The answer is ReadIOPS and WriteIOPS. These two CloudWatch metrics directly measure the disk input/output operations per second on your RDS instance, which is the most common indicator of a database bottleneck when an application slows down. High or maxed-out IOPS values mean the database is struggling to keep up with read and write requests, causing queuing and latency for the application. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between general performance metrics and database-specific signals; a common trap is choosing CPUUtilization, which can be high for many reasons, or DatabaseConnections, which shows concurrency but not the actual I/O pressure causing the slowdown. Remember the memory tip: “IOPS tells you if the disk is the bottleneck, not the CPU or the count of connections.”
DVA-C02 Troubleshooting and Optimization Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. 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 developer is troubleshooting a slow web application. The application uses an Application Load Balancer, EC2 instances, and an RDS database. The developer suspects the database is the bottleneck. Which TWO CloudWatch metrics should the developer examine to confirm this? (Select TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
DatabaseConnections
Options B and D are correct. DatabaseConnections shows current connections; ReadIOPS and WriteIOPS show disk I/O, which can cause slowness. Option A (CPUUtilization) is a general metric, but for database bottleneck, I/O and connections are more indicative. Option C (NetworkIn) is more about network load. Option E (RequestCount) is for the ALB, not the database.
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.
✓
DatabaseConnections
Why this is correct
High connection count can indicate the database is overwhelmed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
RequestCount
Why it's wrong here
RequestCount is for the ALB, not the database.
✗
NetworkIn
Why it's wrong here
NetworkIn measures incoming network traffic, which may not directly indicate database performance issues.
✓
ReadIOPS and WriteIOPS
Why this is correct
High IOPS can indicate the disk is struggling, causing slow queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
CPUUtilization
Why it's wrong here
High CPU could indicate a database bottleneck, but it is not as direct as I/O metrics.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DVA-C02 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.
Troubleshooting and Optimization — This question tests Troubleshooting and Optimization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: DatabaseConnections — Options B and D are correct. DatabaseConnections shows current connections; ReadIOPS and WriteIOPS show disk I/O, which can cause slowness. Option A (CPUUtilization) is a general metric, but for database bottleneck, I/O and connections are more indicative. Option C (NetworkIn) is more about network load. Option E (RequestCount) is for the ALB, not the database.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DVA-C02 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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This DVA-C02 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 DVA-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
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