The correct answer is to review the partition key design and add a suffix to distribute writes, because DynamoDB throttling in on-demand mode occurs when traffic exceeds the table’s previous peak by a large margin, overwhelming a single hot partition. On-demand capacity automatically scales, but it cannot instantly rebalance unevenly distributed write load across partitions, so improving key cardinality spreads the workload and prevents throttling. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding that on-demand is not immune to throttling—it only scales within the boundaries of your partition design, and many candidates mistakenly assume auto-scaling eliminates all limits. A common trap is choosing “increase read capacity” or “enable auto-scaling,” which are irrelevant for write throttling. Memory tip: think of on-demand as a rubber band—it stretches, but only as far as your partition key allows; a poor key snaps the band.
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 company is using Amazon DynamoDB with on-demand capacity. A developer notices that write requests are being throttled during peak hours. What is the MOST effective way to resolve this issue?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Review the partition key design and consider adding a suffix to distribute writes.
Option D is correct because on-demand capacity can still throttle if you exceed the previous peak traffic by a large margin; the table can be split into multiple partitions to distribute write load. Option A is wrong because on-demand already auto-scales. Option B is wrong because increasing read capacity does not help writes. Option C is wrong because there are no WCU limits in on-demand mode.
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.
✗
Switch to provisioned capacity mode with auto-scaling.
Why it's wrong here
On-demand already handles spikes; throttling may be due to hot partitions.
✗
Increase the write capacity units.
Why it's wrong here
On-demand does not have WCU settings.
✓
Review the partition key design and consider adding a suffix to distribute writes.
Why this is correct
Hot partitions can cause throttling even in on-demand mode.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the read capacity units.
Why it's wrong here
Read capacity does not affect write throttling.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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: Review the partition key design and consider adding a suffix to distribute writes. — Option D is correct because on-demand capacity can still throttle if you exceed the previous peak traffic by a large margin; the table can be split into multiple partitions to distribute write load. Option A is wrong because on-demand already auto-scales. Option B is wrong because increasing read capacity does not help writes. Option C is wrong because there are no WCU limits in on-demand mode.
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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Question Discussion
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