- A
The table's previous peak throughput was lower than the current traffic, and DynamoDB is still adapting.
On-demand capacity mode can throttle if traffic exceeds the table's previous peak by a large margin, as DynamoDB needs time to scale up.
- B
The table has a hot partition that is receiving more requests than the partition can handle.
Why wrong: While hot partitions can cause throttling, the question indicates that overall requests are within limits, suggesting the issue is not partition-level.
- C
The table has exceeded the maximum allowed throughput for on-demand capacity mode.
Why wrong: On-demand capacity mode does not have a maximum throughput limit; it can scale to handle very high traffic.
- D
The table's provisioned read/write capacity is set too low.
Why wrong: On-demand mode does not use provisioned capacity; it scales automatically based on traffic.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the table’s previous peak throughput was lower than the current traffic, and DynamoDB is still adapting. This is because on-demand capacity mode automatically scales to handle up to your table’s previous peak throughput within 30 minutes, but a sudden spike beyond that historical peak can trigger throttling while the service adjusts to the new demand. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding that on-demand is not infinite—it has a “memory” of past traffic, and throttling occurs when you exceed that remembered peak, not a provisioned limit. A common trap is assuming on-demand never throttles or confusing it with provisioned capacity limits. Remember the memory tip: “On-demand remembers your last peak; spike past it and you’ll leak.”
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
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 is using Amazon DynamoDB with on-demand capacity mode. The application experiences occasional throttling on a table during peak hours. The table's read and write requests are within the throughput limits, but the provisioned read/write capacity is exceeded. What is the most likely cause of this throttling?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The table's previous peak throughput was lower than the current traffic, and DynamoDB is still adapting.
Option B is correct because on-demand capacity mode automatically scales to handle up to the table's previous peak throughput, but it can throttle if there is a sudden spike beyond that peak. Option A is incorrect because on-demand capacity mode does not use provisioned capacity; it scales automatically. Option C is incorrect because partition hot spots can cause throttling even if total throughput is within limits, but the question states that read and write requests are within limits. Option D is incorrect because on-demand capacity mode does not have a table-wide throughput limit; it scales automatically.
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.
- ✓
The table's previous peak throughput was lower than the current traffic, and DynamoDB is still adapting.
Why this is correct
On-demand capacity mode can throttle if traffic exceeds the table's previous peak by a large margin, as DynamoDB needs time to scale up.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The table has a hot partition that is receiving more requests than the partition can handle.
Why it's wrong here
While hot partitions can cause throttling, the question indicates that overall requests are within limits, suggesting the issue is not partition-level.
- ✗
The table has exceeded the maximum allowed throughput for on-demand capacity mode.
Why it's wrong here
On-demand capacity mode does not have a maximum throughput limit; it can scale to handle very high traffic.
- ✗
The table's provisioned read/write capacity is set too low.
Why it's wrong here
On-demand mode does not use provisioned capacity; it scales automatically based on traffic.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
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Management and Operations — study guide chapter
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Management and Operations practice questions
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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: The table's previous peak throughput was lower than the current traffic, and DynamoDB is still adapting. — Option B is correct because on-demand capacity mode automatically scales to handle up to the table's previous peak throughput, but it can throttle if there is a sudden spike beyond that peak. Option A is incorrect because on-demand capacity mode does not use provisioned capacity; it scales automatically. Option C is incorrect because partition hot spots can cause throttling even if total throughput is within limits, but the question states that read and write requests are within limits. Option D is incorrect because on-demand capacity mode does not have a table-wide throughput limit; it scales automatically.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
2 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 with on-demand capacity mode. The company notices that during a flash sale, the write requests are throttled. What is the most likely cause of the throttling?
easy- A.The table has reached its maximum throughput limit for on-demand mode.
- B.The table is not configured for auto scaling.
- ✓ C.A hot partition is causing throttling even though the table uses on-demand capacity.
- D.The provisioned write capacity units (WCUs) are set too low.
Why C: On-demand tables have a per-table throughput limit that can be exceeded, especially during a flash sale. Option A (WCU limit) does not apply to on-demand. Option B (partition hot spot) could cause throttling even in on-demand if a single partition is overloaded. Option C (table limit) is correct, but partition hot spots are a common cause. The best answer is B because on-demand automatically scales but can still throttle if a partition is hot.
Variation 2. A company is using Amazon DynamoDB with on-demand capacity for a serverless web application. The application experiences occasional throttling. The DynamoDB table has a simple primary key (partition key only). The throttled requests are related to a small number of partition keys. What is the MOST likely cause?
easy- A.On-demand capacity has a per-partition throughput limit that is too low.
- ✓ B.The partition key design leads to uneven access patterns, causing a hot partition.
- C.The table uses a composite primary key, which limits throughput.
- D.The table's read/write capacity mode is set to provisioned instead of on-demand.
Why B: Option B is correct because throttling on a few partition keys indicates a hot partition. Option A is wrong because on-demand capacity handles overall traffic, but partition-level limits still apply. Option C is wrong because a simple primary key is fine, but the data distribution is the issue. Option D is wrong because on-demand capacity automatically scales, but not per partition beyond the limit.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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