff, not Pending.
The node is under memory pressure and cannot admit the pod.
Memory pressure prevents the scheduler from placing the pod on that node.
The pod requires more CPU than any node can provide.
Why wrong: CPU pressure would show a different message.
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 node is under memory pressure and cannot admit the pod.
The '0/1 nodes are available: 1 node has memory pressure' message in `kubectl describe pod` indicates that the kubelet on the node has set a memory pressure condition, which triggers eviction thresholds. When a node is under memory pressure, the kubelet refuses to admit new pods (except those with QoS class Guaranteed) to prevent further resource exhaustion, leaving the pod stuck in Pending state. This matches option C exactly.
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 node's disk is full.
Why it's wrong here
Disk pressure would show disk pressure message.
The pod's image pull secret is missing.
Why it's wrong here
Image pull issues cause ImagePullBackOff, not Pending.
The node is under memory pressure and cannot admit the pod.
Why this is correct
Memory pressure prevents the scheduler from placing the pod on that node.
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 pod requires more CPU than any node can provide.
Why it's wrong here
CPU pressure would show a different message.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the distinction between different node pressure conditions (memory vs. disk vs. PID) and their corresponding error messages, so candidates must recognize that 'memory pressure' is a specific kubelet condition, not a generic resource shortage.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Disk pressure would show disk pressure message.
Detailed technical explanation
Memory pressure is detected by the kubelet using the cAdvisor or cgroup memory usage metrics, comparing them against eviction thresholds defined in `--eviction-hard` (e.g., `memory.available<100Mi`). When triggered, the node sets `NodeHasMemoryPressure` condition to True, and the scheduler's NodeResourcesFit plugin filters out the node for non-Guaranteed pods. In real-world scenarios, this often occurs when a node runs out of memory due to a memory leak in a container or misconfigured resource limits.
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Cluster Architecture, Installation and Configuration — This question tests Cluster Architecture, Installation and Configuration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The node is under memory pressure and cannot admit the pod. — The '0/1 nodes are available: 1 node has memory pressure' message in `kubectl describe pod` indicates that the kubelet on the node has set a memory pressure condition, which triggers eviction thresholds. When a node is under memory pressure, the kubelet refuses to admit new pods (except those with QoS class Guaranteed) to prevent further resource exhaustion, leaving the pod stuck in Pending state. This matches option C exactly.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An admin runs 'kubectl get pods' and sees a pod in the 'Pending' state. Which is the most likely cause?
mediumWhy C: A pod in 'Pending' state indicates that the pod has been accepted by the Kubernetes API server but is not yet running. The most common cause is that the scheduler cannot find a node that satisfies the pod's resource requests (CPU, memory) or other scheduling constraints (taints, node selector, affinity rules). This results in the pod remaining unscheduled, hence 'Pending'.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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