- A
Create a global secondary index (GSI) with partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'score'
Correct because a GSI with partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'score' enables efficient query per game, ordering by score descending to retrieve top players.
- B
Create a global secondary index (GSI) with partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'player_id'
Why wrong: Incorrect because sorting by 'player_id' does not retrieve players by score; you would need to sort after retrieval, which is inefficient.
- C
Create a local secondary index (LSI) with sort key 'score'
Why wrong: Incorrect because an LSI must share the same partition key as the base table ('game_id') and cannot be used to query across all games; also, it does not provide a different sort key that orders by score without additional sorting.
- D
Do not create any index; use the base table with a scan
Why wrong: Incorrect because scanning the entire table is inefficient and expensive for a high-traffic leaderboard, especially with real-time updates.
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 uses Amazon DynamoDB for a high-traffic leaderboard application that updates scores in real-time. The table has partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'player_id'. Queries retrieve top 10 players by score for each game. Which secondary index design is most efficient?
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
Create a global secondary index (GSI) with partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'score'
Option A is correct because a global secondary index (GSI) with partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'score' allows efficient retrieval of the top 10 players per game by querying a single partition (game_id) and using the sort key to order by score descending. This avoids the 1 MB read limit per partition and provides the necessary ordering without scanning the entire table.
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.
- ✓
Create a global secondary index (GSI) with partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'score'
Why this is correct
Correct because a GSI with partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'score' enables efficient query per game, ordering by score descending to retrieve top players.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a global secondary index (GSI) with partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'player_id'
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because sorting by 'player_id' does not retrieve players by score; you would need to sort after retrieval, which is inefficient.
- ✗
Create a local secondary index (LSI) with sort key 'score'
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because an LSI must share the same partition key as the base table ('game_id') and cannot be used to query across all games; also, it does not provide a different sort key that orders by score without additional sorting.
- ✗
Do not create any index; use the base table with a scan
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because scanning the entire table is inefficient and expensive for a high-traffic leaderboard, especially with real-time updates.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse LSIs with GSIs, thinking an LSI can provide a different sort key for global queries, but LSIs are limited to the same partition key as the base table and cannot be used to query across all games.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, DynamoDB GSIs are eventually consistent and have their own provisioned throughput, separate from the base table. When querying a GSI with a sort key, DynamoDB uses the sort key order to return results in ascending order by default; to get top scores, you must set ScanIndexForward to false. In a real-world scenario, if scores update frequently, the GSI must be updated asynchronously, which can lead to slight staleness, but for a leaderboard this is typically acceptable.
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 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.
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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: Create a global secondary index (GSI) with partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'score' — Option A is correct because a global secondary index (GSI) with partition key 'game_id' and sort key 'score' allows efficient retrieval of the top 10 players per game by querying a single partition (game_id) and using the sort key to order by score descending. This avoids the 1 MB read limit per partition and provides the necessary ordering without scanning the entire table.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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