Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
CloudWatch summary for app servers: - Average CPUUtilization: 24% - Average MemoryUtilization: 91% - Average NetworkIn/Out: low - Current instance type: m6i.large - User reports: application slows when more sessions are active
Based on the exhibit, the team wants to improve application performance without changing the code. Which EC2 instance family should they choose next?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Choose a compute-optimized instance family such as C6i to increase CPU performance.
Compute-optimized instances help when CPU is the bottleneck, but this workload shows low CPU usage and high memory usage.
B
Best answer
Choose a memory-optimized instance family such as R6i to provide more RAM.
Memory-optimized instances are the best fit when memory pressure is causing slowdowns. The exhibit shows CPU is low while memory is consistently near saturation, which strongly suggests the application needs more RAM rather than more compute. Moving to an R6i family should reduce paging and improve response times without changing the application design.
C
Distractor review
Choose a storage-optimized instance family such as I4i to improve block storage throughput.
Storage-optimized instances are useful for high I/O workloads, but the exhibit does not show storage latency or throughput as the issue.
D
Distractor review
Choose a burstable instance family such as T3 to reduce cost and improve performance.
Burstable instances are not a good fix for sustained memory pressure. They are intended for variable, low-average CPU workloads, not memory shortages.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Choose a memory-optimized instance family such as R6i to provide more RAM. — The best choice is a memory-optimized instance family such as R6i because the exhibit shows the application is not CPU-bound. CPU is low, but memory utilization is very high, which usually indicates the workload is running out of RAM and may be paging or caching less efficiently. Adding memory is the most direct way to improve performance without code changes or unnecessary overprovisioning of compute power. Why others are wrong: C6i is not the best fit because extra CPU capacity will not fix a memory bottleneck. I4i focuses on local storage performance, which the exhibit does not show as a problem. T3 is a burstable family designed for short CPU bursts, not sustained memory-heavy workloads, so it would not solve the observed slowdown.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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