- A
Use DynamoDB Streams to asynchronously replicate data to a second table for reads
Why wrong: Streams are for change data capture, not a read optimization.
- B
Use Auto Scaling for write capacity
Auto Scaling adjusts write capacity to handle spikes without throttling.
- C
Use eventually consistent reads for most queries
Eventually consistent reads consume half the read capacity of strongly consistent reads.
- D
Use DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache read results
DAX reduces read load on DynamoDB, lowering read capacity costs.
- E
Use strongly consistent reads for all queries
Why wrong: Strongly consistent reads consume more read capacity and cost more.
Question 511 of 1,746
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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 company is designing a new application that will use Amazon DynamoDB as its database. The application will have a heavy read workload with occasional write spikes. The company wants to minimize costs while ensuring that reads are eventually consistent and writes are not throttled. Which three options should the architect consider? (Choose THREE.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
✓
Use Auto Scaling for write capacity
Option B is correct because DynamoDB Auto Scaling adjusts the provisioned write capacity based on actual traffic, preventing throttling during write spikes while reducing capacity and cost during low-traffic periods. This meets the requirement to minimize costs and avoid write throttling without manual intervention.
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.
- ✗
Use DynamoDB Streams to asynchronously replicate data to a second table for reads
Why it's wrong here
Streams are for change data capture, not a read optimization.
- ✓
Use Auto Scaling for write capacity
Why this is correct
Auto Scaling adjusts write capacity to handle spikes without throttling.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use eventually consistent reads for most queries
Why this is correct
Eventually consistent reads consume half the read capacity of strongly consistent reads.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache read results
Why this is correct
DAX reduces read load on DynamoDB, lowering read capacity costs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use strongly consistent reads for all queries
Why it's wrong here
Strongly consistent reads consume more read capacity and cost more.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse DynamoDB Streams with a caching solution, or incorrectly assume strongly consistent reads are always required, ignoring the cost implications of RCU consumption for read-heavy workloads.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB eventually consistent reads use a quorum-based replication model where reads return data from one of three storage nodes, typically within one second of a write. DAX acts as an in-memory cache that reduces read latency and RCU consumption by serving frequently accessed items directly, which is ideal for heavy read workloads with occasional write spikes. Auto Scaling uses CloudWatch metrics (e.g., ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits) to adjust provisioned capacity via Application Auto Scaling, with a target utilization (default 70%) to balance cost and performance.
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 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Auto Scaling for write capacity — Option B is correct because DynamoDB Auto Scaling adjusts the provisioned write capacity based on actual traffic, preventing throttling during write spikes while reducing capacity and cost during low-traffic periods. This meets the requirement to minimize costs and avoid write throttling without manual intervention.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This SAP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAP-C02 exam.
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