- A
Amazon RDS for MySQL with read replicas
Why wrong: RDS does not provide sub-millisecond read latency and read replicas add lag.
- B
Amazon Redshift
Why wrong: Redshift is a data warehouse for analytical queries, not real-time updates.
- C
Amazon ElastiCache for Redis
Why wrong: ElastiCache is a caching layer, not a durable primary database.
- D
Amazon DynamoDB
DynamoDB offers consistent single-digit millisecond latency and high throughput.
Question 721 of 1,730
DynamoDB for Real-Time Leaderboard
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 mobile gaming company needs a database to store player scores and leaderboards. The data must be updated in real time as players finish games. The database must support high write throughput and provide sub-millisecond read latency for leaderboard queries. Which database is best suited?
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
✓
Amazon DynamoDB
Amazon DynamoDB is the best choice because it is a fully managed NoSQL key-value and document database designed for single-digit millisecond read and write performance at any scale. Its DAX (DynamoDB Accelerator) caching layer can further reduce read latency to sub-millisecond for leaderboard queries, while its auto-scaling write capacity handles the high write throughput required for real-time player score updates.
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.
- ✗
Amazon RDS for MySQL with read replicas
Why it's wrong here
RDS does not provide sub-millisecond read latency and read replicas add lag.
- ✗
Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Redshift is a data warehouse for analytical queries, not real-time updates.
- ✗
Amazon ElastiCache for Redis
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache is a caching layer, not a durable primary database.
- ✓
Amazon DynamoDB
Why this is correct
DynamoDB offers consistent single-digit millisecond latency and high throughput.
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 often choose ElastiCache for Redis (Option C) because of its sub-millisecond latency, but they overlook the requirement for a durable database that persists player scores and leaderboards, which Redis does not guarantee without additional configuration and risk of data loss.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB achieves sub-millisecond read latency through its distributed architecture, where data is automatically partitioned across multiple storage nodes using consistent hashing, and DAX provides an in-memory cache that offloads read traffic from the main table. For leaderboard queries, DynamoDB supports global secondary indexes (GSIs) with eventual consistency, and the use of sorted keys (e.g., score as a sort key) enables efficient range queries to retrieve top scores without scanning the entire table. In a real-world scenario, a mobile gaming company would use DynamoDB with auto-scaling write capacity and a TTL-based cleanup of stale scores to maintain performance under millions of concurrent writes.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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: Amazon DynamoDB — Amazon DynamoDB is the best choice because it is a fully managed NoSQL key-value and document database designed for single-digit millisecond read and write performance at any scale. Its DAX (DynamoDB Accelerator) caching layer can further reduce read latency to sub-millisecond for leaderboard queries, while its auto-scaling write capacity handles the high write throughput required for real-time player score updates.
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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