TF-003 Implement and maintain state Practice Question
This TF-003 practice question tests your understanding of implement and maintain state. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Exhibit
$ terraform plan -out=tfplan
Terraform used the selected providers to generate the following execution plan. Resource actions are indicated with the following symbols:
+ create
Terraform will perform the following actions:
# aws_instance.web_server will be created
+ resource "aws_instance" "web_server" {
+ ami = "ami-0c55b159cbfafe1f0"
+ instance_type = "t2.micro"
+ subnet_id = "subnet-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8"
+ vpc_security_group_ids = [
+ "sg-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8",
]
+ tags = {
+ "Name" = "WebServer"
}
}
Plan: 1 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Saved the plan to: tfplan
To perform exactly these actions, run the following command to apply:
terraform apply "tfplan"
$ terraform apply tfplan
aws_instance.web_server: Creating...
aws_instance.web_server: Still creating... [10s elapsed]
aws_instance.web_server: Creation complete after 12s [id=i-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8]
Apply complete! Resources: 1 added, 0 changed, 0 destroyed.
$ terraform state pull | jq '.serial'
2
Refer to the exhibit. After applying the plan, the state serial number is 2. What was the serial number before the apply?
Exhibit
$ terraform plan -out=tfplan
Terraform used the selected providers to generate the following execution plan. Resource actions are indicated with the following symbols:
+ create
Terraform will perform the following actions:
# aws_instance.web_server will be created
+ resource "aws_instance" "web_server" {
+ ami = "ami-0c55b159cbfafe1f0"
+ instance_type = "t2.micro"
+ subnet_id = "subnet-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8"
+ vpc_security_group_ids = [
+ "sg-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8",
]
+ tags = {
+ "Name" = "WebServer"
}
}
Plan: 1 to add, 0 to change, 0 to destroy.
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Saved the plan to: tfplan
To perform exactly these actions, run the following command to apply:
terraform apply "tfplan"
$ terraform apply tfplan
aws_instance.web_server: Creating...
aws_instance.web_server: Still creating... [10s elapsed]
aws_instance.web_server: Creation complete after 12s [id=i-0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8]
Apply complete! Resources: 1 added, 0 changed, 0 destroyed.
$ terraform state pull | jq '.serial'
2
A
0
Why wrong: If initial serial was 0, after first change it would be 1, not 2.
B
1
Correct. Serial increments by 1 for each state modification.
C
3
Why wrong: No, that would imply two modifications.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
1
The serial number increments by 1 each time state is modified. Initially the state had serial 1 (or 0 if fresh). After the apply adding one resource, serial becomes 2, so previous serial was 1.
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.
✗
0
Why it's wrong here
If initial serial was 0, after first change it would be 1, not 2.
✓
1
Why this is correct
Correct. Serial increments by 1 for each state modification.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
3
Why it's wrong here
No, that would imply two modifications.
✗
2
Why it's wrong here
2 is the new serial, not the previous.
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 practitioner preparing for the TF-003 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which TF-003 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.
Implement and maintain state — This question tests Implement and maintain state — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 1 — The serial number increments by 1 each time state is modified. Initially the state had serial 1 (or 0 if fresh). After the apply adding one resource, serial becomes 2, so previous serial was 1.
What should I do if I get this TF-003 question wrong?
Identify which TF-003 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.
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Question Discussion
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