- A
Add Aurora read replicas and route read queries to the cluster reader endpoint
Aurora read replicas scale out read capacity. By routing read traffic to the cluster reader endpoint, the application can distribute SELECT queries across replicas, improving overall read throughput without schema changes.
- B
Switch the cluster to Multi-AZ with a longer failover target clock
Why wrong: Multi-AZ primarily improves availability and failover behavior. Adjusting failover-related settings does not provide a direct mechanism to scale read throughput like read replicas do.
- C
Move all reads to the writer endpoint to reduce connection overhead
Why wrong: Concentrating reads on the writer endpoint typically increases load on the primary instance. In a read-heavy workload, this usually reduces throughput and increases latency rather than improving it.
- D
Disable automated backups to reduce storage overhead and speed reads
Why wrong: Automated backups affect operational recovery/retention, not read scaling capacity. Disabling them does not address the root cause of limited read throughput for a read-heavy workload.
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. The workload is becoming read-heavy, and the application team wants to increase read throughput without changing the database schema. They can adjust the application to route reads differently. What should they do?
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 read replicas and route read queries to the cluster reader endpoint
Adding Aurora read replicas and routing read queries to the cluster reader endpoint is the correct approach because Aurora replicas share the same underlying storage volume as the primary instance, so they can serve read traffic with minimal replication lag. The reader endpoint automatically load-balances connections across all available replicas, increasing aggregate read throughput without requiring any schema 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 read replicas and route read queries to the cluster reader endpoint
Why this is correct
Aurora read replicas scale out read capacity. By routing read traffic to the cluster reader endpoint, the application can distribute SELECT queries across replicas, improving overall read throughput without schema changes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Switch the cluster to Multi-AZ with a longer failover target clock
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ primarily improves availability and failover behavior. Adjusting failover-related settings does not provide a direct mechanism to scale read throughput like read replicas do.
- ✗
Move all reads to the writer endpoint to reduce connection overhead
Why it's wrong here
Concentrating reads on the writer endpoint typically increases load on the primary instance. In a read-heavy workload, this usually reduces throughput and increases latency rather than improving it.
- ✗
Disable automated backups to reduce storage overhead and speed reads
Why it's wrong here
Automated backups affect operational recovery/retention, not read scaling capacity. Disabling them does not address the root cause of limited read throughput for a read-heavy workload.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing Multi-AZ with read replicas: candidates often think Multi-AZ improves read performance, but in standard RDS Multi-AZ the standby is passive and cannot serve reads, whereas Aurora's architecture allows all replicas to actively handle read traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Aurora read replicas can be up to 15 in number and use the same cluster volume, so they have near-zero replication lag (typically <100ms). 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 instance endpoints. In a real-world scenario, if the application uses connection pooling, the reader endpoint ensures that new connections are spread evenly, preventing any single replica from becoming a bottleneck.
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: Add Aurora read replicas and route read queries to the cluster reader endpoint — Adding Aurora read replicas and routing read queries to the cluster reader endpoint is the correct approach because Aurora replicas share the same underlying storage volume as the primary instance, so they can serve read traffic with minimal replication lag. The reader endpoint automatically load-balances connections across all available replicas, increasing aggregate read throughput without requiring any schema 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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