The answer is that the transaction closed because the maxpause of 5 minutes was exceeded, meaning no new events arrived within that inactivity window after the last event at 10:03:00. In Splunk, the maxpause setting triggers transaction close by defining the maximum allowed gap between events; once that silence period elapses, the transaction is finalized regardless of the total duration. This concept is frequently tested on the SPLK-1003 exam, often in a scenario where candidates must distinguish between a maxpause timeout and a maxspan limit—a common trap is assuming the transaction closed due to maxspan when the event times clearly show a short 2-minute span. To avoid this, remember that maxpause controls inactivity gaps, while maxspan caps the entire transaction window. A helpful memory tip: think of maxpause as a "patience timer"—if the data goes quiet longer than that, the transaction is forced to close.
SPLK-1003 Transactions and Event Correlation Practice Question
This SPLK-1003 practice question tests your understanding of transactions and event correlation. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. An analyst sees that the transaction for sessionid 'abc123' has duration 120 seconds and 4 events. The events within this transaction occur at 10:00:00, 10:01:00, 10:02:00, and 10:03:00. Why did the transaction close?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The maxpause of 5 minutes was exceeded; there was no event after 10:03:00 for more than 5 minutes.
Since maxpause=5m is specified, the transaction closed 5 minutes after the last event (10:03:00) at approximately 10:08:00, but because maxspan is 10m, the 2-minute duration is well under that. The close was due to the inactivity timeout.
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.
✗
The transaction closed because there were only 4 events.
Why it's wrong here
No event count limit is set.
✓
The maxpause of 5 minutes was exceeded; there was no event after 10:03:00 for more than 5 minutes.
Why this is correct
Correct: maxpause timeout caused closure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The transaction closed because the maxopentxn limit was reached.
Why it's wrong here
No indication of such a limit.
✗
The maxspan of 10 minutes was reached.
Why it's wrong here
Duration is 2 minutes, well below maxspan.
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 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. 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 SPLK-1003 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.
Transactions and Event Correlation — This question tests Transactions and Event Correlation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The maxpause of 5 minutes was exceeded; there was no event after 10:03:00 for more than 5 minutes. — Since maxpause=5m is specified, the transaction closed 5 minutes after the last event (10:03:00) at approximately 10:08:00, but because maxspan is 10m, the 2-minute duration is well under that. The close was due to the inactivity timeout.
What should I do if I get this SPLK-1003 question wrong?
Identify which SPLK-1003 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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.