- A
Use spot VMs by setting 'spot' to true in the machine spec
Spot VMs are discounted preemptible instances, suitable for fault-tolerant jobs.
- B
Use custom machine types with preemptible flag
Why wrong: Custom machine types exist, but 'preemptible' is not a flag; use 'spot'.
- C
Use standard VMs and rely on Vertex AI auto-restart
Why wrong: Standard VMs are more expensive. Auto-restart is for job failure, not cost reduction.
- D
Use TPU VMs because they are cheaper
Why wrong: TPUs are not typically cheaper and are not spot instances.
Question 684 of 1,000
PMLE Scaling Prototypes into ML Models Practice Question
This PMLE practice question tests your understanding of scaling prototypes into ml 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 want to reduce training costs by using preemptible VMs on Vertex AI for a fault-tolerant distributed training job that uses checkpointing. Which machine type should you choose in the worker pool configuration?
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 spot VMs by setting 'spot' to true in the machine spec
Vertex AI supports spot VMs (formerly preemptible) for training. By setting 'spot' to true, you use preemptible instances at a discount. The training must handle preemption via checkpointing.
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.
- ✓
Use spot VMs by setting 'spot' to true in the machine spec
Why this is correct
Spot VMs are discounted preemptible instances, suitable for fault-tolerant jobs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use custom machine types with preemptible flag
Why it's wrong here
Custom machine types exist, but 'preemptible' is not a flag; use 'spot'.
- ✗
Use standard VMs and rely on Vertex AI auto-restart
Why it's wrong here
Standard VMs are more expensive. Auto-restart is for job failure, not cost reduction.
- ✗
Use TPU VMs because they are cheaper
Why it's wrong here
TPUs are not typically cheaper and are not spot instances.
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 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 PMLE 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMLE question test?
Scaling Prototypes into ML Models — This question tests Scaling Prototypes into ML Models — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use spot VMs by setting 'spot' to true in the machine spec — Vertex AI supports spot VMs (formerly preemptible) for training. By setting 'spot' to true, you use preemptible instances at a discount. The training must handle preemption via checkpointing.
What should I do if I get this PMLE question wrong?
Identify which PMLE 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.
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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