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.
You have a pod with resource requests: cpu: 500m, memory: 128Mi. The node has 4 CPU cores and 8Gi memory. What is the maximum number of such pods that can be scheduled on this node based on CPU only?
4
Why wrong: That would be if each pod requested 1000m.
16
Why wrong: That would be if each pod requested 250m.
6
Why wrong: No clear reason for 6.
8
4000m / 500m = 8 pods based on CPU requests.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
8
The node has 4 CPU cores, which equals 4000m (millicores). Each pod requests 500m CPU. Dividing 4000m by 500m gives 8 pods. This is the maximum number that can be scheduled based on CPU alone, assuming no other pods or system overhead. Option D is correct.
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.
4
Why it's wrong here
That would be if each pod requested 1000m.
16
Why it's wrong here
That would be if each pod requested 250m.
6
Why it's wrong here
No clear reason for 6.
8
Why this is correct
4000m / 500m = 8 pods based on CPU requests.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse CPU cores with millicores (e.g., thinking 4 cores means 4 pods at 500m each, or miscomputing 500m as half a core leading to 8 pods but then incorrectly dividing by memory limits).
Detailed technical explanation
Kubernetes scheduler uses resource requests for admission decisions, not limits. The kubelet also reserves some CPU for system daemons (e.g., kube-reserved), which can reduce the allocatable CPU. In real-world scenarios, you must check `kubectl describe node` for allocatable resources, as the node's total capacity may not be fully available for pods.
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
Workloads and Scheduling — This question tests Workloads and Scheduling — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 8 — The node has 4 CPU cores, which equals 4000m (millicores). Each pod requests 500m CPU. Dividing 4000m by 500m gives 8 pods. This is the maximum number that can be scheduled based on CPU alone, assuming no other pods or system overhead. Option D is correct.
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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