- A
Create a CloudFront cache policy that excludes unnecessary headers, query strings, and cookies from the cache key.
CloudFront uses the cache key to decide whether two requests can share the same cached object. If irrelevant headers, query strings, or cookies are included, the same file is cached as many variants and the hit ratio drops.
- B
Use versioned filenames or content hashes for static assets and apply long-lived immutable caching.
Versioned asset names let you cache files aggressively because each release gets a new URL. That avoids frequent revalidation or invalidation of an object that should never change once published.
- C
Move the S3 origin behind an Application Load Balancer so CloudFront can cache responses more effectively.
Why wrong: An ALB is unnecessary for static S3 content and does not improve CloudFront cache reuse for files. It adds complexity without addressing the cache-key fragmentation described in the scenario.
- D
Store the objects in Amazon S3 Standard-IA so repeated requests are cheaper.
Why wrong: Storage class changes affect storage cost and retrieval pricing, but they do not change the CloudFront cache hit ratio. The problem is about request variation, not object storage economics.
- E
Lower the CloudFront TTL to zero so viewers always receive the newest content immediately.
Why wrong: A zero TTL forces more origin fetches and usually reduces cache hit ratio. That increases origin load and is the opposite of the goal of improving cache efficiency.
SAA-C03 Design High-Performing Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design high-performing architectures. 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 marketing site serves versioned JavaScript and CSS from an Amazon S3 origin through Amazon CloudFront. After each release, the cache hit ratio drops sharply because clients keep sending request headers and query strings that are not needed for asset retrieval. Which two changes should improve cache efficiency the most? Select 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
Create a CloudFront cache policy that excludes unnecessary headers, query strings, and cookies from the cache key.
Option A is correct because CloudFront cache policies allow you to explicitly control which headers, query strings, and cookies are included in the cache key. By excluding unnecessary ones (e.g., User-Agent, random query parameters), you prevent cache fragmentation and ensure that identical assets served with different request metadata map to the same cached object, dramatically improving the cache hit ratio.
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.
- ✓
Create a CloudFront cache policy that excludes unnecessary headers, query strings, and cookies from the cache key.
Why this is correct
CloudFront uses the cache key to decide whether two requests can share the same cached object. If irrelevant headers, query strings, or cookies are included, the same file is cached as many variants and the hit ratio drops.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use versioned filenames or content hashes for static assets and apply long-lived immutable caching.
Why this is correct
Versioned asset names let you cache files aggressively because each release gets a new URL. That avoids frequent revalidation or invalidation of an object that should never change once published.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Move the S3 origin behind an Application Load Balancer so CloudFront can cache responses more effectively.
Why it's wrong here
An ALB is unnecessary for static S3 content and does not improve CloudFront cache reuse for files. It adds complexity without addressing the cache-key fragmentation described in the scenario.
- ✗
Store the objects in Amazon S3 Standard-IA so repeated requests are cheaper.
Why it's wrong here
Storage class changes affect storage cost and retrieval pricing, but they do not change the CloudFront cache hit ratio. The problem is about request variation, not object storage economics.
- ✗
Lower the CloudFront TTL to zero so viewers always receive the newest content immediately.
Why it's wrong here
A zero TTL forces more origin fetches and usually reduces cache hit ratio. That increases origin load and is the opposite of the goal of improving cache efficiency.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse cache invalidation strategies (like lowering TTL) with cache efficiency improvements, not realizing that excluding unnecessary cache key components is the direct mechanism to reduce cache misses.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
An ALB is unnecessary for static S3 content and does not improve CloudFront cache reuse for files. It adds complexity without addressing the cache-key fragmentation described in the scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudFront cache keys are built from the origin, URL path, and any specified cache key components (headers, query strings, cookies). When clients send arbitrary query strings like '?v=1.2.3' or headers like 'Accept-Encoding', each unique combination creates a separate cache entry unless the policy normalizes them. Using versioned filenames (e.g., 'app.abc123.js') with immutable caching (Cache-Control: immutable, max-age=31536000) ensures that updated assets get a new URL, so old versions remain cached indefinitely and never cause cache invalidation.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Design High-Performing Architectures — This question tests Design High-Performing Architectures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a CloudFront cache policy that excludes unnecessary headers, query strings, and cookies from the cache key. — Option A is correct because CloudFront cache policies allow you to explicitly control which headers, query strings, and cookies are included in the cache key. By excluding unnecessary ones (e.g., User-Agent, random query parameters), you prevent cache fragmentation and ensure that identical assets served with different request metadata map to the same cached object, dramatically improving the cache hit ratio.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 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: Jun 11, 2026
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