The answer is to increase the instance size of the read replica and reduce write-heavy DML on the primary instance. Increasing the replica’s instance size provides more CPU and memory resources to process and apply the binary log changes faster, directly addressing the bottleneck where the replica cannot keep up with the primary’s write rate. Reducing heavy DML operations on the primary lowers the volume of data that must be replicated, easing the lag at its source. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of replication mechanics and common misconfigurations—a frequent trap is assuming Multi-AZ or more storage on the replica reduces lag, but Multi-AZ only improves failover, not apply speed, and storage size does not affect log replay throughput. Remember the memory tip: “Replicas need muscle, not more space—size up the compute, slow down the source.”
DBS-C01 Monitoring and Troubleshooting Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. 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.
Which TWO actions can help reduce Amazon RDS for MySQL replication lag between a primary instance and a read replica? (Choose two.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Reduce the number of write-heavy DML statements on the primary.
Options A and D are correct. Increasing the replica instance size gives it more resources to apply changes. Reducing write-heavy DML on the primary reduces the volume of changes to replicate. Option B is incorrect because enabling Multi-AZ on the primary does not reduce lag. Option C is incorrect because binary logging is required for replication. Option E is incorrect because increasing the replica's allocated storage does not directly reduce lag.
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.
✗
Increase the allocated storage for the read replica.
Why it's wrong here
Storage size does not directly affect replication lag.
✓
Reduce the number of write-heavy DML statements on the primary.
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable Multi-AZ on the primary instance.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ provides high availability, not lag reduction.
✓
Increase the instance size of the read replica.
Why this is correct
A larger replica can apply changes faster.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable binary logging on the primary instance.
Why it's wrong here
Binary logging is required for replication.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Reduce the number of write-heavy DML statements on the primary. — Options A and D are correct. Increasing the replica instance size gives it more resources to apply changes. Reducing write-heavy DML on the primary reduces the volume of changes to replicate. Option B is incorrect because enabling Multi-AZ on the primary does not reduce lag. Option C is incorrect because binary logging is required for replication. Option E is incorrect because increasing the replica's allocated storage does not directly reduce lag.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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