Quick Answer
The answer is uneven consumed capacity despite total table capacity being available. This is the clearest sign of a hot partition because DynamoDB distributes throughput evenly across partitions, so when a single partition key value absorbs a disproportionate share of traffic, that partition’s capacity is exhausted while others remain idle, causing throttling for that specific key even though the table’s overall provisioned capacity is not fully used. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of partition design and the difference between table-level and partition-level throttling—a common trap is assuming throttling always means you need to increase total table capacity, when the real fix is to redesign the partition key for better distribution. Remember the mnemonic: “One key hogs the load, the rest are a road.”
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. 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 DynamoDB table shows throttling on one partition key value. Which two signs point to a hot partition problem?
Most traffic targets the same partition key
Correct for the stated requirement.
The table has point-in-time recovery enabled
Why wrong: This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
Consumed capacity is uneven despite total table capacity being available
Correct for the stated requirement.
CloudTrail is enabled in all regions
Why wrong: This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Most traffic targets the same partition key
Option A is correct because a hot partition occurs when a single partition key value receives a disproportionate share of read/write traffic, causing throttling on that partition even if the table's total provisioned capacity is not fully utilized. This imbalance means the partition's capacity is exhausted while other partitions remain underutilized, leading to request throttling for that specific key.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Most traffic targets the same partition key
Why this is correct
Correct for the stated requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The table has point-in-time recovery enabled
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
Consumed capacity is uneven despite total table capacity being available
Why this is correct
Correct for the stated requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
CloudTrail is enabled in all regions
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse overall table capacity with partition-level capacity, assuming throttling only happens when total consumed capacity exceeds provisioned capacity, rather than recognizing that uneven key distribution can cause throttling on a single partition.
Detailed technical explanation
DynamoDB partitions data by hash of the partition key; each partition has a fixed capacity of 3000 RCU or 1000 WCU. When a single key (e.g., a popular user ID) receives traffic exceeding that partition's limit, throttling occurs even if the table's total consumed capacity is below provisioned levels. Real-world scenarios include a viral social media post causing a spike on one item, or an IoT device ID that reports data more frequently than others.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Troubleshooting and Optimization — This question tests Troubleshooting and Optimization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Most traffic targets the same partition key — Option A is correct because a hot partition occurs when a single partition key value receives a disproportionate share of read/write traffic, causing throttling on that partition even if the table's total provisioned capacity is not fully utilized. This imbalance means the partition's capacity is exhausted while other partitions remain underutilized, leading to request throttling for that specific key.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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