- A
Enable DynamoDB adaptive capacity to automatically adjust throughput
Adaptive capacity helps manage uneven access patterns and reduces throttling.
- B
Change the partition key to 'timestamp' to improve read distribution
Why wrong: Changing the partition key would require re-architecting the application and may not solve the issue.
- C
Decrease the provisioned write capacity units (WCU) to free up resources for reads
Why wrong: Read and write capacities are separate; decreasing WCU does not affect read throttling.
- D
Increase the provisioned read capacity units (RCU) for the table
Increasing RCU provides more read throughput, reducing throttling.
- E
Implement DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache frequent reads
DAX caches read results, offloading read requests from the table.
Quick Answer
The answer is to implement DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache frequent reads, along with enabling DynamoDB adaptive capacity and considering a Global Secondary Index (GSI) with a different partition key. DAX is correct because it offloads repeated read requests from the table, reducing the read capacity consumed on hot partitions like a single user_id during peak hours, while adaptive capacity automatically redistributes unused throughput from cooler partitions to absorb throttling spikes. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of DynamoDB read throttling solutions and how to handle hot partitions caused by uneven access patterns—a common trap is to immediately increase provisioned capacity without first leveraging caching or adaptive capacity, which wastes cost. A memory tip: think "DAX for cache, adaptive for burst, GSI for spread" to recall the three pillars of resolving read throttling.
DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. 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.
A company is running a critical application on Amazon DynamoDB. The table has a partition key of 'user_id' and a sort key of 'timestamp'. The application frequently queries for all items for a given user within a date range. The read capacity is often throttled during peak hours. Which THREE steps should the database specialist take to resolve the throttling?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Enable DynamoDB adaptive capacity to automatically adjust throughput
Option A is correct because DynamoDB adaptive capacity automatically manages throughput to accommodate uneven access patterns, such as when a single 'user_id' partition receives more reads than provisioned. It allows the table to absorb throttling by redistributing unused capacity from other partitions, which directly addresses the peak-hour throttling without manual intervention.
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.
- ✓
Enable DynamoDB adaptive capacity to automatically adjust throughput
Why this is correct
Adaptive capacity helps manage uneven access patterns and reduces throttling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Change the partition key to 'timestamp' to improve read distribution
Why it's wrong here
Changing the partition key would require re-architecting the application and may not solve the issue.
- ✗
Decrease the provisioned write capacity units (WCU) to free up resources for reads
Why it's wrong here
Read and write capacities are separate; decreasing WCU does not affect read throttling.
- ✓
Increase the provisioned read capacity units (RCU) for the table
Why this is correct
Increasing RCU provides more read throughput, reducing throttling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Implement DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache frequent reads
Why this is correct
DAX caches read results, offloading read requests from the table.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think decreasing WCU can reallocate resources to reads, but DynamoDB's read and write capacity are independent, so reducing one does not benefit the other.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB adaptive capacity works by leveraging the burst pool and partition-level throughput distribution; when one partition is throttled, it can borrow from underutilized partitions within the same table, but only up to the table's total provisioned capacity. In practice, if a single user generates a hot partition, adaptive capacity helps, but for sustained high traffic, increasing RCU (Option D) or caching with DAX (Option E) provides more predictable performance. DAX acts as an in-memory cache that offloads repeated read requests from DynamoDB, reducing the load on the table's read capacity.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable DynamoDB adaptive capacity to automatically adjust throughput — Option A is correct because DynamoDB adaptive capacity automatically manages throughput to accommodate uneven access patterns, such as when a single 'user_id' partition receives more reads than provisioned. It allows the table to absorb throttling by redistributing unused capacity from other partitions, which directly addresses the peak-hour throttling without manual intervention.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This DBS-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 DBS-C01 exam.
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