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100+ Free ACA Big Data Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ACA Big Data Exam

60 questions

ACA Big Data exam has 60 questions covering Alibaba Cloud big data products

Alibaba Cloud Academy - ACA Big Data Certification

90 minutes

Time limit to complete all 60 questions on the ACA-BigData1 exam

Alibaba Cloud Academy - ACA Big Data Certification

65 of 100

Passing score for the ACA Big Data certification, scored out of 100 points

Alibaba Cloud Academy - ACA Big Data Certification

MaxCompute 41%

Largest blueprint share, the distributed data warehouse at the core of the exam

Alibaba Cloud ACA Big Data exam blueprint

DataWorks 32%

Second largest share, the data development and governance platform

Alibaba Cloud ACA Big Data exam blueprint

E-MapReduce 21%

Managed Hadoop, Spark and Hive clusters share of the exam

Alibaba Cloud ACA Big Data exam blueprint

About USD 120

Approximate registration fee per ACA Big Data exam attempt

Alibaba Cloud Academy certification pricing

100

Free original practice questions provided here

OpenExamPrep

The Alibaba Cloud Certified Associate (ACA) Big Data Certification (ACA-BigData1) is an associate-level exam for engineers who use Alibaba Cloud big data products. It has 60 questions in 90 minutes, is scored out of 100, and requires a score of 65 to pass; the fee is about USD 120. The blueprint weights MaxCompute at 41%, DataWorks at 32%, E-MapReduce at 21% and visualization and data consumption at 6%. Questions cover MaxCompute SQL and project management, DataWorks integration and scheduling, E-MapReduce Hadoop and Spark clusters, and Quick BI and DataV visualization. This 100-question bank provides original practice across all four areas with explanations for every option.

Sample ACA Big Data Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ACA Big Data exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In MaxCompute, which object is the basic unit used for billing, access control and namespace isolation?
A.Table
B.Project
C.Partition
D.Instance
Explanation: A MaxCompute project is the basic organizational unit. Storage, compute and download charges are accrued per project, and access control and namespaces are also scoped to the project. Every other object such as tables and functions belongs to a project.
2MaxCompute billing is based on three components. Which set correctly lists them?
A.Storage, compute and data download
B.CPU, memory and network
C.Read, write and delete operations
D.Nodes, clusters and regions
Explanation: MaxCompute charges for storage (the volume of data held), computing resources (SQL, MapReduce and Spark jobs) and data download through the Tunnel service. There are no long-term commitments; you pay for what you use.
3Which service is the recommended way to batch upload large volumes of data into a MaxCompute table?
A.OSS lifecycle rules
B.MaxCompute Tunnel
C.DataV
D.Quick BI
Explanation: The MaxCompute Tunnel service provides high-throughput batch upload and download of data into and out of MaxCompute tables. Tools such as the MaxCompute client and DataWorks Data Integration use Tunnel under the hood for bulk transfers.
4A MaxCompute table is partitioned by the column 'ds' (date). What is the main benefit of querying with a partition filter such as WHERE ds = '20260101'?
A.It encrypts the partition
B.It scans only the matching partition instead of the whole table
C.It automatically creates a UDF
D.It converts the table to an external table
Explanation: Partition pruning means MaxCompute reads only the partitions that match the filter. Filtering on the partition column avoids a full-table scan, which lowers cost and improves performance because compute charges relate to the data scanned.
5In MaxCompute SQL, which statement is used to add a new partition to an existing partitioned table?
A.CREATE PARTITION
B.ALTER TABLE ... ADD PARTITION
C.INSERT PARTITION
D.MERGE PARTITION
Explanation: MaxCompute uses ALTER TABLE table_name ADD PARTITION (ds='...') to register a new partition. Once added, data can be written into that partition with INSERT statements that specify the partition value.
6Which type of MaxCompute user-defined function takes a single row of input and returns a single output value, similar to a built-in scalar function?
A.UDAF
B.UDTF
C.UDF
D.UDX
Explanation: A UDF (user-defined function) operates on one input row and returns one value, like LENGTH or ABS. UDAF aggregates many rows into one value, and UDTF takes one row and returns multiple rows or columns.
7Which MaxCompute user-defined function type aggregates multiple input rows into a single output value?
A.UDF
B.UDAF
C.UDTF
D.External function
Explanation: A UDAF (user-defined aggregate function) collapses many rows into one result, such as a custom weighted average. It is the user-defined equivalent of built-in aggregates like SUM or COUNT.
8In MaxCompute, what is the role of a 'resource' such as a JAR file or a Python script?
A.A scheduled workflow node
B.A reusable file registered in a project for use by UDFs and MapReduce jobs
C.A type of partition
D.A billing plan
Explanation: A MaxCompute resource is a file (JAR, Python, archive or table resource) registered to a project so that UDFs, MapReduce and other jobs can reference it. You must add the resource before functions that depend on it can run.
9True or False: MaxCompute is a serverless data warehouse, so users do not provision or manage the underlying compute clusters themselves.
A.True
B.False
C.Only true for external tables
D.Only true in the China regions
Explanation: MaxCompute is a fully managed, serverless distributed data warehouse. Alibaba Cloud operates the underlying compute and storage, so users submit SQL or jobs without provisioning or sizing clusters themselves.
10What is a MaxCompute external table?
A.A table whose data is stored outside MaxCompute, such as in OSS, while metadata is held in MaxCompute
B.A table shared between two projects
C.A table that cannot be queried with SQL
D.A backup copy of an internal table
Explanation: An external table keeps its data in an external store such as OSS or Tablestore, while MaxCompute holds only the schema and location. This lets you query external data with MaxCompute SQL without first importing it into managed storage.

About the ACA Big Data Exam

The Alibaba Cloud Certified Associate (ACA) Big Data Certification, exam code ACA-BigData1, validates the ability to use Alibaba Cloud's core big data products. It is designed for engineers and analysts who build and operate data pipelines on Alibaba Cloud. The exam covers basic distributed systems theory and the Alibaba Cloud big data product family, with the heaviest weighting on MaxCompute (the distributed data warehouse) and DataWorks (the data development and governance platform), followed by E-MapReduce (managed Hadoop, Spark and Hive clusters) and a smaller share for visualization and data consumption through Quick BI and DataV. Candidates are expected to understand MaxCompute projects, tables, partitions, SQL and UDFs; DataWorks data integration, DataStudio workflows and scheduling; E-MapReduce cluster types and ecosystem components; and how data flows from storage such as OSS into analytics and dashboards.

Assessment

60 questions combining single-selection multiple choice, multiple-selection multiple choice and true/false items, scored out of 100 points. Coverage follows the blueprint: MaxCompute 41%, DataWorks 32%, E-MapReduce 21% and visualization and data consumption 6%.

Time Limit

90 minutes for all 60 questions.

Passing Score

65 out of 100 points.

Exam Fee

Approximately USD 120 per attempt; confirm current regional pricing on Alibaba Cloud Academy. (Alibaba Cloud Academy)

ACA Big Data Exam Content Outline

41%

MaxCompute

Official blueprint: 41% of the exam. MaxCompute is Alibaba Cloud's serverless distributed data warehouse. Practice covers projects as the billing and security unit, internal and external tables, partitions, MaxCompute SQL (DDL and DML), the Tunnel service for batch data upload, built-in and user-defined functions (UDF, UDAF, UDTF), resource and job management, MapReduce and Spark on MaxCompute, and the cost model based on storage, compute and download.

32%

DataWorks

Official blueprint: 32% of the exam. DataWorks is the one-stop data development and governance platform built on MaxCompute. Practice covers Data Integration (offline and real-time sync, supported sources and data source configuration), DataStudio workflow development, periodic node scheduling and dependencies, the resource and function management for SQL, data quality monitoring, the Data Map metadata catalog, and project-level roles and permissions.

21%

E-MapReduce

Official blueprint: 21% of the exam. E-MapReduce (EMR) provides managed open-source big data clusters on Alibaba Cloud. Practice covers Hadoop, Spark, Hive, HBase and streaming components, cluster types and node roles (master, core and task), HDFS and the use of OSS as cluster storage, cluster creation, scaling and job submission, and how EMR fits alongside MaxCompute in a data platform.

6%

Visualization and data consumption

Official blueprint: 6% of the exam. This area covers consuming and presenting processed data. Practice covers Quick BI dashboards, reports and data portals; DataV large-screen visualization with geographic information features and embedding via a published URL; and how downstream applications consume results from MaxCompute and other services.

How to Pass the ACA Big Data Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 65 out of 100 points.
  • Assessment: 60 questions combining single-selection multiple choice, multiple-selection multiple choice and true/false items, scored out of 100 points. Coverage follows the blueprint: MaxCompute 41%, DataWorks 32%, E-MapReduce 21% and visualization and data consumption 6%.
  • Time limit: 90 minutes for all 60 questions.
  • Exam fee: Approximately USD 120 per attempt; confirm current regional pricing on Alibaba Cloud Academy.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ACA Big Data Study Tips from Top Performers

1Spend most of your study time on MaxCompute and DataWorks because together they are about 73% of the exam; be fluent in MaxCompute SQL, partitions and the project billing model.
2Practise in a real Alibaba Cloud environment: create a MaxCompute project, build a DataWorks Data Integration sync task and schedule a DataStudio node so the workflow concepts feel concrete.
3Memorise the MaxCompute cost drivers, storage, compute and data download, and how Tunnel is used for batch upload, since these recur in exam questions.
4For E-MapReduce, learn the cluster node roles (master, core, task), which open-source components run on EMR, and when OSS is used instead of HDFS for storage.
5Know the boundaries between products: which tasks belong to MaxCompute, DataWorks, E-MapReduce, Quick BI and DataV, because many questions test product selection.
6Use timed practice sets to build pacing for 60 questions in 90 minutes, and review the explanation for every option, not only the ones you got wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the ACA Big Data exam and how long is it?

The ACA Big Data exam (ACA-BigData1) has 60 questions and a 90-minute time limit. It mixes single-selection, multiple-selection and true/false items and is scored out of 100 points.

What score do I need to pass the ACA Big Data certification?

You need a score of 65 out of 100 to pass. The exam is closed-book and delivered in English through Alibaba Cloud Academy.

Which products are weighted most heavily on the exam?

MaxCompute carries 41% and DataWorks 32%, so together they make up roughly two thirds of the exam. E-MapReduce is 21% and visualization and data consumption is 6%.

What is the difference between MaxCompute and DataWorks?

MaxCompute is the distributed data warehouse engine that stores tables and runs SQL and compute jobs. DataWorks is the development and governance platform that sits on top, providing data integration, workflow scheduling and data quality for MaxCompute and other engines.

Do I need hands-on experience before taking the exam?

There are no formal prerequisites, but Alibaba Cloud recommends practical familiarity with big data concepts and hands-on use of MaxCompute, DataWorks and E-MapReduce. SQL knowledge is strongly recommended.

Are these official Alibaba Cloud practice questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the official ACA-BigData1 blueprint and product documentation. Alibaba Cloud Academy provides its own official training and exam separately.