Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company uses Azure SQL Database for an e-commerce application. The Orders table has millions of rows. Queries frequently filter on OrderDate and OrderStatus, and sort by OrderDate descending. Which indexing strategy will most improve query performance?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Create a clustered index on OrderDate and a non-clustered index on OrderStatus
Changing the clustered index to OrderDate might help with range queries but could impact insert performance and other queries that use the primary key. Also, the sort order is not optimized.
B
Distractor review
Create a non-clustered index on (OrderDate, OrderStatus) and keep the existing clustered index on OrderID
This index covers the filter but does not specify descending order for OrderDate, so the query may still need to sort the results.
C
Distractor review
Create a clustered index on OrderID and a non-clustered index on (OrderStatus, OrderDate)
Having OrderStatus first in the index does not help with filtering on OrderDate, as the index cannot be used efficiently for the date range.
D
Best answer
Create a non-clustered index on (OrderDate DESC, OrderStatus) and keep the existing clustered index on OrderID
This index is a covering index that supports the filter on both columns and the sort order, allowing the query to retrieve data without additional sorting.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
Related practice questions
Related DP-900 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a non-clustered index on (OrderDate DESC, OrderStatus) and keep the existing clustered index on OrderID — A covering non-clustered index on (OrderDate DESC, OrderStatus) can satisfy both the filter and the sort without a separate sort operation. Keeping the clustered index on the primary key OrderID maintains good performance for other operations.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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