DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
Your Azure SQL Database is experiencing high CPU usage. You suspect a specific query is causing the issue. You have enabled Query Store. How can you identify the query that has consumed the most cumulative CPU time over the last hour?
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
✓
Use the Query Store Top Resource Consuming Queries report and filter by the last hour.
The Query Store Top Resource Consuming Queries report allows you to filter by time interval and shows cumulative CPU time, making it easy to identify the query consuming the most CPU over the last hour. Option A is wrong because sys.dm_exec_query_stats shows cached query plans and statistics since the last plan compilation, not cumulative over a specific time window. Option C is wrong because sys.dm_exec_requests shows currently running queries, not historical cumulative CPU usage. Option D is wrong because the Regressed Queries report shows queries whose performance has changed due to plan changes, not simply high CPU consumption.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use sys.dm_exec_query_stats to sort by total_worker_time.
Why it's wrong here
Shows only cached plans; may not reflect the last hour exclusively.
- ✓
Use the Query Store Top Resource Consuming Queries report and filter by the last hour.
Why this is correct
This report is designed for this purpose, with time filter and cumulative metrics.
- ✗
Use sys.dm_exec_requests to find queries with high CPU.
Why it's wrong here
Shows only currently running queries.
- ✗
Use the Query Store Regressed Queries report.
Why it's wrong here
Regressed Queries shows queries with plan changes, not necessarily high CPU.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
Key term
Query Store
Query Store is a built-in SQL Server feature that captures and stores a history of query execution plans and performance data for easy monitoring and troubleshooting.
Key term
Azure SQL Performance Tuning
Azure SQL Performance Tuning is the process of optimizing the speed and efficiency of queries and database operations in Microsoft Azure SQL Database or SQL Managed Instance to reduce latency and improve throughput.
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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.