- A
Add Aurora Replicas to scale out read traffic across multiple database instances.
Aurora Replicas are the primary horizontal scaling mechanism for read-heavy Aurora workloads. They add more database compute so the cluster can process more concurrent read queries.
- B
Send read queries to the Aurora reader endpoint so they are distributed across the replicas.
The reader endpoint automatically routes connections to Aurora Replicas, which lets the application use additional read capacity without hard-coding individual replica endpoints.
- C
Point all queries to the writer endpoint so Aurora can balance reads and writes internally.
Why wrong: The writer endpoint is intended for writes and for transactional work that must go to the primary instance. Sending all reads there concentrates load on the primary and reduces the benefit of replicas.
- D
Enable Multi-AZ standby for the cluster to increase the number of read-only connections.
Why wrong: Aurora Multi-AZ is about availability and failover, not extra read scaling. A standby or passive component does not provide the same read capacity as adding active replicas.
- E
Move the database to a single larger instance class instead of adding replicas.
Why wrong: A larger instance may improve the performance of one node, but it does not provide the horizontal scaling needed for a read-heavy workload. The question asks for more read throughput without changing the application design, which is exactly what replicas and the reader endpoint provide.
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 web application uses an Amazon Aurora DB cluster for a read-heavy workload. The team wants to increase read throughput without changing the database schema or rewriting application data access patterns. Which two changes should they make? 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
Add Aurora Replicas to scale out read traffic across multiple database instances.
Adding Aurora Replicas (Option A) directly increases read throughput by distributing read-only queries across multiple database instances, which is ideal for a read-heavy workload. Sending read queries to the Aurora reader endpoint (Option B) ensures that these queries are load-balanced across all available replicas, offloading the writer instance and improving overall performance without requiring schema or application changes.
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.
- ✓
Add Aurora Replicas to scale out read traffic across multiple database instances.
Why this is correct
Aurora Replicas are the primary horizontal scaling mechanism for read-heavy Aurora workloads. They add more database compute so the cluster can process more concurrent read queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Send read queries to the Aurora reader endpoint so they are distributed across the replicas.
Why this is correct
The reader endpoint automatically routes connections to Aurora Replicas, which lets the application use additional read capacity without hard-coding individual replica endpoints.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Point all queries to the writer endpoint so Aurora can balance reads and writes internally.
Why it's wrong here
The writer endpoint is intended for writes and for transactional work that must go to the primary instance. Sending all reads there concentrates load on the primary and reduces the benefit of replicas.
- ✗
Enable Multi-AZ standby for the cluster to increase the number of read-only connections.
Why it's wrong here
Aurora Multi-AZ is about availability and failover, not extra read scaling. A standby or passive component does not provide the same read capacity as adding active replicas.
- ✗
Move the database to a single larger instance class instead of adding replicas.
Why it's wrong here
A larger instance may improve the performance of one node, but it does not provide the horizontal scaling needed for a read-heavy workload. The question asks for more read throughput without changing the application design, which is exactly what replicas and the reader endpoint provide.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Multi-AZ standby (which provides high availability but not read scaling) with Aurora Replicas (which provide both read scaling and high availability), leading them to select Option D incorrectly.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Aurora Replicas share the same underlying storage volume as the primary instance, so there is no replication lag for data already written, though there can be a small lag for recent writes. The reader endpoint uses DNS round-robin to distribute connections across replicas, but for session-level load balancing, applications should use the reader endpoint rather than individual replica endpoints. In a real-world scenario, if the application uses connection pooling (e.g., with RDS Proxy), the reader endpoint still ensures that read traffic is spread across replicas without manual intervention.
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
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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: Add Aurora Replicas to scale out read traffic across multiple database instances. — Adding Aurora Replicas (Option A) directly increases read throughput by distributing read-only queries across multiple database instances, which is ideal for a read-heavy workload. Sending read queries to the Aurora reader endpoint (Option B) ensures that these queries are load-balanced across all available replicas, offloading the writer instance and improving overall performance without requiring schema or application changes.
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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