- A
Custom machine type VM with reduced memory
Why wrong: Custom machine types optimize resource allocation but don't provide the deep discounts of Spot VMs.
- B
Spot VM
Spot VMs are available at up to 91% discount and are ideal for batch workloads that tolerate interruption and implement checkpointing.
- C
Sole-tenant node VM
Why wrong: Sole-tenant nodes are used for compliance and licensing isolation — they are more expensive than standard VMs, not cheaper.
- D
Shielded VM
Why wrong: Shielded VMs add security features (Secure Boot, vTPM) but don't reduce the base VM cost.
Question 624 of 1,000
easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
Google ACE Practice Question: A batch data processing job runs nightly for 4…
This ACE practice question tests your understanding of ace exam topics. 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.
A batch data processing job runs nightly for 4 hours and can tolerate interruption because it saves progress checkpoints every 15 minutes. Which VM option offers the greatest cost reduction?
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
✓
Spot VM
Spot VMs offer significant cost reduction (up to 60-91% discount) compared to standard VMs, making them ideal for fault-tolerant, interruptible batch workloads. Since the job saves checkpoints every 15 minutes, it can resume from the last checkpoint if preempted, fully leveraging the cost benefit of Spot VMs.
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.
- ✗
Custom machine type VM with reduced memory
Why it's wrong here
Custom machine types optimize resource allocation but don't provide the deep discounts of Spot VMs.
- ✓
Spot VM
Why this is correct
Spot VMs are available at up to 91% discount and are ideal for batch workloads that tolerate interruption and implement checkpointing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Sole-tenant node VM
Why it's wrong here
Sole-tenant nodes are used for compliance and licensing isolation — they are more expensive than standard VMs, not cheaper.
- ✗
Shielded VM
Why it's wrong here
Shielded VMs add security features (Secure Boot, vTPM) but don't reduce the base VM cost.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Google Cloud often tests the misconception that custom machine types or sole-tenant nodes are cost-saving options, but the trap here is that Spot VMs are the only option that directly leverages preemptible pricing for interruptible workloads, while other options either increase cost or provide no cost benefit.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Spot VMs in GCP are surplus compute capacity that can be reclaimed at any time with a 30-second preemption notice. The checkpointing mechanism (e.g., saving state to persistent disk or Cloud Storage every 15 minutes) allows the job to resume from the last checkpoint upon reallocation, making the workload resilient to preemption. In practice, this is commonly used for data processing pipelines like Apache Spark or Hadoop jobs that support checkpointing.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ACE question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Spot VM — Spot VMs offer significant cost reduction (up to 60-91% discount) compared to standard VMs, making them ideal for fault-tolerant, interruptible batch workloads. Since the job saves checkpoints every 15 minutes, it can resume from the last checkpoint if preempted, fully leveraging the cost benefit of Spot VMs.
What should I do if I get this ACE 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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This ACE practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud 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 ACE exam.
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