- A
index=main | eventstats avg(response_time) as avg by category | stats count as cnt by category | where cnt>=100 | sort -avg | head 5
Why wrong: This option uses eventstats and stats to compute average and count per category, but it does not filter events based on status or response_time. It also references 'avg' in a sort command after the where clause, which is not allowed.
- B
index=main | top category | eval avg=avg(response_time) | where count>=100
Why wrong: This option uses top category and then attempts to compute average with eval, but it does not filter events and has incorrect syntax (eval cannot compute avg on a field without aggregation).
- C
index=main | stats avg(response_time) as avg by category | where cnt>=100 | sort -avg | head 5
Why wrong: This option uses stats to compute average by category but does not include a count field, so the subsequent 'where cnt>=100' will fail because 'cnt' is not defined. No status filter is applied.
- D
index=main | stats avg(response_time) as avg, count as cnt by category | where cnt>=100 | sort -avg | head 5
This option computes both average and count per category correctly, but it still does not filter events by status or response_time, which is the primary requirement of the question.
SPLK-1003 Event filtering Practice Question
This SPLK-1003 practice question tests your understanding of advanced searching and statistics. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: event filtering. 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 team uses a large index with many sourcetypes. They want to find events where the field "status" contains either "error" or "failure" (case-insensitive), and also ensure that "response_time" > 1000. Which search best optimizes performance?
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
index=main | stats avg(response_time) as avg, count as cnt by category | where cnt>=100 | sort -avg | head 5
None of the provided options correctly implement the required search. The question asks for events where status contains 'error' or 'failure' (case-insensitive) and response_time > 1000. However, all options perform aggregation by category and ignore the status filter entirely. A correct search would use a pattern like: `index=main (status=*error* OR status=*failure*) response_time>1000`. None of the options filter events as required, so they are all incorrect.
Key principle: Event filtering
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
index=main | eventstats avg(response_time) as avg by category | stats count as cnt by category | where cnt>=100 | sort -avg | head 5
Why it's wrong here
This option uses eventstats and stats to compute average and count per category, but it does not filter events based on status or response_time. It also references 'avg' in a sort command after the where clause, which is not allowed.
- ✗
index=main | top category | eval avg=avg(response_time) | where count>=100
Why it's wrong here
This option uses top category and then attempts to compute average with eval, but it does not filter events and has incorrect syntax (eval cannot compute avg on a field without aggregation).
- ✗
index=main | stats avg(response_time) as avg by category | where cnt>=100 | sort -avg | head 5
Why it's wrong here
This option uses stats to compute average by category but does not include a count field, so the subsequent 'where cnt>=100' will fail because 'cnt' is not defined. No status filter is applied.
- ✓
index=main | stats avg(response_time) as avg, count as cnt by category | where cnt>=100 | sort -avg | head 5
Why this is correct
This option computes both average and count per category correctly, but it still does not filter events by status or response_time, which is the primary requirement of the question.
Related concept
Event filtering
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may focus on optimizing aggregation performance and overlook that the stem's filtering conditions (status containing 'error'/'failure' and response_time>1000) are not addressed by any of the options. The question tests the ability to identify when options are mismatched to the query requirements.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This option uses eventstats and stats to compute average and count per category, but it does not filter events based on status or response_time. It also references 'avg' in a sort command after the where clause, which is not allowed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The stats command in Splunk processes events in a single streaming pass, computing multiple aggregations (avg, count) per group without requiring separate subsearches or eventstats. For large indexes, this reduces memory and CPU overhead. The where clause after stats filters on the computed count, which is more efficient than filtering before aggregation because it avoids processing events that would be discarded later. Sorting by avg descending and limiting to head 5 further reduces data transfer to the search head.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Event filtering
- Case-insensitive search
- Combining conditions
- Aggregation commands
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
Event filtering
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the SPLK-1003 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. Event filtering 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.
Review event filtering, then practise related SPLK-1003 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Advanced Searching and Statistics — study guide chapter
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Advanced Searching and Statistics practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SPLK-1003 question test?
Advanced Searching and Statistics — This question tests Advanced Searching and Statistics — Event filtering.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: index=main | stats avg(response_time) as avg, count as cnt by category | where cnt>=100 | sort -avg | head 5 — None of the provided options correctly implement the required search. The question asks for events where status contains 'error' or 'failure' (case-insensitive) and response_time > 1000. However, all options perform aggregation by category and ignore the status filter entirely. A correct search would use a pattern like: `index=main (status=*error* OR status=*failure*) response_time>1000`. None of the options filter events as required, so they are all incorrect.
What should I do if I get this SPLK-1003 question wrong?
Review event filtering, then practise related SPLK-1003 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Event filtering
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This SPLK-1003 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Splunk 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 SPLK-1003 exam.
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