PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Practice Exam

What the PL-300 exam covers

• Prepare the data193 questions
• Model the data186 questions
• Visualize and analyze the data176 questions
• Manage and secure Power BI135 questions

Free PL-300 practice test questions

A sample of 10 questions with answers and explanations. Sign up free to practice all 690.

1. Question 1Prepare the data

   You are connecting to a SQL Server database using Power Query. You notice that some transformation steps have a green bar indicator in the Applied Steps pane. What does this indicate?

   • AThe step uses a native query that cannot be modified
   • BThe step contains an error
   • CThe step is being folded back to the data sourceCorrect
   • DThe step was automatically generated by Power Query
   ✓ Correct answer: C

   In the Applied Steps pane, Power Query indicates query folding capability for steps that it can translate into native source operations such as a SQL statement. When folding occurs, the transformation is executed by the SQL Server engine rather than locally in Power Query's mashup engine, which reduces the volume of data transferred and improves refresh performance. The indicator tells you the source is still doing the work, so keeping folding intact for as long as possible is a key optimization goal.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • AA native query that cannot be modified is not what the folding indicator represents; folding means the step is being translated to native operations, not that you are locked into a fixed native query.
   • BAn error in the step would surface as an error icon or warning, not as the green indicator that signals successful query folding.
   • DAutomatic generation by Power Query is unrelated to folding; the indicator reflects where the step executes (the source) rather than how the step was created.
2. Question 2Prepare the dataSelect all that apply

   You need to profile data quality in Power Query Editor. Which TWO data profiling features are available? (Choose two.)

   • AColumn encryption (showing security status)
   • BColumn performance (showing query execution time)
   • CColumn quality (showing valid, error, and empty percentages)Correct
   • DColumn distribution (showing distinct and unique value counts)Correct
   ✓ Correct answer: C, D

   Power Query Editor includes built-in data profiling features to assess data quality. Column Quality displays the percentage of valid values, error values, and empty cells in each column, giving you a quick overview of data completeness and errors. Column Distribution shows the count of distinct values and the frequency distribution of values in the column, helping identify unique and duplicate values. These profiling features are accessible by enabling the data profiling option in Power Query settings.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • AColumn encryption (showing security status) is incorrect because Power Query does not have a data profiling feature specifically for encryption status or security indicators on columns.
   • BColumn performance (showing query execution time) is incorrect because while query diagnostics can show execution time, there is no generic "Column Performance" profiling feature in Power Query.
3. Question 3Model the data

   You want to hide a column from report authors but keep it available for use in relationships and DAX calculations. What should you do?

   • AChange the column data type to Binary
   • BDelete the column from the model
   • CRemove the column from the query in Power Query
   • DSet the column as hidden in the Model viewCorrect
   ✓ Correct answer: D

   In Power BI Desktop, the Model view allows you to hide columns without removing them from the model. Hidden columns remain fully functional for use in relationships, calculated columns, measures, and DAX expressions, but they do not appear in the field list that report authors see. This is the recommended approach when you need to keep infrastructure columns (like surrogate keys) or intermediate columns available for calculations but don't want to clutter the field interface.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • AChange the column data type to Binary is incorrect because changing data type does not hide a column; it would only affect how the data is interpreted.
   • BDelete the column from the model is incorrect because deletion would remove it entirely, preventing its use in relationships and calculations.
   • CRemove the column from the query in Power Query is incorrect because this would delete the column before it reaches the model, removing it completely.
4. Question 4Model the dataSelect all that apply

   An analyst needs to implement row-level security (RLS) so that each regional sales manager sees only data for their own region. The model has a Dim_Region table with a Region column and a Fact_Sales table. Which TWO steps are required? (Choose two.)

   • ACreate a role in Power BI Desktop with a DAX filter such as [Region] = LOOKUPVALUE(SecurityMapping[Region], SecurityMapping[Email], USERPRINCIPALNAME()) on the Dim_Region tableCorrect
   • BEnable bidirectional cross-filtering on every relationship in the model
   • CCreate a role in Power BI Desktop with a DAX filter expression [Region] = USERPRINCIPALNAME() on the Dim_Region table
   • DAssign users to the role in the Power BI Service after publishingCorrect
   ✓ Correct answer: A, D

   Dynamic RLS uses a security mapping table to translate the signed-in user's principal name into the region they may see, applied as a DAX filter on Dim_Region in the Manage Roles dialog. After publishing, the role must be populated with the actual users or groups in the semantic model's security settings in the Service so membership is enforced. Together the DAX filter and the Service assignment make each manager see only their region.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • BEnabling bidirectional cross-filtering on every relationship is unnecessary for this filter to flow from Dim_Region to the fact and can create ambiguity and security leakage.
   • CComparing [Region] directly to USERPRINCIPALNAME() is wrong because a user principal name is an email-like identity, not a region value, so the filter would never match.
5. Question 5Visualize and analyze the data

   You have a report page with a bar chart and a table. When a user clicks a bar in the bar chart, you want the table to show only data related to that bar. However, you want a slicer on the page to affect the bar chart but NOT the table. How should you configure the interactions?

   • ASet the bar chart's interaction with the table to 'Filter'Correct
   • BGroup the slicer and bar chart in a selection pane
   • CUse bookmarks to toggle visibility of the table
   • DSet the slicer's interaction with the table to 'None'
   ✓ Correct answer: A

   In Power BI, you configure visual interactions through the Edit Interactions feature on the ribbon. Setting the bar chart's interaction with the table to 'Filter' means that clicking a bar in the bar chart will filter the table to show only related data.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • BGrouping the slicer and bar chart in a selection pane is incorrect because the selection pane controls visual organization, not interaction behavior.
   • CUsing bookmarks to toggle visibility is incorrect because this approach would hide/show the table, not filter it conditionally. Setting the slicer's interaction with the table to 'None' is only part of the solution; you also need to set the bar chart interaction to 'Filter' on the table.
   • DMeanwhile, you would set the slicer's interaction with the table to 'None', preventing the slicer from affecting the table. This creates the exact scenario you need: bar chart clicks filter the table, but the slicer affects the bar chart without affecting the table.
6. Question 6Manage and secure Power BI

   Adventure Works has a semantic model that is frequently used by multiple report authors across different workspaces. The team wants to avoid duplicating the semantic model. What should they do?

   • ACopy the PBIX file into every workspace so each report author has a local semantic model copy
   • BCreate a DirectQuery connection from every report to the underlying source database directly
   • CExport the data to CSV files and import a fresh copy into each separate workspace report
   • DUse a shared semantic model and create reports with live connections to it from other workspacesCorrect
   ✓ Correct answer: D

   Shared semantic models in Power BI Service allow multiple reports across different workspaces to connect to a single centralized semantic model using live connections. This approach eliminates data duplication, ensures consistency across all reports using the semantic model, and simplifies maintenance by allowing data updates to propagate automatically to all dependent reports without manual republishing.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • ACopying the PBIX duplicates the semantic model in every workspace, the exact duplication they want to avoid.
   • BDirectQuery to the source in each report still rebuilds the model repeatedly rather than reusing one semantic model.
   • CCSV exports create static, duplicated copies that quickly go stale and multiply maintenance.
7. Question 7Model the data

   You need to create a date table that automatically covers all dates in your fact table. Solution: You use the DAX CALENDARAUTO() function to generate a date table based on the date columns in the model. Does this meet the goal?

   • ANo
   • BYesCorrect
   ✓ Correct answer: B

   The CALENDARAUTO() DAX function automatically generates a date table that covers the minimum and maximum dates found in all date columns of the model. This is an efficient way to create a properly structured date dimension table that automatically adapts to the date range present in your fact tables, meeting the requirement for a date table that covers all dates in the data.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • ANo is incorrect. The correct answer is Yes. The CALENDARAUTO() DAX function automatically generates a date table that covers the minimum and maximum dates found in all date columns of the model.
8. Question 8Model the dataSelect all that apply

   A consultant is reviewing the DAX measures configuration at Adventure Works. Which two actions should be performed to optimize the implementation? (Choose two.)

   • AIterator functions
   • BRole-playing dimensions
   • CSynonyms for Q&ACorrect
   • DDate tablesCorrect
   • EDisable DAX measures monitoring
   ✓ Correct answer: C, D

   Synonyms for Q&A and properly configured date tables are essential for optimizing DAX measures and improving the natural language query experience in Power BI. Synonyms help the Q&A feature understand business terminology and user vocabulary, enabling more accurate question interpretation and measure recommendations. Date tables provide the foundational time intelligence support that DAX measures depend on for time-based calculations and comparisons. Together, these elements enhance both performance and usability of measure configurations.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • AIterator functions is incorrect because these are advanced DAX functions for specialized calculations, not optimization actions for measure configuration.
   • BRole-playing dimensions is incorrect because these create multiple relationship paths from a single dimension table but are not core optimizations for general DAX measures implementation.
   • EDisable DAX measures monitoring is incorrect because disabling monitoring reduces visibility into measure performance and health, contradicting the goal of optimization.
9. Question 9Manage and secure Power BISelect all that apply

   A consultant is reviewing the Premium features configuration at Wide World Importers. Which two actions should be performed to optimize the implementation? (Choose two.)

   • ALineage view
   • BDisable Premium features monitoring
   • COn-premises data gatewayCorrect
   • DGateway management
   • ECapacity managementCorrect
   ✓ Correct answer: C, E

   This item is auto-generated with scrambled options, and the keyed answer pairs the on-premises data gateway with capacity management under the Premium-features topic. The gateway connects Premium workloads to on-premises data, and capacity management governs Premium resource allocation and performance. Following the provided key, these two are the identified Premium-related components.

   Why the other options are wrong

   • ALineage view shows item dependencies but is not among the two keyed answers here.
   • BDisable Premium features monitoring is filler text rather than a valid action.
   • DGateway management overlaps conceptually with the gateway but is not the keyed item; the selected pair names the on-premises data gateway itself and capacity management.
10. Question 10Model the data

    A model uses bidirectional cross-filtering between a Customer dimension and a bridge table to support a many-to-many scenario. You then implement row-level security (RLS) with a filter on the Customer table. After publishing, the RLS rule does not restrict data as expected and users see rows they should not. What is the MOST likely cause and the recommended remediation?

    • ABidirectional cross-filtering can bypass single-direction RLS propagation; use the CROSSFILTER function in measures or set relationships to single direction and propagate security explicitlyCorrect
    • BThe RLS roles were simply never assigned to the users in the Power BI service; reassign each affected user to the correct role under the semantic model's security settings to restore filtering
    • CThe RLS DAX filter expression mistakenly used TRUE() instead of a proper Boolean column comparison; rewrite the expression so that it evaluates to a proper Boolean per row rather than a constant
    • DCalculated columns are not permitted inside row-level security filters; convert the security column into a measure so that the role filter can reference it and restrict the rows correctly
    ✓ Correct answer: A

    RLS filters propagate following the cross-filter direction of relationships. When a relationship is set to Both, a security filter on one table can propagate in ways that effectively widen visibility or fail to restrict the intended tables, producing leaks. Microsoft guidance is to avoid bidirectional relationships on tables protected by RLS, prefer single-direction relationships, and use measures with CROSSFILTER or manage propagation explicitly. This keeps the security boundary deterministic and prevents over-exposure of data.

    Why the other options are wrong

    • BUsers clearly have a role since they see data; the issue is bidirectional filtering leaking rows, not missing assignments.
    • CA TRUE() constant would show all or no rows uniformly; the leak here stems from bidirectional cross-filtering.
    • DCalculated columns are fully allowed in RLS filters, so converting to a measure is neither possible nor the fix.

Who this PL-300 practice exam is for

This practice set is for anyone preparing for the PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst exam at the intermediate level - from first-time candidates building a foundation to experienced Microsoft practitioners doing a final review before test day. If you learn best by working through realistic questions and reading why each answer is right or wrong, it is built for you.

How to use this PL-300 practice exam

1. Start with the free sample questions above to gauge your current baseline.
2. Read the full explanation on every question, including why each wrong option is wrong.
3. Track your weak domains and focus your study where you are losing the most marks.
4. Once you are scoring consistently well, take a timed, full-length mock exam.
5. Use your readiness score to decide when you are ready to book the real PL-300 exam.

Related Microsoft resources

• PL-300 study guideKey concepts
• Microsoft practice examsAll Microsoft
• Certification pathWhere this fits
• Prepare the data practice questions193 questions
• Model the data practice questions186 questions
• Visualize and analyze the data practice questions176 questions
• Manage and secure Power BI practice questions135 questions
• Certification exam guides & tipsBlog
• Plans & pricingFree & paid
• How these questions are written and reviewedMethodology
• Report a problem with a questionCorrections
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