DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
Exhibit
Azure SQL Database query store output for a specific query: Query ID: 123 Plan ID: 1 Execution count: 1000 Avg CPU time: 500 ms Avg logical reads: 1000 Avg duration: 2000 ms Plan ID: 2 Execution count: 100 Avg CPU time: 200 ms Avg logical reads: 500 Avg duration: 500 ms Currently, plan 1 is forcing the query. The query is executed frequently and is experiencing high CPU and duration.
Refer to the exhibit. Which action should you take to improve performance?
⚠ Common exam trap
DP-300 often tests whether candidates jump to resource scaling (DTU) for performance issues that are actually plan regressions — the exhibit showing multiple plans with different performance is the cue to force the better plan.
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
✓
Force plan 2 using the query store.
When Query Store shows that a specific plan (Plan 2) performs significantly better than the currently used plan, forcing that plan via Query Store is the targeted fix. Query Store's 'Force Plan' feature pins the optimizer to the known-good plan, immediately restoring performance without changing database tier or schema. This is the least invasive and most precise remediation for a plan-regression issue.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable automatic tuning for the query.
Why it's wrong here
Automatic tuning applies index and plan corrections only after it detects a regression, and it cannot act on a query whose plan is already optimal for the current schema. It is the right choice when recurring regressions need ongoing automatic remediation rather than a one-off fix identified in the exhibit.
- ✗
Increase the database's DTU/DTU level.
Why it's wrong here
Scaling up may not fix the suboptimal plan selection.
- ✓
Force plan 2 using the query store.
Why this is correct
Query Store retains multiple plans per statement, letting you pin the historically faster plan without rewriting code. Forcing plan 2 bypasses the regressed plan the optimiser currently chooses, restoring the execution characteristics the exhibit shows were previously acceptable.
- ✗
Drop and recreate the query's indexes.
Why it's wrong here
Dropping and recreating indexes discards statistics and forces a full rebuild, temporarily worsening performance and risking plan regression. Rebuilding is the correct action when an index is physically fragmented or corrupted, not when the exhibit points to a missing or unused index requiring a targeted create or drop.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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.