The correct answer is that high PAGEIOLATCH_SH wait times indicate an I/O subsystem bottleneck for read operations. This wait type occurs when a session is waiting for a data page to be read from disk into the buffer pool, specifically for shared (SH) access, meaning the page is not yet in memory and must be fetched from storage. On the Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate DP-300 exam, this concept tests your ability to differentiate I/O-related waits from memory, CPU, or blocking issues—a common trap is confusing PAGEIOLATCH_SH with PAGEIOLATCH_EX (which waits for exclusive access) or with non-I/O latches like LATCH_EX. Remember that the "IO" in the name directly points to disk input/output, not memory pressure or query concurrency. A helpful memory tip: think of "PAGEIOLATCH_SH" as "Page I/O Latch Shared"—if you see high waits, your storage layer is struggling to serve reads, so check Azure SQL Database DTU or vCore metrics for I/O throughput and latency.
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. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
SELECT
wait_type,
wait_time_ms,
waiting_tasks_count
FROM sys.dm_os_wait_stats
WHERE wait_type = 'PAGEIOLATCH_SH'
ORDER BY wait_time_ms DESC;
You run the query in the exhibit on an Azure SQL Database. The result shows high wait_time_ms for PAGEIOLATCH_SH waits. What does this indicate?
Refer to the exhibit.
SELECT
wait_type,
wait_time_ms,
waiting_tasks_count
FROM sys.dm_os_wait_stats
WHERE wait_type = 'PAGEIOLATCH_SH'
ORDER BY wait_time_ms DESC;
A
I/O subsystem bottleneck for read operations
PAGEIOLATCH_SH waits occur when waiting for I/O to complete for reading pages.
B
CPU bottleneck
Why wrong: CPU waits are different, like SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD.
C
Blocking between concurrent transactions
Why wrong: Blocking is indicated by LCK_M_* waits.
D
Memory pressure
Why wrong: PAGEIOLATCH_SH indicates I/O, not memory.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
I/O subsystem bottleneck for read operations
PAGEIOLATCH_SH waits indicate I/O latency for reading data pages from disk. Option B is correct. Option A is wrong because PAGEIOLATCH_SH is for I/O, not memory. Option C is wrong because it is not CPU-related. Option D is wrong because it is not blocking.
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.
✓
I/O subsystem bottleneck for read operations
Why this is correct
PAGEIOLATCH_SH waits occur when waiting for I/O to complete for reading pages.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
CPU bottleneck
Why it's wrong here
CPU waits are different, like SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD.
✗
Blocking between concurrent transactions
Why it's wrong here
Blocking is indicated by LCK_M_* waits.
✗
Memory pressure
Why it's wrong here
PAGEIOLATCH_SH indicates I/O, not memory.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which DP-300 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: I/O subsystem bottleneck for read operations — PAGEIOLATCH_SH waits indicate I/O latency for reading data pages from disk. Option B is correct. Option A is wrong because PAGEIOLATCH_SH is for I/O, not memory. Option C is wrong because it is not CPU-related. Option D is wrong because it is not blocking.
What should I do if I get this DP-300 question wrong?
Identify which DP-300 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Your Azure SQL Database is experiencing a sudden increase in wait time due to PAGEIOLATCH_SH waits. What should you do to reduce these waits?
medium
A.Increase the database max memory
✓ B.Add appropriate indexes to reduce table scans
C.Enable page compression on large tables
D.Force parameterization of queries
Why B: Option D is correct because PAGEIOLATCH_SH waits indicate I/O bottlenecks; adding indexes can improve data access patterns and reduce I/O. Option A is wrong because increasing memory will not directly reduce I/O waits if the issue is inefficient queries. Option B is wrong because enabling compression may increase CPU but not necessarily reduce I/O waits. Option C is wrong because forcing parameterization may help plan stability but not I/O.
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Question Discussion
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