The answer is a hot partition exceeding its partition-level read capacity. This occurs because DynamoDB distributes provisioned read capacity units (RCUs) evenly across all partitions, so even if your table has 10,000 RCUs and you’re consuming only 9,500, a single partition receiving a disproportionate share of traffic can hit its own 3,000 RCU limit and trigger throttling. Strongly consistent reads compound this issue by consuming twice the RCUs of eventually consistent reads, meaning 9,500 consumed RCUs may represent only 4,750 actual read requests, but the hot partition’s ceiling is still breached. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that throttling is partition-level, not table-level, and that strongly consistent reads double RCU consumption without increasing partition capacity. A common trap is assuming sufficient table-level RCUs prevent throttling, or misattributing the issue to insufficient provisioned capacity. Memory tip: think of DynamoDB partitions like checkout lanes—one long line (hot partition) causes delays even if other lanes are empty.
DVA-C02 Troubleshooting and Optimization Practice Question
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 company's DynamoDB table has a read capacity of 10,000 RCUs and receives consistent traffic. Recently, users have reported increased latency for read requests. The application uses strongly consistent reads. The developer checks CloudWatch metrics and sees that 'ConsumedReadCapacityUnits' is at 9,500 but 'ThrottledRequests' is high. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A hot partition is exceeding its partition-level read capacity.
Strongly consistent reads consume twice the RCUs of eventually consistent reads. If the application requests strongly consistent reads, the actual consumed capacity is double the read request units, so 9,500 RCUs consumed may represent only 4,750 read requests, but the provisioned capacity is 10,000. However, throttling occurs because the partition-level capacity may be exceeded. Option C is correct: a hot partition causes throttling even if table-level capacity is not exhausted. Option A is incorrect because the table has capacity. Option B is incorrect because RCUs are sufficient. Option D is incorrect as strongly consistent reads are working.
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.
✗
The application is using eventually consistent reads but expecting strongly consistent results.
Why it's wrong here
The latency issue is not about consistency; throttling indicates capacity issues.
✓
A hot partition is exceeding its partition-level read capacity.
Why this is correct
Even with sufficient table capacity, a single partition can throttle if its share of RCUs is exceeded.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The DynamoDB table has auto scaling enabled and is scaling down too aggressively.
Why it's wrong here
Auto scaling would increase capacity, not cause throttling at 95% usage.
✗
The provisioned read capacity is too low for the traffic.
Why it's wrong here
The consumed capacity is below provisioned, so table-level capacity is not the issue.
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 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: A hot partition is exceeding its partition-level read capacity. — Strongly consistent reads consume twice the RCUs of eventually consistent reads. If the application requests strongly consistent reads, the actual consumed capacity is double the read request units, so 9,500 RCUs consumed may represent only 4,750 read requests, but the provisioned capacity is 10,000. However, throttling occurs because the partition-level capacity may be exceeded. Option C is correct: a hot partition causes throttling even if table-level capacity is not exhausted. Option A is incorrect because the table has capacity. Option B is incorrect because RCUs are sufficient. Option D is incorrect as strongly consistent reads are working.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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