- A
Upgrade kubeadm, then Drain the node, then Upgrade kubelet and kubectl, then Uncordon the node
This is the correct order because kubeadm must be upgraded first to have the new version's tools. Draining the node ensures all pods are evicted before upgrading the kubelet and kubectl components. After upgrading, uncordoning allows the node to return to normal operation.
- B
Drain the node, then Upgrade kubeadm, then Upgrade kubelet and kubectl, then Uncordon the node
Why wrong: This is incorrect because upgrading kubeadm should happen before draining the node. Draining uses kubectl, which is separate, but the official upgrade process upgrades kubeadm first for consistency. More importantly, draining before upgrading kubeadm may cause issues if the old kubeadm is used during the drain process.
- C
Upgrade kubeadm, then Upgrade kubelet and kubectl, then Drain the node, then Uncordon the node
Why wrong: This is incorrect because upgrading kubelet and kubectl should occur after draining the node. If you upgrade these components before draining, the node continues running with the new kubelet while still hosting old pods, risking compatibility issues. Draining first ensures a clean upgrade.
- D
Upgrade kubeadm, then Drain the node, then Uncordon the node, then Upgrade kubelet and kubectl
Why wrong: This is incorrect because uncordoning the node before upgrading kubelet and kubectl allows new pods to be scheduled on a node still running the old kubelet and kubectl versions, which are not compatible with the new control plane. The upgrade of these components must happen before uncordoning.
Kubernetes Cluster Upgrade Steps: Control Plane First
This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. 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.
Order the steps to perform a Kubernetes cluster upgrade from version 1.24 to 1.25.
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
Upgrade kubeadm, then Drain the node, then Upgrade kubelet and kubectl, then Uncordon the node
Upgrade involves upgrading kubeadm, draining, applying upgrade, upgrading worker nodes, and verifying.
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.
- ✓
Upgrade kubeadm, then Drain the node, then Upgrade kubelet and kubectl, then Uncordon the node
Why this is correct
This is the correct order because kubeadm must be upgraded first to have the new version's tools. Draining the node ensures all pods are evicted before upgrading the kubelet and kubectl components. After upgrading, uncordoning allows the node to return to normal operation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Drain the node, then Upgrade kubeadm, then Upgrade kubelet and kubectl, then Uncordon the node
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because upgrading kubeadm should happen before draining the node. Draining uses kubectl, which is separate, but the official upgrade process upgrades kubeadm first for consistency. More importantly, draining before upgrading kubeadm may cause issues if the old kubeadm is used during the drain process.
- ✗
Upgrade kubeadm, then Upgrade kubelet and kubectl, then Drain the node, then Uncordon the node
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because upgrading kubelet and kubectl should occur after draining the node. If you upgrade these components before draining, the node continues running with the new kubelet while still hosting old pods, risking compatibility issues. Draining first ensures a clean upgrade.
- ✗
Upgrade kubeadm, then Drain the node, then Uncordon the node, then Upgrade kubelet and kubectl
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because uncordoning the node before upgrading kubelet and kubectl allows new pods to be scheduled on a node still running the old kubelet and kubectl versions, which are not compatible with the new control plane. The upgrade of these components must happen before uncordoning.
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 CKS 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 CKS 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.
- →
Cluster Setup and Hardening — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKS question test?
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Upgrade kubeadm, then Drain the node, then Upgrade kubelet and kubectl, then Uncordon the node — Upgrade involves upgrading kubeadm, draining, applying upgrade, upgrading worker nodes, and verifying.
What should I do if I get this CKS question wrong?
Identify which CKS 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.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on CKS
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. A DevOps team is tasked with upgrading a Kubernetes cluster from version 1.21 to 1.22. They want to minimize downtime and follow best practices. Which approach should they take?
easy- A.Upgrade worker nodes first, then the control plane
- B.Upgrade etcd to 1.22 first, then the API server
- ✓ C.Upgrade the control plane from 1.21 to 1.22 first, then upgrade worker nodes
- D.Drain all nodes, then upgrade all components to 1.22 at once
Why C: Option C is correct because the Kubernetes upgrade process mandates upgrading the control plane first, as it is the authoritative source for cluster state and API operations. Worker nodes can then be upgraded to match the control plane version, ensuring compatibility and minimizing downtime by allowing workloads to continue running during the node upgrade phase.
Keep practising
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CKS 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 CKS exam.
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