Quick Answer
The answer is PREVIOUSYEAR. This DAX function is the correct choice for calculating total amount from the previous year because it is specifically designed to shift the entire date context back by one full calendar year, returning a single contiguous set of dates from the prior year. In contrast, SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR shifts the current selection back by exactly twelve months, which can produce partial-year results if the current filter context is not a full year. On the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst PL-300 exam, this question tests your understanding of time intelligence functions and their appropriate use cases; a common trap is choosing SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR when the requirement explicitly asks for the previous year as a whole, not the same period offset. To remember, think of PREVIOUSYEAR as the "full-year rewind" — it always gives you the complete prior calendar year regardless of the current date range.
This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of model 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.
You have a Power BI model containing a table 'Orders' with columns: OrderID, CustomerID, OrderDate, Amount. You need to create a measure that calculates the total amount from the previous year. Which DAX function should be used?
DATEADD
Why wrong: Shifts dates by an interval.
PARALLELPERIOD
Why wrong: Returns a full period parallel.
PREVIOUSYEAR
Returns the previous calendar year.
SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR
Why wrong: Returns dates shifted by one year, not necessarily the previous year.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
PREVIOUSYEAR
The PREVIOUSYEAR function is specifically designed to return a table of dates for the previous year relative to the current context in the filter context. It is the most direct and appropriate DAX function for calculating total amount from the previous year when working with a standard calendar date column.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
DATEADD
Why it's wrong here
Shifts dates by an interval.
PARALLELPERIOD
Why it's wrong here
Returns a full period parallel.
PREVIOUSYEAR
Why this is correct
Returns the previous calendar year.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR
Why it's wrong here
Returns dates shifted by one year, not necessarily the previous year.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse PREVIOUSYEAR with SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR, not realizing that SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR shifts the exact date range (e.g., same month last year) rather than returning the entire previous year.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, PREVIOUSYEAR works by taking all dates in the current filter context and returning the set of dates that fall in the prior calendar year, automatically handling year boundaries and leap years. A subtle behavior is that it requires a continuous date table marked as a date table; otherwise, it may return incorrect results. In a real-world scenario, if you need a year-over-year comparison of total sales, PREVIOUSYEAR is the most straightforward choice, whereas SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR would be used for month-over-month comparisons.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Model the data — This question tests Model the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: PREVIOUSYEAR — The PREVIOUSYEAR function is specifically designed to return a table of dates for the previous year relative to the current context in the filter context. It is the most direct and appropriate DAX function for calculating total amount from the previous year when working with a standard calendar date column.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
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