- A
Create an RDS read replica and point the reporting queries to the replica endpoint.
Read replicas offload reads from the primary and can speed up SELECT-heavy workloads with minimal changes.
- B
Switch the cluster to DynamoDB without redesigning the data model.
Why wrong: Moving to DynamoDB typically requires significant model changes and does not directly solve RDS read pressure.
- C
Enable S3 event notifications to trigger a Lambda function after each write to the database.
Why wrong: S3 event notifications are unrelated to database read scaling and won’t reduce SELECT workload on RDS.
- D
Replace the RDS instance class with a smaller size to reduce cost and improve performance.
Why wrong: Smaller instances usually worsen performance and would likely increase CPU and latency under read load.
SAA-C03 Design High-Performing Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design high-performing architectures. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. A key principle to apply: rDS read replicas support PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server.. 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 retail analytics app uses Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. Read traffic is growing, and the database CPU spikes mainly due to SELECT-heavy workloads. Writes are less frequent, and the app can tolerate eventually consistent reads for the reports. What is the most appropriate AWS-native way to improve read performance with minimal application changes?
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 an RDS read replica and point the reporting queries to the replica endpoint.
Creating an RDS read replica is the most appropriate AWS-native solution because it offloads SELECT-heavy read traffic from the primary database instance to a separate read-only replica, reducing CPU spikes on the primary. The application can tolerate eventually consistent reads for reports, which aligns with the natural replication lag of RDS read replicas (typically sub-second). This requires minimal application changes—only updating the reporting queries to point to the replica endpoint—and leverages PostgreSQL's built-in streaming replication.
Key principle: RDS read replicas support PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server.
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 an RDS read replica and point the reporting queries to the replica endpoint.
Why this is correct
Read replicas offload reads from the primary and can speed up SELECT-heavy workloads with minimal changes.
Related concept
RDS read replicas support PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server.
- ✗
Switch the cluster to DynamoDB without redesigning the data model.
Why it's wrong here
Moving to DynamoDB typically requires significant model changes and does not directly solve RDS read pressure.
- ✗
Enable S3 event notifications to trigger a Lambda function after each write to the database.
Why it's wrong here
S3 event notifications are unrelated to database read scaling and won’t reduce SELECT workload on RDS.
- ✗
Replace the RDS instance class with a smaller size to reduce cost and improve performance.
Why it's wrong here
Smaller instances usually worsen performance and would likely increase CPU and latency under read load.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse read replicas with Multi-AZ deployments, thinking Multi-AZ improves read performance, but Multi-AZ only provides failover redundancy and does not offload read traffic—the standby is not accessible for reads.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RDS read replicas use PostgreSQL's native streaming replication (based on WAL logs) to maintain an asynchronous copy of the primary database. The replica can serve read traffic with eventual consistency, typically with replication lag measured in milliseconds under normal load. In a real-world scenario, if the reporting workload involves complex aggregations or joins, the replica can be scaled independently (e.g., using a larger instance class or Multi-AZ for high availability) without affecting write performance on the primary.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- RDS read replicas support PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server.
- Read replicas are asynchronously updated from the primary database instance.
- Applications can direct read traffic to replica endpoints to offload the primary.
- Read replicas are ideal for scaling read-heavy workloads and analytical reporting.
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
RDS read replicas support PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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 — RDS read replicas support PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an RDS read replica and point the reporting queries to the replica endpoint. — Creating an RDS read replica is the most appropriate AWS-native solution because it offloads SELECT-heavy read traffic from the primary database instance to a separate read-only replica, reducing CPU spikes on the primary. The application can tolerate eventually consistent reads for reports, which aligns with the natural replication lag of RDS read replicas (typically sub-second). This requires minimal application changes—only updating the reporting queries to point to the replica endpoint—and leverages PostgreSQL's built-in streaming replication.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Review rDS read replicas support PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server., then practise related SAA-C03 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
RDS read replicas support PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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