Free GitOps Certified Associate (CGOA) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the GitOps Certified Associate (CGOA) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1What guarantee does the word continuous imply for GitOps reconciliation?

   1. A. Every change is applied with zero delay.
   2. B. Reconciliation keeps taking place over time.
   3. C. A deployment starts on every source-code commit.
   4. D. The connection to the state store stays open.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The glossary explains that "reconciliation continues to happen, not that it must be instantaneous." Continuity describes ongoing reconciliation, rather than a latency guarantee, a build trigger, or a persistent connection.

   Reference: OpenGitOps Glossary — Continuous

2. 2A directory contains Kubernetes declarations for new and existing objects. Which command uses those files to create missing objects and update existing ones?

   1. A. kubectl replace -f ./desired
   2. B. kubectl apply -f ./desired
   3. C. kubectl get -f ./desired
   4. D. kubectl delete -f ./desired

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Kubernetes says: "Use kubectl apply to create all objects, except those that already exist," and "You can also use kubectl apply to update all objects defined in a directory, even". Apply supports the combined declarative operation. Replace targets existing objects; get reads; delete removes.

   Reference: Declarative Management of Kubernetes Objects Using Configuration Files — How to create objects

3. 3What does Jenkins Configuration as Code primarily express in its YAML file?

   1. A. The application's compiled binary and dependency archive
   2. B. The sequence of shell commands for one Pipeline build
   3. C. The desired contents of every application database
   4. D. Jenkins controller configuration parameters and values

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The guide says: "The Jenkins Configuration as Code (JCasC) feature defines Jenkins configuration parameters in a human-readable YAML file that can be stored as source code." This concerns controller settings rather than a Pipeline's sequence of build steps, compiled artifacts, or application data.

   Reference: Jenkins Configuration as Code — Configuration as Code, introduction

4. 4Which Kubernetes Deployment strategy gradually scales down the old ReplicaSet while scaling up the new one?

   1. A. Recreate
   2. B. Blue-Green
   3. C. RollingUpdate
   4. D. Canary with analysis

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Kubernetes describes RollingUpdate as "gradually scale down the old ReplicaSets and scale up the new one". Recreate removes old Pods before replacement; Blue-Green and analyzed canaries are different rollout patterns rather than this native Deployment strategy.

   Reference: Kubernetes Deployments — Strategy > Rolling Update Deployment

5. 5In a Helm chart, what is the role of files in the templates directory?

   1. A. They supply the chart's default parameter values.
   2. B. They record the chart's name and package version.
   3. C. They generate Kubernetes manifests when combined with values.
   4. D. They validate the structure of the supplied chart values.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Helm describes "templates/ # A directory of templates that, when combined with values," followed by "# will generate valid Kubernetes manifest files." The alternatives confuse templates with values.yaml defaults, Chart.yaml metadata, and values.schema.json validation.

   Reference: Helm Charts — The Chart File Structure

6. 6What distinguishes a declarative description from an imperative procedure?

   1. A. It records the order in which commands must execute.
   2. B. It records the commands that previously succeeded.
   3. C. It specifies the target condition without prescribing steps.
   4. D. It specifies the API calls needed for each transition.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The glossary defines a declarative description as "A configuration that describes the desired operating state of a system without specifying procedures for how that state will be achieved." The distinction is target state versus the procedure used to reach it.

   Reference: OpenGitOps Glossary — Declarative Description

7. 7Before applying a changed Kubernetes manifest, which command previews the changes that apply would make?

   1. A. kubectl get -f desired.yaml
   2. B. kubectl describe -f desired.yaml
   3. C. kubectl create -f desired.yaml
   4. D. kubectl diff -f desired.yaml

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The documentation says: "kubectl diff also gives you a preview of what changes apply will make." Diff compares the proposed declarations against the live system. Get and describe report existing objects; create attempts creation.

   Reference: Declarative Management of Kubernetes Objects Using Configuration Files — Introduction

8. 8An administrator changes a Jenkins setting in the UI while JCasC still declares the old value. What does the JCasC guide say will happen on the next controller restart?

   1. A. The UI change is overwritten by the JCasC configuration.
   2. B. The UI change is automatically committed to source control.
   3. C. The YAML value is removed to preserve the UI modification.
   4. D. The controller rejects the entire YAML file as a conflict.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The guide states: "The system allows administrators to modify configuration options on the UI even when they were configured by CasC, but these modifications are overwritten the next time the controller restarts." The persisted declaration remains authoritative at restart; the UI does not automatically update it.

   Reference: Jenkins Configuration as Code — CasC configuration and UI modifications

9. 9During a Kubernetes Deployment upgrade, old-version Pods must be removed before new-version Pods are created. Downtime is acceptable. Which strategy meets that upgrade requirement?

   1. A. Recreate
   2. B. RollingUpdate
   3. C. Blue-Green
   4. D. Canary

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Kubernetes states: "All existing Pods are killed before new ones are created when .spec.strategy.type==Recreate." The question concerns an upgrade, matching the documented guarantee; it does not claim an at-most guarantee for manual Pod deletion or all runtime conditions.

   Reference: Kubernetes Deployments — Strategy > Recreate Deployment

10. 10A Helm chart's values.yaml sets replicaCount to 2. A supplied custom values file sets replicaCount to 4, with no other overrides. Which value is used when rendering the chart?

    1. A. 4, from the supplied custom values file
    2. B. 2, because packaged defaults cannot be overridden
    3. C. 6, by adding the two configuration values
    4. D. An error, because both files define the same key

    Answer: A

    Explanation: Helm states: "When a user supplies custom values, these values will override the values in the chart's values.yaml file." The supplied value replaces the default for that key; defining an override is not itself a conflict.

    Reference: Helm Charts — Templates and Values