The answer is Query Store with Query Store Hints. This feature is correct because it captures and stores historical execution plans, allowing you to detect when different parameter values cause the optimizer to generate suboptimal plans—the core of parameter-sensitive plan regression. By analyzing the plan variants in Query Store, you can identify the problematic plan and then apply a Query Store Hint to force a specific, efficient plan without modifying application code. On the DP-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of performance troubleshooting in Azure SQL Managed Instance, often appearing as a distractor against options like plan guides or database-scoped configurations. A common trap is choosing automatic tuning, but that only resolves regressions reactively, whereas Query Store Hints give you proactive control. Memory tip: think “QSH for PSR”—Query Store Hints fix Parameter-Sensitive Regression.
DP-300 Plan and implement data platform resources Practice Question
This DP-300 practice question tests your understanding of plan and implement data platform resources. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Your Azure SQL Managed Instance is experiencing performance degradation. You suspect a query plan regression caused by parameter-sensitive plan issues. Which feature should you use to identify and resolve the issue?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Query Store with Query Store Hints
Query Store with Query Store Hints is the correct feature because it allows you to identify parameter-sensitive plan regression by analyzing historical execution plans stored in Query Store, and then force a specific plan using a hint without changing application code. This directly addresses the root cause of parameter-sensitive plan issues, where different parameter values lead to suboptimal cached plans.
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.
✗
Intelligent Insights
Why it's wrong here
Intelligent Insights provides diagnostics but cannot force query plans.
✗
Automatic tuning
Why it's wrong here
Automatic tuning can resolve plan regression automatically, but it may not provide manual control to force a specific plan.
✓
Query Store with Query Store Hints
Why this is correct
Query Store tracks query performance and Query Store Hints allow forcing a specific plan to resolve regression.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Database Advisor
Why it's wrong here
Database Advisor recommends index changes and schema modifications, not plan forcing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Intelligent Insights or Automatic tuning as the solution for plan regression, but these features do not provide the ability to manually force a specific plan, which is required for parameter-sensitive plan issues where you need to pin a known good plan.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Parameter-sensitive plan issues occur when the optimizer generates a plan based on the first parameter value seen (parameter sniffing), which may be inefficient for subsequent different values. Query Store captures multiple plans for the same query, and Query Store Hints allow you to force a specific plan_id using the `QUERY_STORE_HINT` clause in T-SQL, overriding the optimizer's choice without modifying the query text. In a real-world scenario, you would query `sys.query_store_plan` to find the plan with the lowest duration for the problematic parameter value, then apply the hint using `sys.sp_query_store_set_hints`.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this DP-300 question in full detail.
Plan and implement data platform resources — This question tests Plan and implement data platform resources — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Query Store with Query Store Hints — Query Store with Query Store Hints is the correct feature because it allows you to identify parameter-sensitive plan regression by analyzing historical execution plans stored in Query Store, and then force a specific plan using a hint without changing application code. This directly addresses the root cause of parameter-sensitive plan issues, where different parameter values lead to suboptimal cached plans.
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.
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Question Discussion
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