The correct actions are to increase the EBS volume size and to modify the provisioned IOPS setting on the gp3 volume. This works because gp3 volumes provide a baseline of 3 IOPS per GiB, so expanding the volume directly raises that baseline, while gp3 also allows you to independently provision up to 16,000 IOPS regardless of size, giving you two levers to meet high-throughput write demands for SAP HANA. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of gp3’s flexible IOPS model versus older volume types, and a common trap is confusing gp3 with st1 (which is throughput-optimized, not IOPS-focused) or assuming EBS optimization needs manual enabling on modern instances like r5.8xlarge, where it is already active by default. A useful memory tip: think of gp3 as “general purpose plus” where you can dial up IOPS and size independently—just remember the 3:1 baseline ratio and the 16,000 IOPS ceiling.
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. 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 runs an SAP HANA database on an EC2 instance with a 2 TB EBS gp3 volume. The instance type is r5.8xlarge. To improve disk performance for high-throughput write operations, the SAP administrator wants to increase IOPS. Which TWO actions should the administrator take to achieve the required IOPS? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Modify the volume to provision additional IOPS up to 16,000.
Option A (increase volume size) is correct because gp3 volumes have a baseline IOPS-to-GiB ratio of 3 IOPS/GiB; increasing size increases baseline IOPS. Option E (modify IOPS) is correct because gp3 allows provisioning up to 16,000 IOPS independently of size. Option B is wrong because switching to st1 is for throughput-optimized workloads, not for high IOPS. Option C is wrong because EBS optimization is enabled by default on r5 instances. Option D is wrong because Nitro T2 credits are not related to EBS performance.
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.
✗
Configure the instance to use T2 unlimited credits.
Why it's wrong here
T2 unlimited relates to CPU credits, not EBS IOPS.
✗
Change the volume type to st1 (throughput optimized HDD).
Why it's wrong here
st1 is for throughput, not high IOPS.
✓
Modify the volume to provision additional IOPS up to 16,000.
Why this is correct
gp3 allows independent IOPS provisioning.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable EBS optimization on the EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
EBS optimization is always enabled on r5 instances.
✓
Increase the EBS volume size to increase baseline IOPS.
Why this is correct
Increasing volume size increases baseline IOPS for gp3.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PAS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Technology — This question tests Technology — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Modify the volume to provision additional IOPS up to 16,000. — Option A (increase volume size) is correct because gp3 volumes have a baseline IOPS-to-GiB ratio of 3 IOPS/GiB; increasing size increases baseline IOPS. Option E (modify IOPS) is correct because gp3 allows provisioning up to 16,000 IOPS independently of size. Option B is wrong because switching to st1 is for throughput-optimized workloads, not for high IOPS. Option C is wrong because EBS optimization is enabled by default on r5 instances. Option D is wrong because Nitro T2 credits are not related to EBS performance.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which PAS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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