PL-300 Exam Overview
Prepare for the Microsoft PL-300 certification exam
with our comprehensive study guide. This study material contains 356 practice questions
sourced from real exams and expert-verified for accuracy. Each question includes the correct answer
and a detailed explanation to help you understand the material thoroughly.
The PL-300 exam — Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst — is offered by Microsoft.
Passing this exam earns you the Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate credential,
an industry-recognized certification that validates your expertise.
Our study materials were last updated on 2026-02-18 to reflect the
most recent exam objectives and content.
About the Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate
The Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate is awarded by Microsoft
to professionals who demonstrate competence in the skills measured by the PL-300 exam.
According to the
official Microsoft certification page,
this certification validates your ability to work with the technologies covered in the exam objectives.
According to the
Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Report,
certified IT professionals earn 15-25% more than their non-certified peers.
Certifications from Microsoft are among the most recognized credentials in the IT industry,
with strong demand across enterprise organizations worldwide.
Free Sample — 15 Practice Questions
Preview 15 of 356 questions from the PL-300 exam.
Try before you buy — purchase the full study guide for all 356 questions with answers and explanations.
Question 46
You use Power BI Desktop to open a PBIX file that contains a Microsoft Excel data source.
You attempt to refresh the data and receive the following error message.
Expression.Error: The column ‘Cost’ of the table wasn't found.
What is a possible cause of the error?
A. The Cost column was renamed in the data source.
B. The privacy level of the data source does not allow combining the data with other data sources.
C. The data in the Cost column cannot be converted into the target data type.
D. The source file was moved to a new location.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
The error indicates that Power BI cannot find a column named 'Cost' during refresh. This commonly occurs when the column was renamed or removed in the Excel source after the PBIX was created, while the Power Query steps still reference the original column name. Other options would generate different error messages (privacy, data type, or file path).
Question 251
You have a dataset that is used infrequently and refreshes every hour.
You receive a notification that the refresh was disabled due to inactivity.
Which two actions will cause the scheduled refresh schedule to resume? Each correct answer presents a complete solution.
NOTE: Each correct selection is worth one point.
A. Enable query caching for the dataset.
B. Import the dataset to Microsoft Excel.
C. From the Power BI service, open a dashboard that uses the dataset.
D. From the Power BI service, open a report that uses the dataset.
E. From PowerShell, run the get-powerbireport cmdlet.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C, D
Explanation:
In Power BI, scheduled refresh is automatically paused after prolonged inactivity, defined as no user visiting any dashboard or report that uses the dataset. To resume the scheduled refresh, a user must revisit content built on the dataset. Opening either a dashboard or a report in the Power BI service counts as activity and re-enables the refresh schedule. Other actions, such as query caching, exporting to Excel, or running PowerShell cmdlets, do not resume refresh due to inactivity.
Question 147
You have data in a Microsoft Excel worksheet as shown in the following table.
You need to use Power Query to clean and transform the dataset. The solution must meet the following requirements:
• If the discount column returns an error, a discount of 0.05 must be used.
• All the rows of data must be maintained.
• Administrative effort must be minimized.
What should you do in Power Query Editor?
A. Select Replace Errors.
B. Edit the query in the Query Errors group.
C. Select Remove Errors.
D. Select Keep Errors.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
The requirement is to replace any error in the Discount column with a value of 0.05 while keeping all rows and minimizing effort. In Power Query, **Replace Errors** directly substitutes error values in a column with a specified value. Removing or keeping errors would affect rows, and editing queries manually increases administrative effort.
Question 118
DRAG DROP
-
You plan to use Power BI to create a quarterly profit report that meets the following requirements:
• Emphasizes the percentage of total profits contributed by each product category in dollars and as a percentage
• Compares profit margins across sales regions
Which type of visual should you use for each requirement? To answer, drag the appropriate visuals to the correct requirements. Each visual may be used once, more than once, or not at all. You may need to drag the split bar between panes or scroll to view content.
NOTE: Each correct selection is worth one point.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: Emphasizes the percentage of total profits contributed by each product category:
Pie chart
Compares profit margins across sales regions:
Stacked bar chart
Explanation:
A pie chart highlights part-to-whole contributions as percentages of total profit, while a stacked bar chart enables clear comparison of profit margins across different sales regions.
Question 132
HOTSPOT
-
You are creating a Power BI report that will show the number of current employees over time. The report will use Import storage mode for all tables.
The employment data will be imported from Azure SQL Database in a monthly snapshot. The data will be stored in a table named Headcount and will contain the following:
• One row per employee for each month the employee is employed
• In each row, a date key that shows the first day of the month of each snapshot
You have a related date table that contains dates for the years 2020 to 2030.
You need to create a semi-additive DAX measure that will return the count of employees for the last available date in a year, quarter, or month.
How should you complete the measure? To answer, select the appropriate options in the answer area.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: COUNTROWS('Headcount')
LASTDATE('Date'[Date])
Explanation:
The measure must be semi-additive over time, returning the value at the last date in the current time context. COUNTROWS works because, after filtering to the last snapshot date, there is one row per employee. LASTDATE must be applied to the related Date table to correctly respect the current year/quarter/month filter context and return the last available snapshot date.
Question 89
You have a Power BI model that contains two tables named Sales and Date. The Sales table relates to the Date table by using a many-to-one relationship. The Sales table contains the following columns:
• Date
• Product
• SalesAmount
You need to create a DAX measure for a rolling 31-day sales total that will return the total sales amount for a selected date and the previous 30 days.
Which DAX expression should you use?
A. CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[SalesAmount]), DATEADD(Date[Date], -30, DAY))
B. CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[SalesAmount]), DATESBETWEEN(Date[Date], Max('Date'[Date])-30, Max('Date'[Date])))
C. CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[SalesAmount]), DATESMTD(Date[Date]))
D. CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[SalesAmount]), DISTINCTCOUNT(Date[Date]) = 31)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
A rolling 31-day total requires a continuous range of dates from the selected date back 30 days. DATESBETWEEN defines exactly that window using the current context date (MAX(Date[Date])) as the end date and 30 days prior as the start date. DATEADD only shifts the existing date context and does not inherently create a rolling range, DATESMTD is month-to-date, and DISTINCTCOUNT is not a valid way to define a rolling window.
Question 54
HOTSPOT
-
You use Power Query Editor to review the query shown in the following exhibit.
Each Region value appears only on the row where it first occurred. Each subsequent occurrence of the Region value is blank.
You need to ensure that every row contains the correct non-blank value. The solution must minimize development effort.
Which column should you select, and which action should you perform on the column? To answer, select the appropriate options in the answer area.
NOTE: Each correct selection is worth one point.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: Column: Region
Action: Fill down
Explanation:
The Region column contains blank values after the first occurrence in each group. Using Fill Down propagates the last non-blank Region value to subsequent rows, ensuring every row has the correct Region with minimal effort.
Question 96
You are configuring a Power BI report for accessibility as shown in the following table.
You need to change the default colors of all three visuals to make the report more accessible to users who have color vision deficiency.
Which two settings should you configure in the Customize theme window? Each correct answer presents part of the solution.
NOTE: Each correct selection is worth one point.
A. First-level elements colors
B. Theme colors
C. Divergent colors
D. Sentiment colors
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C, D
Explanation:
In Power BI themes, Divergent colors control the default gradient colors used by conditional formatting in tables and matrices, while Sentiment colors control the default positive/negative/neutral colors used by visuals such as KPIs and Waterfall charts. Configuring these two settings changes the default colors used by all three visuals shown, improving accessibility for users with color vision deficiency.
Question 233
You have four sales regions. Each region has multiple sales managers.
You implement row-level security (RLS) in a data model. You assign the relevant mail-enabled security group to each role.
You have sales reports that enable analysis by region. The sales managers can view the sales records of their region. The sales managers are prevented from viewing records from other regions.
A sales manager changes to a different region.
You need to ensure that the sales manager can see the correct sales data.
What should you do?
A. Change the Microsoft Power BI license type of the sales manager.
B. From Microsoft Power BI Desktop, edit the Row-Level Security setting for the reports.
C. Manage the permissions of the underlying dataset.
D. Request that the sales manager be added to the correct Azure Active Directory group.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
Row-level security roles are already mapped to mail-enabled Azure Active Directory security groups. When a sales manager changes regions, the RLS logic and dataset do not need to be modified. You only need to update the user’s group membership so they belong to the security group associated with the new region, which automatically grants access to the correct data.
Question 25
You have a Fabric workspace named Workspace1 that contains two Power BI reports named Report1 and Report2.
You create a workspace app that contains both reports.
You need to ensure that the app meets the following requirements:
• Report1 must be visible to all the users in your organization.
• Report2 must be visible to only a security group named Group1.
What should you do next?
A. Assign Group1 the Viewer role for Workspace1.
B. Create an audience and assign Group1 to the audience.
C. Allow access to the hidden content of the app.
D. Share Report1 with the built-in All users security group.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Power BI/Fabric apps support multiple audiences to control content visibility within a single app. By creating separate audiences, you can expose Report1 to an audience that includes all users in the organization, while assigning Report2 only to an audience that includes Group1. Workspace roles, sharing, or hidden content settings do not provide per-report visibility control within the app.
Question 223
You have a table that contains sales data and approximately 1,000 rows.
You need to identify outliers in the table.
Which type of visualization should you use?
A. area chart
B. scatter plot
C. pie chart
D. donut chart
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
A scatter plot is ideal for identifying outliers because it displays individual data points, making values that deviate significantly from the overall pattern easy to spot. Area, pie, and donut charts aggregate data and are not suited for detecting individual anomalies.
Question 326
You are creating a Power BI model that contains a table named Store. Store contains the following fields.
You plan to create a map visual that will show store locations and provide the ability to drill down from Country to State/Province to City.
What should you do to ensure that the locations are mapped properly?
A. Change the data type of City, State/Province, and Country.
B. Set Summarization for City, State/Province, and Country to Don't summarize.
C. Set the data category of City, State/Province, and Country.
D. Create a calculated column that concatenates the values in City, State/Province, and Country.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
Power BI map visuals rely on geographic data categorization (Country, State/Province, City) to correctly geocode and plot locations and to support drill-down behavior. Setting the data category explicitly tells Power BI how to interpret each field as a geographic level. Changing data types, summarization, or concatenating fields does not ensure accurate geographic mapping.
Question 63
You have a Power BI semantic model named Model1 that runs in Import storage mode.
You need to reduce the size of Model1.
Which two actions should you perform? Each correct answer presents a complete solution.
NOTE: Each correct selection is worth one point.
A. Summarize the detail data.
B. Upgrade to Power BI premium.
C. Implement row-level security (RLS).
D. Optimize the column data types.
E. Change the active relationships between tables to inactive relationships.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A, D
Explanation:
To reduce the size of an Import mode Power BI semantic model, you should reduce the amount of data stored and improve compression. Summarizing detail data lowers row counts, which directly reduces memory usage. Optimizing column data types (for example, using numeric or date types instead of text) improves VertiPaq compression and further reduces model size. The other options do not directly reduce the in-memory size of the model.
Question 28
You are creating a Power BI report that will contain multiple visuals.
You need to ensure that the report is accessible to users who use a screen reader.
Which two configurations should you perform? Each correct answer presents part of the solution.
NOTE: Each correct selection is worth one point.
A. consistent fonts for each visual
B. alt text for each visual
C. the tab order for each page
D. consistent colors for each visual
E. Play Axis for each page
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B, C
Explanation:
Screen reader accessibility in Power BI relies on descriptive alternative text so visuals can be interpreted audibly, and a defined tab order so users can navigate visuals in a logical sequence. Fonts, colors, and play axis do not directly support screen reader navigation or interpretation.
Question 221
You are creating a Power BI report to analyze consumer purchasing patterns from a table named Transactions. The Transactions table contains a numeric field named Spend.
You need to include a visual that identifies which fields have the greatest impact on Spend.
Which type of visual should you use?
A. Q&A
B. smart narrative
C. decomposition tree
D. key influencers
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
The Key influencers visual is specifically designed to analyze a metric (such as the numeric Spend field) and identify which fields have the greatest impact on increasing or decreasing that metric. None of the other visuals focus on explaining drivers of a numeric outcome.