- A
Increase minReplicaCount to 5.
Why wrong: This would increase baseline cost.
- B
Decrease minReplicaCount to 1.
Since the number of replicas rarely exceeds 2, lowering min to 1 reduces the baseline cost, and the autoscaler can still scale up if needed.
- C
Increase maxReplicaCount to 20.
Why wrong: Increasing max will not reduce costs; it could increase them.
- D
Decrease the CPU utilization target to 50%
Why wrong: This would cause the autoscaler to add more replicas sooner, increasing costs.
Question 953 of 1,000
PMLE Serving and Scaling Models Practice Question
This PMLE practice question tests your understanding of serving and scaling models. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
You have a Vertex AI endpoint serving a model for real-time predictions. The endpoint is configured with minReplicaCount=2 and maxReplicaCount=10. Over the past week, you notice that the actual number of replicas rarely exceeds 2, but the average CPU utilization is around 85%. You want to reduce costs without impacting performance. What should you do?
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
✓
Decrease minReplicaCount to 1.
Option B is correct because decreasing minReplicaCount to 1 allows the endpoint to scale down to a single replica when traffic is low, reducing compute costs. Since the actual replica count rarely exceeds 2, the current minReplicaCount=2 forces at least two replicas to run continuously, even when one would suffice. With average CPU utilization at 85%, the model is already efficiently handling load, so scaling down to one replica will not impact performance while saving costs.
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.
- ✗
Increase minReplicaCount to 5.
Why it's wrong here
This would increase baseline cost.
- ✓
Decrease minReplicaCount to 1.
Why this is correct
Since the number of replicas rarely exceeds 2, lowering min to 1 reduces the baseline cost, and the autoscaler can still scale up if needed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase maxReplicaCount to 20.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing max will not reduce costs; it could increase them.
- ✗
Decrease the CPU utilization target to 50%
Why it's wrong here
This would cause the autoscaler to add more replicas sooner, increasing costs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume increasing minReplicaCount or maxReplicaCount improves performance, but the question focuses on cost reduction without impacting performance, and the key insight is that the current minReplicaCount is unnecessarily high given the actual scaling behavior.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Vertex AI endpoints use a target CPU utilization metric (default 60%) for autoscaling decisions via the Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA). When CPU utilization is below the target, the autoscaler reduces replicas, but minReplicaCount sets a floor that prevents scaling below that number. In this scenario, the average CPU utilization of 85% is above the default target, meaning the autoscaler would actually try to add replicas, but the fact that replicas rarely exceed 2 suggests the load is steady and the model is CPU-bound; reducing minReplicaCount to 1 allows the endpoint to scale down during idle periods, while the autoscaler will still add replicas if needed due to the high CPU utilization.
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.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMLE question test?
Serving and Scaling Models — This question tests Serving and Scaling Models — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Decrease minReplicaCount to 1. — Option B is correct because decreasing minReplicaCount to 1 allows the endpoint to scale down to a single replica when traffic is low, reducing compute costs. Since the actual replica count rarely exceeds 2, the current minReplicaCount=2 forces at least two replicas to run continuously, even when one would suffice. With average CPU utilization at 85%, the model is already efficiently handling load, so scaling down to one replica will not impact performance while saving costs.
What should I do if I get this PMLE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 PMLE 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 PMLE exam.
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