- A
Ignore the error and promote the replica
Why wrong: Data loss may occur; the error must be resolved.
- B
Change Cloud SQL instance charset to utf8
Why wrong: utf8 in Cloud SQL is actually utf8mb4; setting to utf8 may cause issues.
- C
Change the source database charset to utf8mb4
Converting source to utf8mb4 ensures compatibility with Cloud SQL default.
- D
Use a one-time migration instead
Why wrong: One-time migration would have the same issue.
Question 87 of 980
PCD Migrate Data Solutions Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of migrate data solutions. 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.
During a continuous migration job from on-premises MySQL to Cloud SQL, the engineer notices that the migration job fails after the full dump phase with an error about character set mismatch. The source uses utf8 charset, but Cloud SQL defaults to utf8mb4. What is the best action to resolve this?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Change the source database charset to utf8mb4
The source charset 'utf8' in MySQL is actually utf8mb3 (3-byte UTF-8). Cloud SQL MySQL 8.0 defaults to utf8mb4. To avoid data loss, the source tables should be converted to utf8mb4 before migration, or the target must be configured to accept utf8mb3 if compatible.
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.
- ✗
Ignore the error and promote the replica
Why it's wrong here
Data loss may occur; the error must be resolved.
- ✗
Change Cloud SQL instance charset to utf8
Why it's wrong here
utf8 in Cloud SQL is actually utf8mb4; setting to utf8 may cause issues.
- ✓
Change the source database charset to utf8mb4
Why this is correct
Converting source to utf8mb4 ensures compatibility with Cloud SQL default.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a one-time migration instead
Why it's wrong here
One-time migration would have the same issue.
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
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PCD exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
Migrate Data Solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Migrate Data Solutions practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PCD questions
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- →
Google Professional Cloud Developer study guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Migrate Data Solutions — This question tests Migrate Data Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change the source database charset to utf8mb4 — The source charset 'utf8' in MySQL is actually utf8mb3 (3-byte UTF-8). Cloud SQL MySQL 8.0 defaults to utf8mb4. To avoid data loss, the source tables should be converted to utf8mb4 before migration, or the target must be configured to accept utf8mb3 if compatible.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Identify which PCD exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCD 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 PCD exam.
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