Question 180 of 1,020

Quick Answer

The answer is Top_p. This parameter controls nucleus sampling, which selects the smallest set of tokens whose combined probability mass reaches the specified threshold—in this case, 0.95—so the model ignores very low-probability tokens that could lead to nonsensical outputs. On the Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals AI-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of how to fine-tune text generation in Azure OpenAI Service, often contrasting Top_p with Temperature; a common trap is confusing Top_p (which limits the pool of tokens by cumulative probability) with Temperature (which scales the randomness of all token probabilities). Remember the memory tip: “Top_p packs the most probable tokens into a probability pool, cutting off the long tail of unlikely nonsense.”

AI-900 Practice Question: Describe features of generative AI workloads on Azure

This AI-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe features of generative ai workloads on azure. 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. A key principle to apply: top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold for token selection.. 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 developer uses Azure OpenAI Service to generate product descriptions. They want to ensure that the model only considers the most likely tokens that together have a cumulative probability of 0.95, ignoring very low-probability tokens that could lead to nonsensical outputs. Which parameter should they configure?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "most likely"

    Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1hardmultiple choice
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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

Top_p

Option B (Top_p) is correct because the developer wants to limit token selection to those with a cumulative probability of 0.95, which is exactly what the Top_p (nucleus sampling) parameter controls. By setting Top_p to 0.95, the model will only consider the smallest set of tokens whose combined probability mass reaches 0.95, effectively ignoring low-probability tokens that could produce nonsensical outputs.

Key principle: Top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold for token selection.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • Temperature

    Why it's wrong here

    Temperature scales the logits before the softmax, affecting the overall randomness of sampling. It does not directly limit the pool of tokens based on cumulative probability.

  • Top_p

    Why this is correct

    Correct. Top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold so that only the most probable tokens that together reach that threshold are considered, eliminating very unlikely tokens.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold for token selection.

  • Frequency penalty

    Why it's wrong here

    Frequency penalty reduces the tendency to repeat tokens that have already appeared in the generated text. It does not control the probability mass of candidate tokens.

  • Presence penalty

    Why it's wrong here

    Presence penalty penalizes tokens that have already been used, encouraging the model to introduce new topics. It does not restrict the token pool based on cumulative probability.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often confuse Top_p with Temperature, assuming both control randomness, but Temperature scales logits without filtering low-probability tokens, whereas Top_p directly removes them based on cumulative probability mass.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, Top_p (nucleus sampling) works by sorting all token probabilities in descending order and then selecting the smallest set of tokens whose cumulative probability exceeds the threshold (e.g., 0.95). This is distinct from Top_k sampling, which selects a fixed number of tokens regardless of their probability distribution. In real-world scenarios, Top_p is often preferred for creative text generation because it dynamically adapts the candidate pool size based on the model's confidence, reducing the risk of generating rare or nonsensical tokens while maintaining diversity.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold for token selection.
  • Tokens are sorted by probability, and only the most probable ones up to the threshold are considered.
  • It helps avoid nonsensical outputs by excluding very low-probability tokens.
  • A `top_p` value of 0.95 means 95% of the probability mass is considered.

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

Top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold for token selection.

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. Top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold for token selection. 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 top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold for token selection., then practise related AI-900 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this AI-900 question test?

Describe features of generative AI workloads on Azure — This question tests Describe features of generative AI workloads on Azure — Top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold for token selection..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Top_p — Option B (Top_p) is correct because the developer wants to limit token selection to those with a cumulative probability of 0.95, which is exactly what the Top_p (nucleus sampling) parameter controls. By setting Top_p to 0.95, the model will only consider the smallest set of tokens whose combined probability mass reaches 0.95, effectively ignoring low-probability tokens that could produce nonsensical outputs.

What should I do if I get this AI-900 question wrong?

Review top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold for token selection., then practise related AI-900 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Top_p (nucleus sampling) sets a cumulative probability threshold for token selection.

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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026

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