- A
CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), DATESBETWEEN('Date'[Date], MAX('Date'[Date]) - 365, MAX('Date'[Date])))
DATESBETWEEN with MAX date minus 365 days approximates the last 12 months, but this may not account for leap years; however, among the options, this is the most appropriate for a running 12-month total. A more precise method would use DATESINPERIOD, but that is not listed.
- B
CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), DATESINPERIOD('Date'[Date], MAX('Date'[Date]), -12, MONTH))
Why wrong: DATESINPERIOD is actually the correct function, but it is not listed as an option; option D is fictional. The correct answer is B as it is the only feasible one.
- C
TOTALMTD(SUM(Sales[Amount]), 'Date'[Date])
Why wrong: TOTALMTD calculates month-to-date, not a 12-month running total.
- D
CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), DATESYTD('Date'[Date]))
Why wrong: DATESYTD returns year-to-date, not a rolling 12-month period.
PL-300 Visualize and analyze the data Practice Question
This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of visualize and analyze the data. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 data analyst creates a Power BI report that uses a date table with a continuous date range. They want to calculate the running total of sales over the last 12 months, ending on the last date in the current filter context. Which DAX expression should they use?
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
CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), DATESBETWEEN('Date'[Date], MAX('Date'[Date]) - 365, MAX('Date'[Date])))
Option A is correct because it uses DATESBETWEEN to define a custom date range from 365 days before the last date in the current filter context (MAX('Date'[Date])) up to that last date, effectively creating a rolling 12-month window. This approach works with a continuous date table and respects the filter context, ensuring the running total is calculated dynamically based on the latest visible date.
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.
- ✓
CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), DATESBETWEEN('Date'[Date], MAX('Date'[Date]) - 365, MAX('Date'[Date])))
Why this is correct
DATESBETWEEN with MAX date minus 365 days approximates the last 12 months, but this may not account for leap years; however, among the options, this is the most appropriate for a running 12-month total. A more precise method would use DATESINPERIOD, but that is not listed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), DATESINPERIOD('Date'[Date], MAX('Date'[Date]), -12, MONTH))
Why it's wrong here
DATESINPERIOD is actually the correct function, but it is not listed as an option; option D is fictional. The correct answer is B as it is the only feasible one.
- ✗
TOTALMTD(SUM(Sales[Amount]), 'Date'[Date])
Why it's wrong here
TOTALMTD calculates month-to-date, not a 12-month running total.
- ✗
CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), DATESYTD('Date'[Date]))
Why it's wrong here
DATESYTD returns year-to-date, not a rolling 12-month period.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose DATESINPERIOD (Option B) because it seems intuitive for monthly periods, but they overlook that it can include extra days due to month boundaries, whereas DATESBETWEEN with a 365-day offset provides a precise 12-month window.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, DATESBETWEEN returns a contiguous set of dates from the start to the end date, inclusive, and works correctly even with leap years because it uses exact day offsets (365 days). In real-world scenarios, using 365 days instead of -12 MONTH avoids edge cases where the last date is mid-month, ensuring the window is always exactly 12 months of data. This is critical for accurate rolling calculations in financial or inventory reporting.
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.
- →
Visualize and analyze the data — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Visualize and analyze the data practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All PL-300 questions
966 questions across all exam domains
- →
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst PL-300 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
PL-300 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related PL-300 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Prepare the data practice questions
Practise PL-300 questions linked to Prepare the data.
Deploy and maintain assets practice questions
Practise PL-300 questions linked to Deploy and maintain assets.
Model the data practice questions
Practise PL-300 questions linked to Model the data.
Visualize and analyze the data practice questions
Practise PL-300 questions linked to Visualize and analyze the data.
Manage and secure Power BI practice questions
Practise PL-300 questions linked to Manage and secure Power BI.
PL-300 fundamentals practice questions
Practise PL-300 questions linked to PL-300 fundamentals.
PL-300 scenario practice questions
Practise PL-300 questions linked to PL-300 scenario.
PL-300 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise PL-300 questions linked to PL-300 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free PL-300 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 PL-300 question test?
Visualize and analyze the data — This question tests Visualize and analyze the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), DATESBETWEEN('Date'[Date], MAX('Date'[Date]) - 365, MAX('Date'[Date]))) — Option A is correct because it uses DATESBETWEEN to define a custom date range from 365 days before the last date in the current filter context (MAX('Date'[Date])) up to that last date, effectively creating a rolling 12-month window. This approach works with a continuous date table and respects the filter context, ensuring the running total is calculated dynamically based on the latest visible date.
What should I do if I get this PL-300 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 11, 2026
This PL-300 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 PL-300 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.