- A
Disable auto scaling to provision fixed capacity
Why wrong: May lead to under-provisioning or over-provisioning.
- B
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for caching
Reduces read load on the table, mitigating throttling.
- C
Increase the read capacity units (RCUs) of the table
Why wrong: Does not address hot partition; throttling may continue if one partition is overloaded.
- D
Add a random suffix to the partition key values
Spreads writes across more partitions.
- E
Use a global secondary index (GSI) with a different partition key
Why wrong: GSI uses separate throughput but base table partition may still throttle.
Question 363 of 1,616
Improving DynamoDB Performance with Hot Partitions
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.
Which TWO actions can improve the performance of an Amazon DynamoDB table that experiences frequent throttling due to hot partitions? (Choose TWO.)
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 caching
Option B is correct because DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is an in-memory cache that reduces the number of read requests hitting the underlying table, thereby alleviating pressure on hot partitions. By serving frequently accessed items from DAX, the table experiences fewer throttled read requests, improving overall performance without changing the data model.
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.
- ✗
Disable auto scaling to provision fixed capacity
Why it's wrong here
May lead to under-provisioning or over-provisioning.
- ✓
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for caching
Why this is correct
Reduces read load on the table, mitigating throttling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the read capacity units (RCUs) of the table
Why it's wrong here
Does not address hot partition; throttling may continue if one partition is overloaded.
- ✓
Add a random suffix to the partition key values
Why this is correct
Spreads writes across more partitions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a global secondary index (GSI) with a different partition key
Why it's wrong here
GSI uses separate throughput but base table partition may still throttle.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume increasing provisioned capacity (RCUs/WCUs) will solve throttling, but they overlook the partition-level throughput limit that makes hot partitions a distribution problem, not a capacity problem.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB partitions data based on the partition key's hash value, and each partition has a fixed throughput capacity (3,000 RCUs and 1,000 WCUs). When a single partition key value receives disproportionate traffic, it becomes a hot partition and throttles even if the table's total provisioned capacity is not exceeded. DAX caches read results at the instance level, reducing the number of eventual-consistent reads to the table and effectively lowering the read load on hot partitions.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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 caching — Option B is correct because DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is an in-memory cache that reduces the number of read requests hitting the underlying table, thereby alleviating pressure on hot partitions. By serving frequently accessed items from DAX, the table experiences fewer throttled read requests, improving overall performance without changing the data model.
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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