- A
CREATE TABLE mydataset.table (user_id INT64, product_id INT64, event_date DATE) PARTITION BY DATE(event_date) CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id;
Why wrong: Incorrect because it unnecessarily wraps event_date in DATE(), which is only needed for TIMESTAMP columns.
- B
CREATE TABLE mydataset.table (user_id INT64, product_id INT64, event_date DATE) PARTITION BY event_date CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id;
Correct. The syntax PARTITION BY event_date followed by CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id is the proper order.
- C
CREATE TABLE mydataset.table (user_id INT64, product_id INT64, event_date DATE) PARTITION BY event_date CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id;
Why wrong: Incorrect because it is a duplicate of option B but both cannot be correct in a single-select question.
- D
CREATE TABLE mydataset.table (user_id INT64, product_id INT64, event_date DATE) CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id PARTITION BY event_date;
Why wrong: Incorrect because CLUSTER BY must come after PARTITION BY.
PDE Partitioning Practice Question
This PDE practice question tests your understanding of designing data processing systems. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: partitioning. 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 data engineer wants to create a BigQuery table that is partitioned by day and clustered by user_id and product_id. Which SQL statement should they use?
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
CREATE TABLE mydataset.table (user_id INT64, product_id INT64, event_date DATE) PARTITION BY event_date CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id;
The correct syntax for creating a partitioned and clustered table in BigQuery requires PARTITION BY followed by CLUSTER BY in that order. Since `event_date` is of type DATE, `PARTITION BY event_date` correctly partitions by day. Option A unnecessarily wraps `event_date` in `DATE()`, which is only needed for TIMESTAMP columns. Option C is a duplicate of B and cannot be correct in a single-select question. Option D incorrectly places `CLUSTER BY` before `PARTITION BY`, which is invalid.
Key principle: Partitioning
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
CREATE TABLE mydataset.table (user_id INT64, product_id INT64, event_date DATE) PARTITION BY DATE(event_date) CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id;
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because it unnecessarily wraps event_date in DATE(), which is only needed for TIMESTAMP columns.
- ✓
CREATE TABLE mydataset.table (user_id INT64, product_id INT64, event_date DATE) PARTITION BY event_date CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id;
Why this is correct
Correct. The syntax PARTITION BY event_date followed by CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id is the proper order.
Related concept
Partitioning
- ✗
CREATE TABLE mydataset.table (user_id INT64, product_id INT64, event_date DATE) PARTITION BY event_date CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id;
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because it is a duplicate of option B but both cannot be correct in a single-select question.
- ✗
CREATE TABLE mydataset.table (user_id INT64, product_id INT64, event_date DATE) CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id PARTITION BY event_date;
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because CLUSTER BY must come after PARTITION BY.
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
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
- Partitioning
- Clustering
- BigQuery DDL order
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
Partitioning
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Partitioning Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review partitioning, then practise related PDE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PDE question test?
Designing Data Processing Systems — This question tests Designing Data Processing Systems — Partitioning.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: CREATE TABLE mydataset.table (user_id INT64, product_id INT64, event_date DATE) PARTITION BY event_date CLUSTER BY user_id, product_id; — The correct syntax for creating a partitioned and clustered table in BigQuery requires PARTITION BY followed by CLUSTER BY in that order. Since `event_date` is of type DATE, `PARTITION BY event_date` correctly partitions by day. Option A unnecessarily wraps `event_date` in `DATE()`, which is only needed for TIMESTAMP columns. Option C is a duplicate of B and cannot be correct in a single-select question. Option D incorrectly places `CLUSTER BY` before `PARTITION BY`, which is invalid.
What should I do if I get this PDE question wrong?
Review partitioning, then practise related PDE questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Partitioning
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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