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Question 1

Score: 0/0

Which Kubernetes component stores the cluster's authoritative state?

etcd

kubelet

CoreDNS

kube-proxy

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: KCNA Exam

Questions

Linux Foundation

90 min

Time Limit

Linux Foundation

75%

Passing Score

Linux Foundation

$250

Exam Fee

Linux Foundation

1 retake

Included

KCNA product page

12 months

Eligibility Window

Candidate handbook

As of March 9, 2026, the Linux Foundation still lists KCNA as a 60-question, 90-minute remotely proctored multiple-choice exam with a 75% passing score and a $250 exam-only price. The current published domain weights are Kubernetes Fundamentals (44%), Container Orchestration (28%), Cloud Native Application Delivery (16%), and Cloud Native Architecture (12%). No newer 2026 KCNA-specific blueprint change is published after the late-2025 curriculum transition notice, so current prep should target the current KCNA curriculum and PSI Bridge testing rules.

Sample KCNA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your KCNA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which Kubernetes component stores the cluster's authoritative state?

A.etcd

B.kubelet

C.CoreDNS

D.kube-proxy

Explanation: etcd is the consistent distributed key-value store that holds Kubernetes object data and cluster state. The API server persists changes there, so the control plane relies on it as the source of truth.

2In Kubernetes, what is a Pod?

A.A single running container only

B.The smallest deployable unit that can contain one or more containers sharing network and storage

C.A group of nodes managed by the scheduler

D.A cluster-wide virtual IP for applications

Explanation: A Pod is the smallest unit Kubernetes schedules and manages. It can hold one or more tightly coupled containers that share an IP address, localhost, and mounted volumes.

3Why would you use a Deployment instead of creating a standalone Pod for a stateless web application?

A.A Deployment adds self-healing and rolling update management for replicated Pods

B.A Deployment automatically creates persistent storage for the app

C.A Deployment bypasses the scheduler and pins the Pod to one node

D.A Deployment is required before a ClusterIP Service can exist

Explanation: A Deployment manages ReplicaSets so the desired number of Pods is maintained and updates can be rolled out safely. That makes it the standard controller for stateless applications that need resilience and controlled change.

4A Kubernetes Service usually selects its backend Pods using what field?

A.Tolerations

B.Selectors that match labels

C.Finalizers

D.Annotations only

Explanation: Services commonly use label selectors to identify which Pods should receive traffic. This loose coupling lets Pods be replaced while clients continue using the same stable Service endpoint.

5What does the Kubernetes reconciliation loop do?

A.It requires administrators to SSH into nodes and compare state manually

B.It continuously compares actual state to desired state and works to close the gap

C.It stores application logs in etcd for long-term analytics

D.It assigns every Service a public IP address

Explanation: Controllers watch the API for desired state and current state, then act when they do not match. That continuous reconciliation is why Kubernetes can replace failed Pods or restore expected replica counts automatically.

6What is the primary role of the kube-apiserver?

A.Running application containers on worker nodes

B.Exposing the Kubernetes API and validating and processing cluster operations

C.Provisioning block storage volumes by itself

D.Balancing traffic between Pods

Explanation: The API server is the front door to the control plane for users, controllers, and system components. It authenticates, authorizes, validates, and persists object changes so the rest of the cluster can react to them.

7Which statement best describes how CPU and memory requests affect scheduling?

A.The scheduler ignores requests and only uses limits

B.Requests are used to find a node with enough allocatable resources, while limits cap runtime usage

C.Requests guarantee the Pod will be the only workload on the node

D.Requests change how a Service balances traffic

Explanation: The scheduler uses resource requests to decide whether a node has enough capacity for a Pod. Limits matter later at runtime for enforcement, but they are not the main scheduling signal.

8What is a nodeSelector used for?

A.Encrypting node-to-node traffic

B.Routing external users to a specific node

C.Constraining a Pod to nodes with specific labels

D.Replicating Pods across namespaces

Explanation: A nodeSelector is a simple placement rule that matches Pod requirements to node labels. It is one of the most basic ways to steer workloads toward nodes with particular characteristics.

9Which problem does a Service solve for a Deployment?

A.Providing stable network access even when Pods are replaced

B.Encrypting traffic to the image registry

C.Forcing all Pods onto the same node

D.Storing application logs permanently

Explanation: Pod IPs are ephemeral because Pods can be recreated during scaling, failure, or rollout events. A Service gives clients a stable virtual endpoint while the backing Pods change over time.

10Why are namespaces commonly used in Kubernetes?

A.To create additional schedulers inside the same cluster

B.To separate and scope resources for teams, apps, or environments

C.To replace RBAC entirely

D.To make every Pod highly available

Explanation: Namespaces provide a logical boundary for names, policies, and resource organization within a cluster. They are often paired with RBAC and quotas to support multi-team or multi-environment use.

About the KCNA Exam

The Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA) is a foundational certification for candidates who need broad literacy across Kubernetes and the cloud native ecosystem. It validates conceptual knowledge of Kubernetes fundamentals, container orchestration, application delivery, architecture, and the CNCF landscape in a remotely proctored multiple-choice format.

Assessment

60 multiple-choice questions

Time Limit

90 minutes

Passing Score

75%

Exam Fee

$250 (Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) / Linux Foundation)

KCNA Exam Content Outline

44%

Kubernetes Fundamentals

Kubernetes core concepts, basic administration concepts, and scheduler behavior including pods, nodes, control plane components, and workload placement.

28%

Container Orchestration

Observability, networking, security, troubleshooting, and storage concepts used to run containerized workloads on Kubernetes.

16%

Cloud Native Application Delivery

Application delivery, debugging, and containerization concepts including images, registries, CI/CD, and release approaches.

12%

Cloud Native Architecture

Cloud native ecosystem principles plus CNCF community, governance, and collaboration concepts.

How to Pass the KCNA Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75%
Assessment: 60 multiple-choice questions
Time limit: 90 minutes
Exam fee: $250

Keys to Passing

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

KCNA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Start with Kubernetes fundamentals because that domain alone accounts for 44% of the exam.

2Know the differences between pods, deployments, replica sets, namespaces, services, and ingress at a conceptual level.

3Review container basics carefully: images, registries, container runtimes, and the difference between containers and virtual machines.

4Practice cloud native observability language such as logs, metrics, traces, and what tools like Prometheus are used for.

5Learn networking and security as high-level Kubernetes ideas, not just generic infrastructure definitions.

6Use timed sets of 60 questions so the official 90-minute pace feels comfortable before exam day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the KCNA exam?

Linux Foundation's current multiple-choice instructions say KCNA uses 60 multiple-choice questions. Candidates get 90 minutes to finish the exam, and results are normally emailed within 24 hours. The exam is remotely proctored through PSI using the Bridge secure browser.

What score do you need to pass KCNA?

Linux Foundation's current multiple-choice FAQ says a score of 75% or above is required to pass. Unlike some role-based cloud exams, KCNA does not use a published scaled-score range. Your preparation target should be comfortably above 75% on timed practice sets before scheduling.

What are the official KCNA domain weights?

The current KCNA curriculum weights Kubernetes Fundamentals at 44%, Container Orchestration at 28%, Cloud Native Application Delivery at 16%, and Cloud Native Architecture at 12%. That means almost half of the exam comes from Kubernetes basics, so terms like pods, nodes, services, control plane components, and scheduling should feel automatic. The remaining domains test whether you can connect those basics to networking, security, observability, containers, and the broader CNCF ecosystem.

What changed for KCNA in 2026?

As of March 9, 2026, Linux Foundation has not published a new KCNA-specific 2026 blueprint change after the curriculum transition notice tied to November 24, 2025. The current prep baseline is still the 60-question, 90-minute, 75%-to-pass multiple-choice format with remote PSI delivery. The most relevant live policy items for 2026 candidates are the 12-month exam eligibility window, the included retake shown on the KCNA product page, and the testing-location and sanctioned-country rules in the candidate docs.

How much does the KCNA exam cost?

The current KCNA product page lists the exam-only price at $250. Linux Foundation also advertises optional bundles, including a Kubernetes and Cloud Native Essentials (LFS250) plus KCNA package for $299. If you are paying personally, the bundle can be efficient when you want both structured instruction and the exam voucher.

How long should I study for KCNA?

Most candidates can prepare in about 3 to 6 weeks with 30 to 50 focused study hours, depending on prior exposure to Linux, containers, and Kubernetes vocabulary. Spend the most time on Kubernetes fundamentals first, then layer in networking, observability, storage, security, and cloud native ecosystem topics. Timed practice matters because 60 conceptual questions in 90 minutes still rewards fast pattern recognition.