The correct answer is to increase the write capacity units (WCU) for the table. This is because DynamoDB write capacity provisioning directly controls the number of writes per second a table can handle, with each WCU supporting one write per second for items up to 1 KB. Since the current table has only 5 WCU, it can only process 5 writes per second, far below the required 1,000 writes per second, so raising the WCU allocation is the only way to meet the peak demand. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding that provisioning is the primary mechanism for scaling write throughput, and it often appears as a trap where candidates confuse read caching (DAX) or replication (Global Tables) with write capacity. A common mistake is thinking that reducing item size alone can compensate for insufficient WCU, but even with smaller items, the provisioned WCU limit still caps throughput. Remember the mnemonic: "Writes need WCU, not DAX or views."
DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. 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.
Network Topology
A data engineer is analyzing a DynamoDB table for a session management application. The table currently has 10,000 items and is 1 MB in size. The application expects 1,000 writes per second during peak hours. What should the data engineer do to accommodate the write workload?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Increase the write capacity units (WCU) for the table.
Option C is correct because the table has 5 write capacity units (WCU), which allows only 5 writes per second. To handle 1,000 writes per second, the WCU must be increased. Option A is wrong because DAX is a read cache. Option B is wrong because global tables replicate writes, but don't increase capacity. Option D is wrong because reducing item size doesn't increase write capacity enough.
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.
✗
Reduce the item size to improve write performance.
Why it's wrong here
Reducing item size may help but cannot achieve 1,000 writes/second with 5 WCU.
✗
Use global tables to distribute writes across regions.
Why it's wrong here
Global tables replicate writes, but each region still needs sufficient WCU.
✓
Increase the write capacity units (WCU) for the table.
Why this is correct
The current WCU is 5, insufficient for 1,000 writes/second.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to offload writes.
Why it's wrong here
DAX caches reads, not writes.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DEA-C01 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.
Data Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Increase the write capacity units (WCU) for the table. — Option C is correct because the table has 5 write capacity units (WCU), which allows only 5 writes per second. To handle 1,000 writes per second, the WCU must be increased. Option A is wrong because DAX is a read cache. Option B is wrong because global tables replicate writes, but don't increase capacity. Option D is wrong because reducing item size doesn't increase write capacity enough.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DEA-C01 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 DEA-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services 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 DEA-C01 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.