- A
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for the table
DAX provides an in-memory cache that reduces read latency.
- B
Increase the read capacity to 10000 RCUs
Why wrong: Increases cost without addressing caching.
- C
Configure DynamoDB global tables for the application
Why wrong: Global tables enable multi-region writes, not read caching.
- D
Enable DynamoDB Streams and process updates asynchronously
Why wrong: Streams are not for caching; they capture changes.
Question 1,056 of 1,616
Improve DynamoDB Read Performance with DAX | AWS Developer Associate Explained
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. 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 uses Amazon DynamoDB as a session store for a web application. The application recently experienced a spike in traffic, causing increased read latency. The DynamoDB table has a read capacity of 5000 RCUs and uses eventual consistent reads. The application performs many GetItem calls. What should a developer do to improve read performance with minimal cost?
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
✓
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for the table
DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is an in-memory cache that reduces read latency for GetItem calls from single-digit milliseconds to microseconds. Since the application uses eventual consistent reads and performs many GetItem operations, DAX offloads reads from the table, improving performance without increasing provisioned RCUs. This is the most cost-effective solution because it avoids scaling the table's read capacity and only charges for the cache nodes used.
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.
- ✓
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for the table
Why this is correct
DAX provides an in-memory cache that reduces read latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the read capacity to 10000 RCUs
Why it's wrong here
Increases cost without addressing caching.
- ✗
Configure DynamoDB global tables for the application
Why it's wrong here
Global tables enable multi-region writes, not read caching.
- ✗
Enable DynamoDB Streams and process updates asynchronously
Why it's wrong here
Streams are not for caching; they capture changes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume increasing provisioned capacity (Option B) is the only way to handle read spikes, overlooking the cost and performance benefits of a caching layer like DAX for read-heavy workloads.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DAX maintains a write-through cache that stores the results of GetItem and Query operations, serving subsequent identical requests from memory. Under the hood, DAX uses a cluster of nodes with a primary node and replicas, and it supports eventual consistency by default, aligning with the application's existing read model. In a real-world scenario, a session store with repeated reads for the same session IDs benefits greatly from DAX, as it reduces the load on the DynamoDB table's internal storage nodes and avoids throttling during traffic spikes.
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
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for the table — DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is an in-memory cache that reduces read latency for GetItem calls from single-digit milliseconds to microseconds. Since the application uses eventual consistent reads and performs many GetItem operations, DAX offloads reads from the table, improving performance without increasing provisioned RCUs. This is the most cost-effective solution because it avoids scaling the table's read capacity and only charges for the cache nodes used.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 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
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.
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