- A
Order processing is OLAP; weekly reporting is OLTP
Why wrong: This reverses the definitions. OLTP handles many small transactions, not analytical queries. OLAP handles large aggregations, not high-frequency writes.
- B
Order processing is batch processing; weekly reporting is streaming processing
Why wrong: Order processing occurs in real-time as transactions happen, not as a batch. The weekly report is a scheduled batch job, not continuous streaming.
- C
Order processing is OLTP; weekly reporting is OLAP
Order processing is transactional (OLTP) and the weekly report is analytical (OLAP). This is a correct distinction between the two common data workload patterns.
- D
Both workloads are OLTP
Why wrong: The weekly sales report is an analytical query that aggregates data, which is not a transactional workload. OLTP is for day-to-day operations, not for heavy aggregation.
DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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.
A retail company processes customer orders throughout the day. Each order involves inserting a new record into a database table, updating inventory counts, and deleting temporary cart data. At the end of each week, the company runs a query that aggregates all orders by product category and region to generate a sales report. Which of the following best describes these two workloads?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Order processing is OLTP; weekly reporting is OLAP
Order processing involves frequent, small transactions (inserts, updates, deletes) that are typical of Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) workloads, which prioritize data integrity and low-latency writes. The weekly sales report aggregates large volumes of historical data by product category and region, which is characteristic of Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) workloads that support complex queries and data summarization. Option C correctly identifies these two distinct workload types.
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.
- ✗
Order processing is OLAP; weekly reporting is OLTP
Why it's wrong here
This reverses the definitions. OLTP handles many small transactions, not analytical queries. OLAP handles large aggregations, not high-frequency writes.
- ✗
Order processing is batch processing; weekly reporting is streaming processing
Why it's wrong here
Order processing occurs in real-time as transactions happen, not as a batch. The weekly report is a scheduled batch job, not continuous streaming.
- ✓
Order processing is OLTP; weekly reporting is OLAP
Why this is correct
Order processing is transactional (OLTP) and the weekly report is analytical (OLAP). This is a correct distinction between the two common data workload patterns.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Both workloads are OLTP
Why it's wrong here
The weekly sales report is an analytical query that aggregates data, which is not a transactional workload. OLTP is for day-to-day operations, not for heavy aggregation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the terms OLTP and OLAP, mistakenly thinking that any database operation is OLTP or that reporting is always OLTP, when in fact the key differentiator is the workload pattern—transactional vs. analytical.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OLTP systems typically use normalized schemas and row-based storage (e.g., in SQL Server) to optimize for fast inserts and point queries, while OLAP systems often use star schemas and columnar storage (e.g., Azure Synapse dedicated SQL pools) to accelerate aggregation queries. The weekly report query would scan millions of rows and perform GROUP BY operations, which in an OLTP system could cause blocking and lock contention, making it unsuitable for transactional workloads. Real-world implementations often separate these into different databases or use technologies like Change Data Capture (CDC) to move data from OLTP to OLAP.
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 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Describe core data concepts — This question tests Describe core data concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Order processing is OLTP; weekly reporting is OLAP — Order processing involves frequent, small transactions (inserts, updates, deletes) that are typical of Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) workloads, which prioritize data integrity and low-latency writes. The weekly sales report aggregates large volumes of historical data by product category and region, which is characteristic of Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) workloads that support complex queries and data summarization. Option C correctly identifies these two distinct workload types.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This DP-900 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-900 exam.
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