- A
TransactGetItems
Why wrong: TransactGetItems retrieves multiple items atomically but does not sort or limit results; cannot guarantee top 10.
- B
Scan and sort results client-side, then take first 10
Scan reads all items; client-side sorting by score descending and taking first 10 yields the top 10 globally.
- C
BatchGetItem
Why wrong: BatchGetItem retrieves specific items by primary key but cannot sort or return top 10 without knowing keys.
- D
GetItem
Why wrong: GetItem retrieves a single item by primary key; cannot return multiple items or top 10.
- E
Query with ScanIndexForward set to false and Limit set to 10
Query with ScanIndexForward=false and Limit=10 retrieves the top 10 items within a partition key; if a single partition key is used (e.g., 'Leaderboard'), it efficiently returns the global top 10.
DynamoDB Top N Items
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: query with ScanIndexForward. 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 developer is using Amazon DynamoDB for a gaming leaderboard. The table has a sort key of 'score' (Number). The developer wants to retrieve the top 10 players. Which TWO operations can achieve this? (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
Scan and sort results client-side, then take first 10
Option B is correct because scanning all items and sorting them client-side by score descending gives the global top 10, regardless of partition keys. Option E is correct if the table is designed with a single partition key (e.g., a constant value like 'Leaderboard'), because a Query with ScanIndexForward=false and Limit=10 then retrieves the top 10 items from that partition efficiently. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they cannot return the top 10 items sorted globally.
Key principle: Query with ScanIndexForward
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
TransactGetItems
Why it's wrong here
TransactGetItems retrieves multiple items atomically but does not sort or limit results; cannot guarantee top 10.
- ✓
Scan and sort results client-side, then take first 10
Why this is correct
Scan reads all items; client-side sorting by score descending and taking first 10 yields the top 10 globally.
Related concept
Query with ScanIndexForward
- ✗
BatchGetItem
Why it's wrong here
BatchGetItem retrieves specific items by primary key but cannot sort or return top 10 without knowing keys.
- ✗
GetItem
Why it's wrong here
GetItem retrieves a single item by primary key; cannot return multiple items or top 10.
- ✓
Query with ScanIndexForward set to false and Limit set to 10
Why this is correct
Query with ScanIndexForward=false and Limit=10 retrieves the top 10 items within a partition key; if a single partition key is used (e.g., 'Leaderboard'), it efficiently returns the global top 10.
Related concept
Query with ScanIndexForward
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The pitfall is that candidates assume Query with ScanIndexForward=false and Limit=10 works globally across all partitions, but it only applies within a single partition key. However, if the table uses a constant partition key (common for leaderboards), it becomes a valid solution. Always consider the table design when evaluating Query vs. Scan.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB's Query operation with ScanIndexForward set to false and Limit set to 10 works efficiently only when querying a single partition key, as it reads items in reverse order from a local secondary index or the table's sort key. For a global leaderboard spanning all partitions, a Scan followed by client-side sorting is necessary because DynamoDB does not support global ordering across partitions without a full table scan. In practice, for large datasets, this Scan approach can be costly in terms of read capacity units, so developers often use a global secondary index with a fixed partition key (e.g., 'leaderboard') to enable efficient Query-based retrieval.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Query with ScanIndexForward
- Limit
- Single partition key design
- Scan and client-side sort
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
Query with ScanIndexForward
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. Query with ScanIndexForward 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
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Query with ScanIndexForward.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Scan and sort results client-side, then take first 10 — Option B is correct because scanning all items and sorting them client-side by score descending gives the global top 10, regardless of partition keys. Option E is correct if the table is designed with a single partition key (e.g., a constant value like 'Leaderboard'), because a Query with ScanIndexForward=false and Limit=10 then retrieves the top 10 items from that partition efficiently. Options A, C, and D are incorrect because they cannot return the top 10 items sorted globally.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Review query with ScanIndexForward, then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Query with ScanIndexForward
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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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