- A
Convert the data from JSON to Parquet format and apply Snappy compression.
Why wrong: While Parquet and compression improve performance, the stem does not specify the current format, and the biggest gain comes from partition elimination.
- B
Use Azure Data Factory to copy the data into Azure SQL Database and create indexes.
Why wrong: This moves data to a different store, which is not allowed per the requirement to not move data to a dedicated pool. Also, Azure SQL Database is not the target.
- C
Create a dedicated SQL pool and distribute the data across 60 distributions.
Why wrong: Moving to a dedicated SQL pool involves additional cost and management; the requirement is to improve performance without moving data. Also, distribution is not applicable to serverless.
- D
Create external tables using a partition elimination strategy and ensure the data is partitioned by date.
Partition elimination allows the serverless SQL engine to read only the partitions needed for the query, significantly reducing data scanned and improving performance.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to create external tables using a partition elimination strategy and ensure the data is partitioned by date. This works because Azure Synapse Serverless SQL can leverage partition elimination to skip scanning irrelevant folders—such as those for dates or hours not included in the query’s WHERE clause—dramatically reducing the amount of data read from Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 and improving query performance without requiring any data movement. On the DP-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how serverless SQL optimizes large-scale data queries through metadata pruning, a concept often confused with indexing or materialization. A common trap is assuming you must move data to a dedicated SQL pool, but partition elimination is a serverless-native feature. Memory tip: “Partition elimination prunes paths, not data—filter your folder columns to skip the scan.”
DP-900 Describe core data concepts Practice Question
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. 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.
Your company, Contoso Ltd., operates a global e-commerce platform. The data engineering team ingests over 10 TB of raw clickstream data daily into Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2. The data is partitioned by date and hour. Business analysts need to query this data using Azure Synapse Serverless SQL to generate daily sales reports. However, the reports are taking over 30 minutes to run, and the team needs to improve query performance without moving data to a dedicated SQL pool. You are asked to recommend a solution. Which action should you take?
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
Create external tables using a partition elimination strategy and ensure the data is partitioned by date.
Option D is correct because Azure Synapse Serverless SQL can use external tables with partition elimination to skip irrelevant partitions (e.g., date/hour folders) during query execution. This reduces the amount of data scanned, directly improving query performance without moving data. Partition elimination works by filtering on the partition column (e.g., date) in the WHERE clause, allowing the query engine to read only the necessary files.
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.
- ✗
Convert the data from JSON to Parquet format and apply Snappy compression.
Why it's wrong here
While Parquet and compression improve performance, the stem does not specify the current format, and the biggest gain comes from partition elimination.
- ✗
Use Azure Data Factory to copy the data into Azure SQL Database and create indexes.
Why it's wrong here
This moves data to a different store, which is not allowed per the requirement to not move data to a dedicated pool. Also, Azure SQL Database is not the target.
- ✗
Create a dedicated SQL pool and distribute the data across 60 distributions.
Why it's wrong here
Moving to a dedicated SQL pool involves additional cost and management; the requirement is to improve performance without moving data. Also, distribution is not applicable to serverless.
- ✓
Create external tables using a partition elimination strategy and ensure the data is partitioned by date.
Why this is correct
Partition elimination allows the serverless SQL engine to read only the partitions needed for the query, significantly reducing data scanned and improving performance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume converting file format (Parquet) alone is sufficient, but the question specifically targets reducing data scanned via partition elimination, which is a more direct optimization for partitioned data in serverless SQL.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Partition elimination in Synapse Serverless SQL leverages the folder structure in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 (e.g., /year=2025/month=03/day=15/hour=12/). When a query filters on the partition column, the query engine uses metadata to skip entire folders, reducing I/O. This is similar to Hive-style partitioning and works with external tables defined using CREATE EXTERNAL TABLE with LOCATION pointing to the partitioned root. Real-world scenarios show that partition elimination can reduce query times from hours to minutes for petabyte-scale data.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
- →
Describe core data concepts — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Describe core data concepts practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DP-900 questions
982 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DP-900 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
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.
Describe core data concepts practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Describe core data concepts.
Describe an analytics workload on Azure practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Describe an analytics workload on Azure.
Identify considerations for relational data on Azure practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Identify considerations for relational data on Azure.
Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure.
DP-900 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to DP-900 fundamentals.
DP-900 scenario practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to DP-900 scenario.
DP-900 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DP-900 questions linked to DP-900 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DP-900 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Create external tables using a partition elimination strategy and ensure the data is partitioned by date. — Option D is correct because Azure Synapse Serverless SQL can use external tables with partition elimination to skip irrelevant partitions (e.g., date/hour folders) during query execution. This reduces the amount of data scanned, directly improving query performance without moving data. Partition elimination works by filtering on the partition column (e.g., date) in the WHERE clause, allowing the query engine to read only the necessary files.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.