- A
Use the AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the Oracle schema to PostgreSQL.
SCT automates the conversion of Oracle schema objects to PostgreSQL-compatible format.
- B
Rehost the Oracle database on an Amazon EC2 instance to minimize changes.
Why wrong: Rehosting does not achieve the goal of migrating to Aurora PostgreSQL; it keeps Oracle.
- C
Configure Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL with Multi-AZ for high availability.
Why wrong: Multi-AZ is important but does not address the migration from Oracle to PostgreSQL.
- D
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication (change data capture).
DMS with CDC allows minimal downtime by replicating changes continuously during migration.
- E
Export Oracle database as dump files and import into Aurora PostgreSQL using native tools.
Why wrong: Native Oracle tools cannot directly import into PostgreSQL; schema conversion is needed.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use the AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) and AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication. SCT handles the heterogeneous database migration from Oracle to Aurora PostgreSQL by automatically converting the source schema, including stored procedures and data types, into a PostgreSQL-compatible format, which is a critical first step. DMS with change data capture (CDC) then enables minimal downtime by continuously synchronizing the source Oracle database with the target Aurora PostgreSQL, applying only incremental changes after the initial full load. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of near-zero-downtime migration strategies for complex, enterprise-grade workloads, where a common trap is choosing only a one-time full load migration. Remember the pairing: SCT for schema conversion, DMS with CDC for ongoing sync—think “SCT shapes it, DMS ships it live.”
PAS-C01 Migration Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of migration. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 migrating a legacy application to AWS. The application currently uses Oracle Database and the company wants to migrate to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL with minimal downtime. Which TWO steps should be taken to achieve this? (Choose 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
Use the AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the Oracle schema to PostgreSQL.
Option A is correct because the AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) can automatically convert Oracle database schemas (including stored procedures, views, and data types) to a PostgreSQL-compatible format, which is essential when migrating to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. Option D is correct because AWS DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture) allows you to keep the source Oracle database and target Aurora PostgreSQL synchronized with minimal downtime, enabling a near-zero-downtime migration by capturing and applying incremental 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.
- ✓
Use the AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the Oracle schema to PostgreSQL.
Why this is correct
SCT automates the conversion of Oracle schema objects to PostgreSQL-compatible format.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Rehost the Oracle database on an Amazon EC2 instance to minimize changes.
Why it's wrong here
Rehosting does not achieve the goal of migrating to Aurora PostgreSQL; it keeps Oracle.
- ✗
Configure Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL with Multi-AZ for high availability.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ is important but does not address the migration from Oracle to PostgreSQL.
- ✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication (change data capture).
Why this is correct
DMS with CDC allows minimal downtime by replicating changes continuously during migration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Export Oracle database as dump files and import into Aurora PostgreSQL using native tools.
Why it's wrong here
Native Oracle tools cannot directly import into PostgreSQL; schema conversion is needed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'migration steps' with 'post-migration configuration' (like Multi-AZ) or assume that a simple dump-and-load approach (Option E) can achieve minimal downtime, when in fact it requires a full outage, whereas DMS with CDC is the correct AWS-native approach for near-zero-downtime migrations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS DMS uses a source Oracle redo log-based CDC mechanism (via LogMiner or binary reader) to capture changes in near real-time, while SCT handles complex schema transformations such as converting Oracle's PL/SQL to PostgreSQL PL/pgSQL, including handling of data types like NUMBER and DATE. In a real-world scenario, you would first use SCT to convert the schema, then set up a full-load DMS task, followed by a CDC task to replicate ongoing changes, and finally perform a cutover with minimal downtime by stopping writes to the source and redirecting traffic to Aurora.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PAS-C01 question test?
Migration — This question tests Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the Oracle schema to PostgreSQL. — Option A is correct because the AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) can automatically convert Oracle database schemas (including stored procedures, views, and data types) to a PostgreSQL-compatible format, which is essential when migrating to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. Option D is correct because AWS DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture) allows you to keep the source Oracle database and target Aurora PostgreSQL synchronized with minimal downtime, enabling a near-zero-downtime migration by capturing and applying incremental changes.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 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
This PAS-C01 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 PAS-C01 exam.
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