PL-300 Multiple Select — 20 Questions

Question 1

You are a data analyst for a utility company. You import a table named MeterReadings from an OData feed. The table contains a column named ReadingTimestamp that includes date and time. You need to create two new columns: one that contains only the date and one that contains only the hour of the day as a number (0–23). You want to use built-in Power Query transformations from the Add Column tab without writing custom formulas. Which two transformations should you use? (Choose two.)

Choose an answer to begin — your selection is scored in the full session.

Accepted Answer

Select ReadingTimestamp, then on the Add Column tab choose Time and select Hour.. To create a date-only column and an hour column from a timestamp, you use the Date Only transformation and the Hour transformation, both available on the Add Column tab. These are built-in, code-free operations that add new columns while keeping the original timestamp. Other date or time transformations extract different components and do not meet the stated requirements.

Answer

Select ReadingTimestamp, then on the Add Column tab choose Date and select Year.

Answer

Select ReadingTimestamp, then on the Add Column tab choose Time and select Duration.

Answer

Select ReadingTimestamp, then on the Add Column tab choose Date and select Month.

Question 2

Which TWO are valid reasons to use a dataflow in Power BI when preparing data?

Accepted Answer

To handle large data volumes that exceed dataset limits. Option A is correct because dataflows store transformed data in Common Data Model (CDM) entities in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, so they can process and persist large data volumes that would otherwise exceed a single dataset's size or memory limits. Option B is correct because a dataflow's CDM entities can be consumed by multiple Power BI datasets, letting you define the transformation logic once and reuse the same cleansed data across many datasets instead of duplicating ETL work. Option C is not a valid reason, since dataflows that connect to on-premises sources still require an on-premises data gateway; dataflows do not eliminate that need. Option D is not correct because dataflows are refreshed on a scheduled (batch) basis and are not a mechanism for real-time streaming, which is handled by streaming datasets or push datasets. Option E is not correct because data lineage is a metadata/governance feature surfaced automatically in the workspace, not something a dataflow is used to enforce.

Answer

To avoid using an on-premises data gateway

Answer

To achieve real-time data refresh

Answer

To automatically enforce data lineage

Question 3

Which TWO methods can you use to share a Power BI report with external users who do not have a Power BI Pro license? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Embed the report in a secure portal using 'Embed for your customers'.. Option A is correct because the 'Embed for your customers' (app-owns-data) scenario uses an embed token and a service principal or master account to render the report inside your own application or secure portal, so the external viewers authenticate to your app and never need a Power BI Pro license. Option B is correct because 'Publish to web' generates an anonymous public embed code/URL that anyone can view in a browser without any Power BI license, Pro or otherwise. Option C is not correct because exporting to PDF produces a static file, not a shared interactive Power BI report, and it is not a Power BI sharing method. Option D is not correct because direct sharing via email in the Power BI service requires the recipient to have a Power BI Pro (or PPU) license to open the report. Option E is not correct because exporting to Excel yields a static data extract, not a live report, and likewise is not a Power BI sharing mechanism.

Answer

Export the report to PDF and share the file.

Answer

Share directly via Power BI using the user's email address.

Answer

Export the report to Excel and attach it to an email.

Question 4

You need to create a Power BI report that allows users to analyze sales data by multiple dimensions including date, product, and region. Which THREE features should you use to provide a good user experience?

Accepted Answer

Add slicers for date, product, and region.. Option A is correct because slicers for date, product, and region let users interactively filter the report across all three required dimensions, providing direct control over the data shown. Option B is correct because bookmarks capture the current state of a report page—including filters, slicers, and visibility—allowing users to switch between predefined views without rebuilding selections. Option C is correct because drill-through pages let users right-click a data point and navigate to a detail page filtered to that specific context, enabling deeper analysis of sales by the selected dimension values. Option D is not appropriate because disabling cross-filtering removes the interactive highlighting and filtering between visuals that improves exploratory analysis. Option E is not appropriate because relying only on default tooltips limits the contextual detail users can see on hover, reducing the overall user experience.

Answer

Disable cross-filtering between visuals.

Answer

Use only default tooltips.

Question 5

Which TWO actions can improve performance of a Power BI DirectQuery model?

Accepted Answer

Ensure proper indexing in the source database. Proper indexing in the source database reduces the query execution time for DirectQuery models. DirectQuery sends queries to the source database in real-time, so efficient indexes on columns used in filters, joins, and aggregations minimize table scans and improve retrieval speed.

Answer

Switch the model to Import mode

Answer

Enable bidirectional cross-filtering on all relationships

Answer

Use calculated columns with complex logic

Question 6

Which THREE of the following are best practices when designing Power BI reports for mobile devices? (Select three.)

Accepted Answer

Create a dedicated mobile layout view. Option A is correct because Power BI Desktop provides a dedicated Mobile Layout view (View > Mobile Layout) that lets you rearrange and resize visuals specifically for phone portrait orientation without affecting the desktop canvas. Option B is correct because small phone screens and varied lighting conditions make large font sizes and high-contrast colors essential for legibility and accessibility on mobile devices. Option D is correct because limiting each page to roughly 3-5 visuals keeps the mobile layout scannable and avoids excessive vertical scrolling and slow rendering on phones. Option C is not a mobile best practice per se: custom visuals are chosen for analytical capability, not for mobile optimization, and some custom visuals render poorly or are not optimized for small screens. Option E is not recommended because stacking multiple slicers consumes scarce screen space and complicates touch interaction; mobile designs typically favor a single, well-chosen slicer or filter pane instead.

Answer

Use custom visuals for advanced analytics

Answer

Include multiple slicers for flexible filtering

Question 7

Which TWO data sources can be used with DirectQuery mode in Power BI? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

SQL Server. DirectQuery mode in Power BI requires a data source that supports query pass-through to a backend engine, and SQL Server (option B) qualifies because Power BI issues native T-SQL queries against the relational database in real time without importing data. Azure SQL Database (option C) is likewise a supported DirectQuery source, since it is a cloud-based SQL Server engine that accepts the same T-SQL query folding and live connection pattern. In contrast, Excel workbook (A), CSV file (D), and SharePoint list (E) are file- or list-based sources that Power BI imports rather than querying live, so they are not valid DirectQuery data sources.

Answer

Excel workbook

Answer

CSV file

Answer

SharePoint list

Question 8

You are a Power BI developer at a healthcare organization. You are building a report that must comply with HIPAA regulations. You need to ensure that patient data is not exposed to unauthorized users. You plan to use Row-Level Security (RLS) with roles defined in Power BI Desktop. However, you also need to limit the data imported into the model to only necessary columns. The source is an Azure SQL Database with a table 'Patients' containing columns: PatientID, Name, SSN, Diagnosis, AdmissionDate, DischargeDate. Which two actions should you take? (Choose TWO)

Accepted Answer

Create RLS roles to restrict access by Diagnosis.. Option A is correct because defining RLS roles in Power BI Desktop and mapping them to users in the Power BI service enforces row-level filtering so that each user only sees the patient rows they are authorized to view, which is a core HIPAA minimum-necessary access control. Option E is correct because removing SSN and Name in Power Query before loading implements data minimization, ensuring sensitive identifiers are never imported into the semantic model where they could be exposed. Option B is not correct because storing credentials in the Power BI service is a connectivity/authentication practice, not a data-exposure control for this scenario. Option C is not correct because disabling query caching does not restrict which data is imported or who can see it. Option D is not correct because an encrypted connection protects data in transit but does not limit imported columns or enforce row-level access for report consumers.

Answer

Store data source credentials in the Power BI service.

Answer

Disable query caching for the dataset.

Answer

Use encrypted connection to the database.

Question 9

Which TWO of the following are valid data source types in Power BI that support DirectQuery? (Select TWO.)

Accepted Answer

Snowflake. Snowflake is a cloud-based data warehouse that supports DirectQuery in Power BI, allowing queries to be sent directly to Snowflake without importing data into Power BI's in-memory engine. This is possible because Snowflake provides a SQL-based interface that Power BI can connect to via its native connector, enabling real-time querying of large datasets.

Answer

Excel workbook

Answer

SharePoint Online List

Answer

JSON file

Question 10

Which TWO actions are required to set up a Power BI deployment pipeline with separate data sources for Development and Production?

Accepted Answer

Define dataset parameters in Power BI Desktop for data source values.. Defining dataset parameters in Power BI Desktop for data source values allows you to make the data source connection dynamic. These parameters can then be overridden at each stage of the deployment pipeline, enabling separate data sources for Development and Production without modifying the report file.

Answer

Assign the dataset owner to each stage workspace.

Answer

Re-enter data source credentials for each stage after deployment.

Answer

Create separate gateways for each stage.

Question 11

Which TWO are valid methods to handle null values in Power Query? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Use the 'Fill Down' or 'Fill Up' option to propagate non-null values into null cells.. 'Fill Down' and 'Fill Up' propagate the last non-null value into adjacent null cells. Option C is correct because 'Replace Values' can replace nulls with a default value. Option B is incorrect: 'Remove Blank Rows' removes rows where all cells are blank, not rows with nulls in specific columns. Option D is not a direct method for handling nulls; merging may introduce new data but does not handle existing nulls. Option E is invalid because changing to a non-nullable type causes errors.

Answer

Remove rows that contain null values using the 'Remove Rows' > 'Remove Blank Rows' option.

Answer

Merge the table with another table that has no nulls.

Answer

Change the data type of the column to a non-nullable type.

Question 12

You are a Power BI data analyst for a manufacturing company. You have a report with a line chart showing daily production output over the past year. Users report that the line chart is cluttered and difficult to read due to daily fluctuations. You need to add analytics features to the line chart to help users identify trends and outliers. Which two features should you add? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Trend line. Adding a trend line helps smooth out daily fluctuations and reveals the overall direction of production output. Anomaly detection automatically identifies and highlights unusual data points, making outliers immediately visible. Together, these features make the line chart easier to interpret. Forecast, constant line, and error bars do not directly address the need to identify trends and outliers in historical data.

Answer

Error bars

Answer

Forecast

Answer

Constant line

Question 13

Which TWO are required components of a Power BI Paginated Report?

Accepted Answer

A dataset. In Power BI Paginated Reports, every report must be bound to at least one dataset (option C), which defines the fields and query results the report's tables, matrices, and other regions render. That dataset in turn must be backed by a data source (option D), the connection object that specifies the provider and connection string used to retrieve the data. Together, the data source and dataset form the minimum required data-retrieval components of a paginated report. A subscription (option A) is an optional delivery mechanism for scheduled report distribution, not a required report component. A map visual (option B) is just one optional report item type, and a query parameter (option E) is an optional filtering/parameterization feature, neither of which is mandatory for a paginated report to exist.

Answer

A subscription

Answer

A map visual

Answer

A query parameter

Question 14

Which TWO actions can improve data refresh performance in Power BI?

Accepted Answer

Disable load for intermediate queries used only for reference.. Option C is correct because disabling load on intermediate queries that are only used for reference prevents those staging tables from being materialized into the dataset, reducing the amount of data processed and stored during refresh. Option D is correct because filtering rows at the source (for example, using query folding or a WHERE clause in the source query) reduces the volume of data transferred and loaded, which directly speeds up refresh. Option A is not correct because merging all queries into one can create unnecessary complexity and may break query folding rather than improve performance. Option B is not correct because calculated columns in Power Query are computed during refresh and can actually slow it down compared to DAX calculated columns, which are computed at query time. Option E is not correct because keeping all source columns increases data volume and memory usage, which harms rather than improves refresh performance.

Answer

Merge all queries into a single query.

Answer

Add calculated columns in Power Query instead of DAX.

Answer

Keep all columns from the source data to avoid re-importing.

Question 15

Which TWO actions can improve the performance of a Power BI report that uses DirectQuery?

Accepted Answer

Push transformations to the data source.. Option B is correct because with DirectQuery, every visual interaction is translated into a query against the source, so pushing transformations (filters, joins, aggregations) to the data source lets the source engine do the heavy lifting and reduces the amount of data Power BI must process. Option C is correct because reducing the number of columns in the query shrinks the result set returned to Power BI, lowering network transfer and memory/processing overhead, which directly improves DirectQuery report performance. Option A is not correct because calculated columns are computed and stored in the model, and in DirectQuery they can force row-by-row processing or unsupported query patterns rather than improving source-side performance. Options D and E are not correct because bidirectional cross-filtering (cross-filter direction set to both) adds extra query complexity and can degrade performance rather than improve it.

Answer

Create calculated columns instead of measures.

Answer

Use bidirectional cross-filtering.

Answer

Increase cross-filter direction to both.

Question 16

Which THREE considerations are important when implementing row-level security (RLS) in Power BI? (Select exactly 3.)

Accepted Answer

Roles can use DAX expressions to define filters. Option A is correct because RLS roles in Power BI define filters using DAX expressions (for example, [Region] = "West" or USERPRINCIPALNAME()), which is the core mechanism for row-level filtering. Option B is correct because RLS is designed to filter data based on the user's identity, typically via functions like USERNAME() or USERPRINCIPALNAME() mapped to a security table. Option D is correct because in DirectQuery mode, RLS filters are translated and pushed down to the source database as part of the query, so the source must be able to process them. Option C is not correct because RLS is not automatically applied in Analyze in Excel; the connection must use a role or the user must be a member of a role, and behavior depends on the connection method. Option E is not correct because RLS filters rows, not measures; restricting access to specific measures is handled through object-level security (OLS), not RLS.

Answer

RLS is automatically applied when using Analyze in Excel

Answer

RLS can restrict access to specific measures

Question 17

Which TWO are valid reasons to use a date table in a Power BI semantic model? (Select two.)

Accepted Answer

To enable time intelligence functions like TOTALYTD and SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR.. Option C is correct because time intelligence DAX functions such as TOTALYTD, SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR, DATESYTD, and DATEADD require a contiguous, marked date table with a Date column at day granularity; without a proper date table these functions return incorrect or blank results. Option E is correct because a single shared date table can be related to multiple fact tables, letting one slicer or filter on the date dimension consistently filter all facts instead of relying on each fact's own date column. Options A, B, and D are not valid reasons: drill-down works with any hierarchy, not specifically a date table; Power BI can auto-generate date hierarchies from a date field without a dedicated date table; and relationship performance depends on cardinality, cross-filter direction, and model design rather than on the presence of a date table.

Answer

To allow users to drill down into non-date hierarchies.

Answer

To automatically generate date hierarchies in visuals.

Answer

To improve the performance of relationships between tables.

Question 18

Which TWO methods can a Power BI admin use to enforce the use of sensitivity labels on reports? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Apply labels automatically using Microsoft Purview Information Protection.. Option C is correct because Microsoft Purview Information Protection can be configured with auto-labeling policies that automatically apply sensitivity labels to Power BI content based on sensitive information types or other conditions, ensuring reports are labeled without relying on user action. Option D is correct because the Power BI tenant setting 'Require users to apply sensitivity labels when publishing reports' (in the admin portal under Information protection) enforces labeling at publish time, blocking publication of unlabeled reports. Option A is not correct because Intune is for device and app management (MDM/MAM) and cannot block unlabeled Power BI reports. Option B is not correct because default labels in Power BI Desktop only pre-populate a suggested label; users can still change or remove it, so it does not enforce labeling. Option E is not correct because row-level security (RLS) filters data rows by user identity and has no capability to detect or hide unlabeled reports.

Answer

Deploy a Microsoft Intune policy to block unlabeled reports.

Answer

Configure default labels in Power BI Desktop.

Answer

Use row-level security to hide unlabeled reports.

Question 19

Which THREE of the following are valid reasons to use a composite model (mixed storage mode) in Power BI?

Accepted Answer

To enable real-time data from a DirectQuery source while using imported historical data.. Option A is correct because a composite model lets some tables use DirectQuery (for real-time or frequently changing data) while other tables remain in Import mode, so you can blend live DirectQuery data with imported historical data in one model. Option B is correct because composite models support aggregation tables, allowing you to keep large fact tables in DirectQuery (or as detail tables) while importing pre-aggregated summary tables to accelerate queries. Option E is correct because the core purpose of a composite model is to combine DirectQuery sources with imported tables in the same semantic model, which is otherwise impossible in a pure Import or pure DirectQuery model. Option C is not a valid reason: composite storage mode does not inherently improve relationship performance, and relationship performance depends on cardinality, cross-filter direction, and model design rather than storage mode. Option D is not a valid reason: calculated tables are created with DAX and are always stored in Import mode, so they cannot be based directly on DirectQuery sources as a benefit of using a composite model.

Answer

To improve relationship performance between tables.

Answer

To create calculated tables based on DirectQuery sources.

Question 20

Which THREE actions can you take to improve the performance of a slow Power BI report that uses multiple visuals on a single page?

Accepted Answer

Use the Performance Analyzer to identify and optimize the slowest visuals.. Option B is correct because the Performance Analyzer in Power BI Desktop records the DAX query, visual display, and other timing metrics for each visual, letting you pinpoint exactly which visuals are slowest and target optimization efforts. Option D is correct because each field added to a visual increases the size of the DAX query result and the rendering work, so trimming visuals to only the necessary fields reduces query and render time. Option E is correct because cross-filtering and cross-highlighting force dependent visuals to re-query and re-render whenever a selection is made, so disabling interactions between unrelated visuals cuts unnecessary query and rendering overhead. Option A is not correct because refresh frequency affects data latency and load on the source, not the rendering performance of a report page. Option C is not correct because adding more calculated measures generally increases model complexity and query cost rather than precomputing aggregations; pre-aggregation is achieved through import mode, aggregation tables, or summary tables, not by adding calculated measures.

Answer

Increase the frequency of data refreshes to reduce data latency.

Answer

Add more calculated measures to precompute aggregations.