Automatic Tuning Last Good Plan — Next Steps | Azure Database Administrator Associate Explained
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of monitor, configure, and optimize database resources. 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.
Exhibit
Azure SQL Database automatic tuning recommendations:
Recommendation ID: 1
Type: CREATE_INDEX
Reason: Improve query performance
Score: 80
State: Active
Impacted queries: 3
Recommendation ID: 2
Type: DROP_INDEX
Reason: Index not used
Score: 90
State: Pending verification
Impacted queries: 0
Recommendation ID: 3
Type: FORCE_LAST_GOOD_PLAN
Reason: Regression detected
Score: 100
State: Active
Impacted queries: 1
Current query performance metrics for impacted query of recommendation 3:
Before plan change: avg CPU 500 ms, avg duration 1000 ms
After plan change: avg CPU 1000 ms, avg duration 2000 ms
Refer to the exhibit. An automatic tuning recommendation to force the last good plan is active. What should the database administrator do next?
Exhibit
Azure SQL Database automatic tuning recommendations:
Recommendation ID: 1
Type: CREATE_INDEX
Reason: Improve query performance
Score: 80
State: Active
Impacted queries: 3
Recommendation ID: 2
Type: DROP_INDEX
Reason: Index not used
Score: 90
State: Pending verification
Impacted queries: 0
Recommendation ID: 3
Type: FORCE_LAST_GOOD_PLAN
Reason: Regression detected
Score: 100
State: Active
Impacted queries: 1
Current query performance metrics for impacted query of recommendation 3:
Before plan change: avg CPU 500 ms, avg duration 1000 ms
After plan change: avg CPU 1000 ms, avg duration 2000 ms
A
Immediately implement the DROP_INDEX recommendation to reduce overhead
Why wrong: The DROP_INDEX is pending verification and not directly related.
B
Create the recommended index to improve performance
Why wrong: The CREATE_INDEX recommendation targets different queries.
C
Revert the plan force because it is causing regression
Why wrong: The regression was after the plan change; forcing last good plan should help.
D
Monitor the query performance to confirm the forced plan resolves the regression
The active recommendation should be monitored for effectiveness.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Monitor the query performance to confirm the forced plan resolves the regression
When an automatic tuning recommendation to force the last good plan is active, the correct next step is to monitor the query performance to confirm that the forced plan resolves the regression. This is because plan forcing is a corrective action that may or may not improve performance; validation through monitoring ensures the change is beneficial before taking further steps like creating or dropping indexes.
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.
✗
Immediately implement the DROP_INDEX recommendation to reduce overhead
Why it's wrong here
The DROP_INDEX is pending verification and not directly related.
✗
Create the recommended index to improve performance
Why it's wrong here
The CREATE_INDEX recommendation targets different queries.
✗
Revert the plan force because it is causing regression
Why it's wrong here
The regression was after the plan change; forcing last good plan should help.
✓
Monitor the query performance to confirm the forced plan resolves the regression
Why this is correct
The active recommendation should be monitored for effectiveness.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Azure often tests the misconception that an automatic tuning recommendation should be immediately implemented or reverted without first monitoring its impact, leading candidates to choose premature actions like dropping indexes or reverting plans.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In SQL Server, automatic tuning can force a query plan via the `FORCE_LAST_GOOD_PLAN` option, which uses the Query Store to identify and apply a previously known good plan. After forcing, the database administrator should query `sys.dm_db_tuning_recommendations` and `sys.query_store_plan` to compare performance metrics like CPU time and duration before and after the force. A real-world scenario is when a parameter-sensitive plan causes regression; forcing the last good plan stabilizes performance, but monitoring is essential to confirm no other queries are negatively impacted.
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 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.
Visual reference
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-300 question in full detail.
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — This question tests Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Monitor the query performance to confirm the forced plan resolves the regression — When an automatic tuning recommendation to force the last good plan is active, the correct next step is to monitor the query performance to confirm that the forced plan resolves the regression. This is because plan forcing is a corrective action that may or may not improve performance; validation through monitoring ensures the change is beneficial before taking further steps like creating or dropping indexes.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This DP-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 DP-300 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.