- A
Use sole-tenant nodes to improve performance.
Why wrong: Sole-tenant nodes are reserved for hardware isolation and are more expensive, not cost effective for this workload.
- B
Use a mix of preemptible and regular VMs to ensure at least some progress if preempted.
Why wrong: Mixing adds complexity and cost; the job already handles interruptions, so all preemptible is sufficient.
- C
Use preemptible VMs for all instances, as the job can resume from checkpoints.
Preemptible VMs offer cost savings of 60-80% and are ideal for fault-tolerant batch jobs that can checkpoint progress.
- D
Use regular VMs with committed use discounts for a 1-year term.
Why wrong: Committed use discounts require a 1-year term and are more expensive than preemptible, especially for nightly jobs.
PCDOE Preemptible VMs Practice Question
This PCDOE practice question tests your understanding of managing google cloud costs. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: preemptible VMs. 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 startup runs a batch data processing job every night. The job processes large datasets and takes about 6 hours to complete. The job is designed to handle interruptions gracefully by saving checkpoint files to Cloud Storage every few minutes. The startup wants to minimize compute costs. The current setup uses a managed instance group with 10 n1-standard-4 VMs running for the entire 6-hour window. They are considering using preemptible VMs. However, they are concerned about cost stability and potential preemption. What should they do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Use preemptible VMs for all instances, as the job can resume from checkpoints.
Option C is correct because the job is fault-tolerant and can resume from checkpoints, making preemptible VMs suitable and significantly cheaper. Option A is not relevant as sole-tenant nodes do not reduce cost. Option B adds unnecessary complexity and still uses regular VMs. Option D requires a long-term commitment and is more expensive than preemptible VMs.
Key principle: Preemptible VMs
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use sole-tenant nodes to improve performance.
Why it's wrong here
Sole-tenant nodes are reserved for hardware isolation and are more expensive, not cost effective for this workload.
- ✗
Use a mix of preemptible and regular VMs to ensure at least some progress if preempted.
Why it's wrong here
Mixing adds complexity and cost; the job already handles interruptions, so all preemptible is sufficient.
- ✓
Use preemptible VMs for all instances, as the job can resume from checkpoints.
Why this is correct
Preemptible VMs offer cost savings of 60-80% and are ideal for fault-tolerant batch jobs that can checkpoint progress.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Preemptible VMs
- ✗
Use regular VMs with committed use discounts for a 1-year term.
Why it's wrong here
Committed use discounts require a 1-year term and are more expensive than preemptible, especially for nightly jobs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates may think preemptible VMs are unreliable for critical jobs, but the checkpoint mechanism makes them viable here.
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
- Preemptible VMs
- Fault-tolerant job design
- Cost optimization on Google Cloud
- Checkpointing
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
Preemptible VMs
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.
Review preemptible VMs, then practise related PCDOE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Managing Google Cloud costs — study guide chapter
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Managing Google Cloud costs practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCDOE question test?
Managing Google Cloud costs — This question tests Managing Google Cloud costs — Preemptible VMs.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use preemptible VMs for all instances, as the job can resume from checkpoints. — Option C is correct because the job is fault-tolerant and can resume from checkpoints, making preemptible VMs suitable and significantly cheaper. Option A is not relevant as sole-tenant nodes do not reduce cost. Option B adds unnecessary complexity and still uses regular VMs. Option D requires a long-term commitment and is more expensive than preemptible VMs.
What should I do if I get this PCDOE question wrong?
Review preemptible VMs, then practise related PCDOE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Preemptible VMs
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PCDOE 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 PCDOE exam.
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