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NCA-AMAD exam guide: topics, cost and format

All 30 NCA-AMAD questions with answers

The same questions as the test above, grouped by exam topic. Open any question to see the answer and explanation.

Machine Learning Fundamentals (3 questions)

  1. Question 1

    A team has labeled data of house sizes and their sale prices and wants to predict the price of a new house. Which type of learning is this?

    1. AUnsupervised clustering
    2. BAnomaly detection with no labels
    3. CSupervised regression
    4. DReinforcement learning
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    Predicting a numeric value from labeled examples is supervised regression. Clustering works without labels, reinforcement learning uses rewards, and anomaly detection looks for unusual points.

  2. Question 2

    Which term describes a model that performs well on training data but poorly on new data?

    1. AUnderfitting
    2. BTokenization
    3. CNormalization
    4. DOverfitting
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    Overfitting means the model has learned the training data too closely and fails to generalize. Underfitting is the opposite, while normalization and tokenization are preprocessing steps.

  3. Question 3

    Why is a separate test set kept aside during model development?

    1. ATo train the model faster by reducing the number of gradient updates per epoch
    2. BTo estimate how well the model generalizes to data it has not seen
    3. CTo store the model's final weights and optimizer state for later deployment
    4. DTo replace the validation set during hyperparameter tuning
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    The test set gives an unbiased estimate of performance on unseen data. It does not speed training, store weights or replace validation.

Transformers and Language Models (3 questions)

  1. Question 4

    What is the main purpose of the attention mechanism in a transformer?

    1. ACompressing the entire input sequence into a single fixed-size number before the decoder layers process it
    2. BStoring the full vocabulary and token-to-ID mapping in an external database for lookup at inference time
    3. CLetting each token weigh the relevance of other tokens when building its representation
    4. DRemoving punctuation and special characters from the raw input text during preprocessing stage
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    Attention computes weighted relationships between tokens so each representation can use context. Compression to one number, punctuation removal and database storage are not its purpose.

  2. Question 5

    A decoder-only language model generates text. Which property ensures it does not look at future tokens during training?

    1. AA causal mask in self-attention
    2. BA bidirectional mask over the whole sequence
    3. CRandom token order
    4. DUsing a larger vocabulary
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    A causal mask prevents attention to future positions so the model predicts the next token from the past. Bidirectional masks would reveal future tokens, random order breaks language structure, and vocabulary size is unrelated.

  3. Question 6

    Why do transformers use positional information in addition to token embeddings?

    1. AAttention alone does not know the order of tokens without position signals
    2. BAdding position signals makes the model slower on purpose because each layer recomputes order
    3. CToken embeddings already contain the full sequence order, so no position signal is needed
    4. DPositional vectors replace the token embedding lookup, so each position encodes its own word
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Self-attention is order-agnostic, so positional encodings or embeddings are needed to represent sequence order. Embeddings do not contain order by themselves, and the other options are incorrect.

Model Deployment and Inference (3 questions)

  1. Question 7

    A deployed model must be monitored for quality degradation over time. Which signal is most useful?

    1. AThe number of times the inference server was restarted in the past quarter
    2. BA periodic evaluation on a fixed test set and tracking of user feedback
    3. CThe color of the server rack's front door in the data center hall
    4. DThe length of the model's name including its version tag
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    Periodic evaluation on fixed tests and user feedback reveal quality changes. Restart counts, rack colors and name lengths do not measure quality.

  2. Question 8

    A team wants to reduce the time a user waits for the first token of a streamed response. Which metric should be measured and improved?

    1. ATotal dataset size
    2. BTime to first token
    3. CNumber of model layers only
    4. DNumber of users in the team
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    Time to first token measures perceived responsiveness in streaming applications. The other items do not measure that wait.

  3. Question 9

    A model is deployed behind an API, and the team wants to roll out a new version safely to a small share of users first. Which deployment technique fits?

    1. ADeleting the old version before the new one is ready in staging
    2. BRunning the new version on a developer laptop with a local stub
    3. CReplacing traffic at once without integration testing beforehand
    4. DCanary release that routes a small percentage of traffic to the new version
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    Canary releases limit exposure while validating the new version on real traffic. Immediate full replacement, deleting first and laptop-only testing increase risk.

Prompt Engineering (3 questions)

  1. Question 10

    A prompt includes several worked examples of the desired input and output before the real input. What is this technique called?

    1. AZero-shot prompting
    2. BFew-shot prompting
    3. CGradient clipping
    4. DModel distillation
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    Few-shot prompting shows examples in the prompt to guide the output format and behavior. Zero-shot provides no examples, and clipping and distillation are training techniques.

  2. Question 11

    Which prompting approach asks the model to show intermediate reasoning steps before the final answer?

    1. ARemoving the question from the prompt
    2. BChain-of-thought prompting
    3. CRandom sampling of answers
    4. DAsking for one word only
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    Chain-of-thought prompting elicits step-by-step reasoning, which often improves multi-step accuracy. Random sampling, removing the question and one-word constraints do not elicit reasoning.

  3. Question 12

    A chatbot is asked to answer only with information from the provided product manual. Which prompt element implements this constraint?

    1. AA request to be as creative as possible in phrasing, while elaborating on product features with plausible details
    2. BA request with no retrieved context, leaving the model to answer from its pretraining data and general knowledge alone
    3. CAn explicit instruction to answer only from the supplied manual text and say when the answer is not in it
    4. DA request to answer from general knowledge first, then to consult the supplied manual if the general answer seems incomplete
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    An explicit grounding instruction with a fallback for missing answers constrains the model. Creative requests, general-knowledge-first instructions and missing context weaken the constraint.

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (3 questions)

  1. Question 13

    In a retrieval-augmented generation system, what is the role of the vector database?

    1. ATraining the language model from scratch on the retrieved passages
    2. BStoring embeddings of document chunks and returning the most similar chunks for a query
    3. CGenerating the final answer text token by token with sampling after reading the retrieved chunks
    4. DStoring the user's password hash and session tokens with encryption keys
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    A vector database stores embeddings and retrieves similar chunks for the query. Training and final generation are performed by the model, and passwords are not stored there.

  2. Question 14

    A RAG answer cites a document that does not support the claim. Which change most directly improves the grounding of answers?

    1. ARemoving citations from answers so unsupported claims are hidden
    2. BStoring the documents as scanned images with OCR disabled during indexing
    3. CAdding a check that verifies each claim against the retrieved passages
    4. DIncreasing the sampling temperature to 1.5 so the model paraphrases
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    A grounding check verifies claims against retrieved evidence and reduces unsupported citations. Higher temperature increases randomness, removing citations hides the issue, and images cannot be searched as text.

  3. Question 15

    Why are long documents split into chunks before embedding for retrieval?

    1. AChunking makes the document easier to print and to bind as one volume
    2. BChunking removes the need for metadata filters because each chunk inherits
    3. CThe vector database cannot store long files in a single record beyond its limit
    4. DEmbedding models and context windows work best with passages of manageable size
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    Chunking keeps passages within model and context limits and improves retrieval precision. Storage limits in general, printing and metadata are not the reason.

Application Development (3 questions)

  1. Question 16

    A developer builds an application that calls a model endpoint. Which practice prevents the API key from being exposed in the client-side code?

    1. AEmbedding the key in the JavaScript bundle that runs in the browser
    2. BStoring the key in the HTML title element of the landing page header
    3. CPosting the key in a public forum thread so developers can help debug the code
    4. DCalling the model from a backend service that holds the key in a secure configuration
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    A backend service keeps secrets server-side, away from users. Browser code, public forums and page titles expose the key.

  2. Question 17

    Which two practices help protect an LLM application against misuse? (Choose two.)

    1. APublishing the full system prompt publicly
    2. BDisabling logs so that misuse is not recorded
    3. CValidating and limiting user inputs and outputs
    4. DApplying rate limits and authentication to the model endpoint
    5. EGiving the model direct administrator access to all systems
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C, D

    Input and output validation with rate limits and authentication reduce misuse. Administrator access, public prompts and disabled logs increase risk.

  3. Question 18

    A team wants its LLM application to use a company's internal tool through a function call. Which practice is recommended?

    1. ADefining the tool with a clear schema and validating the model's arguments before calling the tool
    2. BSending raw database passwords in the prompt so the model can reuse them when calling the internal tool later
    3. CLetting the model execute the code it writes inside the live host without review
    4. DGiving the model administrator credentials with unrestricted read and write access to the production CRM and billing systems
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    A clear schema and argument validation make tool calls reliable and safe. Unreviewed code execution, admin credentials and exposed passwords are unsafe.

NVIDIA Software and Tools (3 questions)

  1. Question 19

    A developer wants to build a generative AI application quickly using a standard, managed model API hosted on NVIDIA infrastructure. Which option fits best?

    1. AWriting a custom GPU driver from scratch in C for one model
    2. BDesigning and fabricating a new custom AI chip for the model
    3. CPrinting the model's weights on paper sheets
    4. DNVIDIA NIM endpoints accessed through a standard API
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    NIM endpoints provide optimized model access through standard APIs, which speeds development. Drivers, chips and printed weights are not practical development paths.

  2. Question 20

    Which NVIDIA library accelerates deep learning training and inference operations such as convolutions and matrix math on GPUs?

    1. AcuDNN
    2. BOmniverse Kit
    3. CcuDF
    4. DRAPIDS cuGraph
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    cuDNN provides optimized primitives for deep learning on GPUs. cuDF handles dataframes, cuGraph handles graph analytics and Omniverse Kit targets 3D application development.

  3. Question 21

    Which NVIDIA framework helps customize and train large language models with recipes for data preparation, training, and alignment?

    1. AMetropolis only
    2. BNeMo
    3. CClara Holoscan
    4. DIsaac Sim
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    NeMo provides building blocks and recipes for training, customizing and aligning language models. Holoscan, Isaac Sim and Metropolis target other domains.

Data Preparation (3 questions)

  1. Question 22

    A dataset contains duplicate training examples that inflate some categories. Which step addresses this before training?

    1. ARemoving the category labels from every record before training starts
    2. BDeduplicating examples and rebalancing categories where needed
    3. CTraining on the duplicates again to strengthen them
    4. DIgnoring the class imbalance because the model will learn it anyway
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    Deduplication and rebalancing improve training quality and fairness. Training on duplicates, ignoring imbalance and removing labels make results worse.

  2. Question 23

    A text corpus contains personal information that should not be used for training. Which step addresses this?

    1. AAdding the personal information to the training label set
    2. BKeeping the personal data in the corpus because it improves model accuracy
    3. CDetecting and removing or masking personal information before training
    4. DPrinting the full raw dataset as paper copies for manual review by annotators
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    Detecting and removing or masking personal information protects privacy and compliance before training. Labeling, retaining and printing do not protect the data.

  3. Question 24

    Which practice keeps the training and evaluation splits independent to avoid misleading results?

    1. AComputing normalization statistics on the full dataset including the test split for feature scaling
    2. BSplitting the data before any feature or statistics computation that uses the full dataset
    3. CCopying test examples into the training set across several epochs to improve reported benchmark scores
    4. DChoosing the split by the model's score on the validation data after several tuning runs, keeping the best
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: B

    Splitting first prevents information from the test set leaking into training. Computing statistics on all data, copying test examples and choosing splits by score all inflate or distort results.

Fine-Tuning and Model Customization (2 questions)

  1. Question 25

    A team must decide between prompt engineering, RAG, and fine-tuning for a task that requires a consistent output format. Which factor is most important to consider first?

    1. AWhether the required behavior can be achieved reliably with prompting and whether labeled examples exist
    2. BThe color scheme of the team's brand logo in the company's internal design guide for slide decks
    3. CThe name of the company's favorite cloud region used for hosting the internal wiki
    4. DThe number of people in the marketing team and how many hours per week they spend in meetings during quarterly planning
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    Whether prompting suffices and whether labeled examples exist drive the choice between approaches. Region names, team sizes and logo colors are irrelevant.

  2. Question 26

    Which step should be included when preparing an instruction-tuning dataset to reduce harmful or wrong examples?

    1. AIncluding each example scraped from the internet without review in the final training mix
    2. BRemoving human review from the annotation workflow to speed up labeling at large scale
    3. CReviewing and filtering examples for accuracy, safety, and consistent style
    4. DDuplicating the examples to increase weight in the loss so that rare cases dominate training
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: C

    Reviewing and filtering examples improves accuracy and safety of the tuned model. Unreviewed scraping, duplication and removing review degrade quality.

Evaluation (2 questions)

  1. Question 27

    Which evaluation approach gives the most reliable comparison between two model versions for a summarization task?

    1. AScoring both versions on the same held-out set with a consistent metric and human spot checks
    2. BChoosing the newer model without evaluation because release notes claim gains
    3. CComparing one version's best output with the other version's worst output in the demo
    4. DComparing the two model versions on different datasets, each scored on its own internal test split and a metric
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    The same held-out set, consistent metrics and human spot checks make comparisons fair. Cherry-picked outputs, different datasets and unevaluated choices are unreliable.

  2. Question 28

    A model answers questions well on the benchmark but poorly on real user questions. What is the most likely explanation?

    1. AThe benchmark does not represent real user questions, or it was contaminated by training data
    2. BThe benchmark items are simply too difficult for the model to solve reliably
    3. CThe model has too few layers in its decoder stack to represent the depth of reasoning these questions need
    4. DUsers type their questions in a display color that the chat renders poorly, so the model misreads them
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: A

    A benchmark that does not match real use, or that overlaps training data, produces misleading scores. Difficulty, layer count and question color do not explain the gap.

Ethics and Responsible AI (2 questions)

  1. Question 29

    A model is used to screen job applications. Which practice addresses fairness concerns?

    1. AHiding how the model makes decisions from applicants behind a proprietary scoring layer and no appeal step
    2. BReporting the model's average score for each group as a single summary figure
    3. CUsing the model without evaluation because it is objective and its training data is neutral across demographics
    4. DEvaluating outcomes across demographic groups and keeping a human responsible for final decisions
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    Group-level evaluation and human accountability address fairness and responsibility. Assumed objectivity, hidden decisions and averages that hide group differences are problematic.

  2. Question 30

    Which practice best supports transparency when an AI model is used in a customer-facing product?

    1. AClaiming the system's answers are reliable and need no review before being shipped to production users
    2. BRefusing to document the model's intended use from the internal compliance team or the product owner
    3. CHiding the AI use to avoid customer concern so that users do not notice the automated replies in chat
    4. DInforming users that they are interacting with an AI system and describing its limitations
    Show answer and explanation
    Correct answer: D

    Informing users and documenting limitations supports informed use. Hiding use, claiming perfection and refusing documentation reduce transparency.

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