PCDE Design and implement database schemas Practice Question
This PCDE practice question tests your understanding of design and implement database schemas. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
ERROR: (gcloud.bigquery.query) Error executing query: Query error: Query exceeded resource limits for tier 1. For details, see BigQuery tier 1 resource limits: https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/tiers
A data scientist runs a complex SQL query on a large BigQuery dataset and receives the above error. The query joins 10 tables and uses multiple window functions. Which action is most likely to resolve the issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
ERROR: (gcloud.bigquery.query) Error executing query: Query error: Query exceeded resource limits for tier 1. For details, see BigQuery tier 1 resource limits: https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/tiers
A
Apply for a quota increase for concurrent queries.
Why wrong: This error is not about concurrency.
B
Increase the number of slots allocated to the project.
Why wrong: Slots affect parallelism, not the complexity limit per query.
C
Use the '--maximum_billing_tier' flag to increase the billing tier.
Why wrong: The billing tier flag is deprecated and not available in all versions.
D
Simplify the query by reducing the number of joins or using a temporary table.
Reducing query complexity lowers resource demands and can stay within tier limits.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Simplify the query by reducing the number of joins or using a temporary table.
The error is likely a resource or memory exhaustion error caused by the complexity of the query (10 joins and multiple window functions). Simplifying the query by reducing joins or using temporary tables reduces the amount of data shuffled and processed in a single stage, directly addressing the root cause. In BigQuery, complex queries with many joins and window functions can exceed slot memory limits, and breaking them into simpler steps avoids this.
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.
✗
Apply for a quota increase for concurrent queries.
Why it's wrong here
This error is not about concurrency.
✗
Increase the number of slots allocated to the project.
Why it's wrong here
Slots affect parallelism, not the complexity limit per query.
✗
Use the '--maximum_billing_tier' flag to increase the billing tier.
Why it's wrong here
The billing tier flag is deprecated and not available in all versions.
✓
Simplify the query by reducing the number of joins or using a temporary table.
Why this is correct
Reducing query complexity lowers resource demands and can stay within tier limits.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common misconception in BigQuery is that increasing slot allocation or concurrency limits will resolve resource exhaustion errors caused by complex queries. In reality, the root cause is often query complexity, and simplifying the query (e.g., by reducing joins or using temporary tables) directly addresses memory and slot limits.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
BigQuery executes queries in a distributed shuffle architecture where each stage has a memory limit (typically a few GB per slot). Joining 10 tables with window functions can cause a single stage to exceed this limit, resulting in a 'resources exceeded' error. Using temporary tables materializes intermediate results, allowing BigQuery to process the query in separate, smaller stages that each fit within slot memory. This is a common pattern for ETL pipelines that need to handle large, complex transformations.
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.
Visual reference
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.
Design and implement database schemas — This question tests Design and implement database schemas — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Simplify the query by reducing the number of joins or using a temporary table. — The error is likely a resource or memory exhaustion error caused by the complexity of the query (10 joins and multiple window functions). Simplifying the query by reducing joins or using temporary tables reduces the amount of data shuffled and processed in a single stage, directly addressing the root cause. In BigQuery, complex queries with many joins and window functions can exceed slot memory limits, and breaking them into simpler steps avoids this.
What should I do if I get this PCDE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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