- A
gcloud container clusters describe
Why wrong: This command displays cluster configuration, such as node pools and machine types, but does not show real-time resource utilization. It is useful for capacity planning but not for immediate utilization checks.
- B
gcloud container clusters list
Why wrong: This command lists GKE clusters in a project, not the nodes within a cluster. It does not provide resource utilization information.
- C
gcloud container clusters get-credentials
Why wrong: This command retrieves credentials for a cluster to use with kubectl. It does not show resource utilization.
- D
gcloud compute instances list
This command lists all compute instances, including GKE cluster nodes, and shows their status. While it does not display real-time CPU/memory usage, it quickly provides a list of nodes and their current state, which can help identify if nodes are down or overutilized based on status. However, for exact resource utilization, you would use kubectl top nodes.
Google PCA GKE nodes Practice Question
This PCA practice question tests your understanding of managing implementation and ensuring solution and operations reliability. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: gKE nodes. 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.
During a load test, an application running on GKE experiences high latency and errors. You suspect the issue is due to insufficient cluster resources. Which gcloud command should you use to quickly check the current resource utilization of all nodes in the cluster?
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
gcloud compute instances list
To quickly check the current resource utilization of all nodes in a GKE cluster using gcloud, the best command among the options is gcloud compute instances list. This command lists all compute instances (including GKE nodes) with their status. You can see if nodes are running or in error state, which can indicate resource issues. However, note that this command does not provide actual CPU or memory utilization metrics; for that you would use kubectl top nodes. The other options either do not list nodes (gcloud container clusters list, get-credentials) or only show cluster configuration (gcloud container clusters describe).
Key principle: GKE nodes
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
gcloud container clusters describe
Why it's wrong here
This command displays cluster configuration, such as node pools and machine types, but does not show real-time resource utilization. It is useful for capacity planning but not for immediate utilization checks.
- ✗
gcloud container clusters list
Why it's wrong here
This command lists GKE clusters in a project, not the nodes within a cluster. It does not provide resource utilization information.
- ✗
gcloud container clusters get-credentials
Why it's wrong here
This command retrieves credentials for a cluster to use with kubectl. It does not show resource utilization.
- ✓
gcloud compute instances list
Why this is correct
This command lists all compute instances, including GKE cluster nodes, and shows their status. While it does not display real-time CPU/memory usage, it quickly provides a list of nodes and their current state, which can help identify if nodes are down or overutilized based on status. However, for exact resource utilization, you would use kubectl top nodes.
Related concept
GKE nodes
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often mistake gcloud container clusters describe for a command that shows resource utilization. While it shows node pool configuration, it does not display current usage. The correct gcloud command to list nodes is gcloud compute instances list, but for actual utilization, kubectl top nodes is needed.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This command displays cluster configuration, such as node pools and machine types, but does not show real-time resource utilization. It is useful for capacity planning but not for immediate utilization checks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- GKE nodes
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
GKE nodes
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
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Review gKE nodes, then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCA question test?
Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability — This question tests Managing Implementation and Ensuring Solution and Operations Reliability — GKE nodes.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: gcloud compute instances list — To quickly check the current resource utilization of all nodes in a GKE cluster using gcloud, the best command among the options is gcloud compute instances list. This command lists all compute instances (including GKE nodes) with their status. You can see if nodes are running or in error state, which can indicate resource issues. However, note that this command does not provide actual CPU or memory utilization metrics; for that you would use kubectl top nodes. The other options either do not list nodes (gcloud container clusters list, get-credentials) or only show cluster configuration (gcloud container clusters describe).
What should I do if I get this PCA question wrong?
Review gKE nodes, then practise related PCA questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
GKE nodes
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCA 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 PCA exam.
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