- A
spec: containers: - name: app cpu: 0.5 memory: 512Mi
Why wrong: CPU and memory must be under 'resources' and either 'requests' or 'limits'.
- B
spec: containers: - name: app resource: request: cpu: 1 memory: 1Gi limit: cpu: 2 memory: 2Gi
Why wrong: The field names are 'resources', 'requests', 'limits' (plural).
- C
spec: containers: - name: app resources: requests: cpu: "500m" memory: "512Mi" limits: cpu: "1" memory: "1Gi"
This is the correct YAML structure for requests and limits.
- D
spec: containers: - name: app resources: limits: cpu: "1" memory: "1Gi"
If only limits are specified, requests are set equal to limits by default.
- E
spec: containers: - name: app resources: requests: cpu: "500 millicores" memory: "512 MB"
Why wrong: The correct units are 'm' for millicores and 'Mi' for mebibytes. 'millicores' and 'MB' are not recognized.
CKA Workloads and Scheduling Practice Question
This CKA practice question tests your understanding of workloads and scheduling. 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.
Which TWO of the following are valid ways to specify resource requests and limits for a container in a pod? (Select 2)
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
spec: containers: - name: app resources: requests: cpu: "500m" memory: "512Mi" limits: cpu: "1" memory: "1Gi"
Option C is correct because it uses the correct YAML structure with a `resources` block containing `requests` and `limits` subfields, and specifies CPU as a string (e.g., "500m") and memory as a string (e.g., "512Mi") under the container spec. This matches the Kubernetes API specification for resource management in Pod containers.
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.
- ✗
spec: containers: - name: app cpu: 0.5 memory: 512Mi
Why it's wrong here
CPU and memory must be under 'resources' and either 'requests' or 'limits'.
- ✗
spec: containers: - name: app resource: request: cpu: 1 memory: 1Gi limit: cpu: 2 memory: 2Gi
Why it's wrong here
The field names are 'resources', 'requests', 'limits' (plural).
- ✓
spec: containers: - name: app resources: requests: cpu: "500m" memory: "512Mi" limits: cpu: "1" memory: "1Gi"
Why this is correct
This is the correct YAML structure for requests and limits.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
spec: containers: - name: app resources: limits: cpu: "1" memory: "1Gi"
Why this is correct
If only limits are specified, requests are set equal to limits by default.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
spec: containers: - name: app resources: requests: cpu: "500 millicores" memory: "512 MB"
Why it's wrong here
The correct units are 'm' for millicores and 'Mi' for mebibytes. 'millicores' and 'MB' are not recognized.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the singular `resource` with the correct plural `resources`, or they incorrectly place CPU/memory fields directly under the container spec without the proper nesting, mimicking the syntax of Docker Compose or older Kubernetes versions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the Kubernetes scheduler uses resource requests to determine node placement, ensuring the node has enough allocatable capacity, while limits enforce hard caps via cgroups (CPU throttling and OOM killing for memory). A subtle behavior is that CPU limits are compressible (container is throttled but not killed), whereas memory limits are incompressible (exceeding them triggers an OOM kill). In real-world scenarios, setting only limits without requests can lead to unpredictable scheduling because the scheduler has no guaranteed minimum to work with.
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 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
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.
- →
Workloads and Scheduling — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKA question test?
Workloads and Scheduling — This question tests Workloads and Scheduling — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: spec: containers: - name: app resources: requests: cpu: "500m" memory: "512Mi" limits: cpu: "1" memory: "1Gi" — Option C is correct because it uses the correct YAML structure with a `resources` block containing `requests` and `limits` subfields, and specifies CPU as a string (e.g., "500m") and memory as a string (e.g., "512Mi") under the container spec. This matches the Kubernetes API specification for resource management in Pod containers.
What should I do if I get this CKA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: 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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