- A
Redesign the partition key to include a random suffix to distribute writes across partitions.
A write-sharding pattern ensures even distribution of write traffic and avoids hot partitions.
- B
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache the most frequently read items.
Why wrong: DAX caches reads but does not reduce write traffic to the hot partition.
- C
Increase the provisioned read capacity units (RCU) for the table.
Why wrong: Throttling is due to a hot partition, not insufficient overall capacity; increasing RCU does not solve the partition-level limit.
- D
Use eventually consistent reads for the leaderboard queries where possible.
Eventually consistent reads consume half the read capacity, reducing overall read load and allowing more capacity for writes.
- E
Create a global secondary index (GSI) with a different partition key.
Why wrong: GSI does not change the base table's partition key and does not distribute writes.
DynamoDB Hot Partition Resolution: Key Sharding & Eventual Consistency
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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 uses Amazon DynamoDB for a high-traffic gaming leaderboard. The table has a partition key of 'game_id' and a sort key of 'score'. During a tournament, the application experiences throttling on a single partition. The application uses strongly consistent reads. Which TWO actions should be taken to resolve the throttling and maintain performance?
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
Redesign the partition key to include a random suffix to distribute writes across partitions.
The correct actions are A and D. Option A: Redesigning the partition key to include a random suffix (e.g., appending a shard number) distributes write traffic across multiple partitions, preventing a single hot partition from throttling. Option D: For a leaderboard, eventually consistent reads are sufficient for non-critical queries, reducing read capacity consumption and alleviating read-side throttling. Option B (DAX) only caches reads and does not help with write throttling. Option C (increasing RCU) addresses read capacity, not write distribution to fix the hot partition. Option E (GSI) creates a separate index but does not redistribute writes on the base table's primary partition.
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.
- ✓
Redesign the partition key to include a random suffix to distribute writes across partitions.
Why this is correct
A write-sharding pattern ensures even distribution of write traffic and avoids hot partitions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache the most frequently read items.
Why it's wrong here
DAX caches reads but does not reduce write traffic to the hot partition.
- ✗
Increase the provisioned read capacity units (RCU) for the table.
Why it's wrong here
Throttling is due to a hot partition, not insufficient overall capacity; increasing RCU does not solve the partition-level limit.
- ✓
Use eventually consistent reads for the leaderboard queries where possible.
Why this is correct
Eventually consistent reads consume half the read capacity, reducing overall read load and allowing more capacity for writes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a global secondary index (GSI) with a different partition key.
Why it's wrong here
GSI does not change the base table's partition key and does not distribute 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.
Visual reference
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?
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Redesign the partition key to include a random suffix to distribute writes across partitions. — The correct actions are A and D. Option A: Redesigning the partition key to include a random suffix (e.g., appending a shard number) distributes write traffic across multiple partitions, preventing a single hot partition from throttling. Option D: For a leaderboard, eventually consistent reads are sufficient for non-critical queries, reducing read capacity consumption and alleviating read-side throttling. Option B (DAX) only caches reads and does not help with write throttling. Option C (increasing RCU) addresses read capacity, not write distribution to fix the hot partition. Option E (GSI) creates a separate index but does not redistribute writes on the base table's primary partition.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DBS-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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on DBS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is using Amazon DynamoDB for a gaming leaderboard. The table has a partition key of 'game_id' and a sort key of 'score'. The application performs a query to retrieve the top 10 scores for a given game_id. The query uses ScanIndexForward: false and Limit: 10. Recently, the query response time has increased. The table's read capacity is 1000 RCU, and the average item size is 1 KB. Which is the most likely cause of the increased latency?
hard- A.The table lacks a global secondary index on game_id, causing a full table scan.
- B.The query is using strongly consistent reads instead of eventually consistent reads.
- C.The provisioned read capacity is too low for the query pattern.
- ✓ D.A hot partition on the game_id key is causing throttling for that specific partition.
Why D: The increased latency is most likely due to a hot partition on the 'game_id' key. When a specific game_id receives a disproportionate amount of write or read traffic, that single partition can exceed its throughput limits (1/1000th of provisioned RCU per partition), causing throttling and retries that degrade query response time. Even though the query uses ScanIndexForward: false and Limit: 10, the request is still constrained by the partition's capacity, and throttling at the partition level leads to increased latency.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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