The answer is to evaluate the DB Connection Count metric, check for long-running queries on the replicas, and monitor the ReplicaLag metric. These three actions directly diagnose the root causes of high read latency on Aurora MySQL replicas by revealing whether the replicas are overloaded with connections, stalled by a blocking query, or falling behind the primary due to replication lag. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish diagnostic steps from remedial actions—a common trap is confusing a fix like scaling up the instance size (a remedy) with a diagnostic step. Remember, you must identify the cause before applying a solution. Memory tip: think "LQC" for Latency, Queries, and Connections—the three diagnostic pillars for replica read performance.
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 database specialist is troubleshooting a performance issue on an Amazon Aurora MySQL DB cluster. The cluster has a primary instance and two Aurora Replicas. The application is experiencing high read latency. Which THREE actions should the specialist take to identify the cause?
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
✓
Check the Performance Insights for the Aurora Replicas to identify long-running queries.
Options A, B, and D are correct. Monitoring ReplicaLag (A), checking for long-running queries on replicas (B), and evaluating Connection Count metrics (D) help identify read latency causes. Option C is wrong because write latency is not the issue. Option E is wrong because increasing instance size is a remedy, not a diagnostic step.
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.
✗
Check the Write Latency metric on the primary instance.
Why it's wrong here
Write latency does not directly affect read latency.
✗
Increase the instance size of the Aurora Replicas.
Why it's wrong here
This is a remediation step, not a diagnostic one.
✓
Check the Performance Insights for the Aurora Replicas to identify long-running queries.
Why this is correct
Long-running queries can cause read latency.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Monitor the Aurora ReplicaLag metric in Amazon CloudWatch.
Why this is correct
High replicaLag indicates replication delay causing stale reads.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Evaluate the DB Connection Count metric to see if the replicas are overloaded.
Why this is correct
High connection counts can overload replicas and increase latency.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
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.
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: Check the Performance Insights for the Aurora Replicas to identify long-running queries. — Options A, B, and D are correct. Monitoring ReplicaLag (A), checking for long-running queries on replicas (B), and evaluating Connection Count metrics (D) help identify read latency causes. Option C is wrong because write latency is not the issue. Option E is wrong because increasing instance size is a remedy, not a diagnostic step.
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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Question Discussion
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