DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
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.
Refer to the exhibit. You are analyzing query performance using sys.dm_exec_query_stats. Based on the output, which query is the best candidate for optimization to reduce overall CPU usage?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Query 2 because it has the highest average CPU per execution.
Query 2 is the best candidate for optimization because it has the highest average CPU per execution, indicating that each run of this query consumes significantly more CPU resources than the others. Reducing the CPU cost per execution for this query will yield the greatest per-execution savings, making it the most efficient target for reducing overall CPU usage.
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.
✓
Query 2 because it has the highest average CPU per execution.
Why this is correct
High average CPU suggests inefficiency; optimizing it can reduce overall CPU significantly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Query 1 because it has the highest total_cpu_time.
Why it's wrong here
Total CPU is high but per execution is moderate; optimization may not yield the best ROI.
✗
All queries should be optimized equally.
Why it's wrong here
Prioritization based on impact is more effective.
✗
Query 3 because it runs most frequently.
Why it's wrong here
Frequent but low per-execution CPU; total CPU is not the highest.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often focus on total CPU time or execution frequency, but the key metric for optimization efficiency is average CPU per execution, which directly measures the cost of each individual query run.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
sys.dm_exec_query_stats exposes per-query performance metrics including total_worker_time (CPU time) and execution_count. Average CPU per execution is calculated as total_worker_time / execution_count. A high average CPU per execution often indicates inefficient query plans, missing indexes, or heavy data scans. In real-world tuning, targeting queries with high average CPU per execution can lead to significant reductions in server load, especially when combined with plan guide or index tuning.
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.
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: Query 2 because it has the highest average CPU per execution. — Query 2 is the best candidate for optimization because it has the highest average CPU per execution, indicating that each run of this query consumes significantly more CPU resources than the others. Reducing the CPU cost per execution for this query will yield the greatest per-execution savings, making it the most efficient target for reducing overall CPU usage.
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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