This CKAD practice question tests your understanding of application deployment. 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.
You have a HorizontalPodAutoscaler (HPA) targeting a Deployment. The HPA is configured with 'targetCPUUtilizationPercentage: 50'. The current CPU utilization is 60% across the pods. What action does the HPA take?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Scale up the Deployment to reduce per-pod CPU utilization.
Option B is correct: HPA scales up to bring actual utilization closer to the target. Option A is incorrect because scaling down when above target would increase utilization further. Option C is incorrect because HPA does not wait for sustained load; it reacts based on the metric. Option D is incorrect because HPA does not stop itself; it continues to adjust.
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.
✗
Scale down the Deployment because the target is 50%.
Why it's wrong here
Scaling down would increase per-pod CPU utilization, moving further from the target.
✗
Mark the HPA as unable to calculate metrics and stop scaling.
Why it's wrong here
Metrics are being collected; the HPA will calculate the desired replicas and scale up.
✓
Scale up the Deployment to reduce per-pod CPU utilization.
Why this is correct
By adding more pods, the load is distributed, reducing the average CPU utilization towards the target.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Take no action because the deviation is within tolerance.
Why it's wrong here
The default tolerance is 0.1 (10% of target), so 60% is above 55% (50% + 5%), triggering a scale-up.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 CKAD 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CKAD question in full detail.
Identify which CKAD exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Application Deployment — This question tests Application Deployment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Scale up the Deployment to reduce per-pod CPU utilization. — Option B is correct: HPA scales up to bring actual utilization closer to the target. Option A is incorrect because scaling down when above target would increase utilization further. Option C is incorrect because HPA does not wait for sustained load; it reacts based on the metric. Option D is incorrect because HPA does not stop itself; it continues to adjust.
What should I do if I get this CKAD question wrong?
Identify which CKAD exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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