The correct answer is D, which sums Amount filtered by ShipDate. This is because the measure TotalShipments uses CALCULATE to apply a filter on the ShipDate column, but the active relationship in the model connects OrderDate to Date. Since the filter context targets ShipDate, Power BI must traverse the inactive relationship between ShipDate and Date to evaluate the measure correctly, effectively calculating total shipment amounts based on the actual ship date rather than the order date. On the PL-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of inactive relationships and how USERELATIONSHIP overrides the default active path—a common trap is assuming the active relationship always governs the filter, when in fact CALCULATE can switch to an inactive one. Remember the memory tip: “Active for orders, inactive for ships—CALCULATE flips the relationship chips.”
PL-300 Model the data Practice Question
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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Sales table: OrderDate, ShipDate, Amount
Calendar table: Date
Relationship: Sales[OrderDate] -> Calendar[Date] (active), Sales[ShipDate] -> Calendar[Date] (inactive)
DAX measure:
TotalShipments = CALCULATE(SUM(Sales[Amount]), USERELATIONSHIP(Sales[ShipDate], Calendar[Date]))
Refer to the exhibit. You have the model shown. The active relationship is between OrderDate and Date. You create the measure TotalShipments. What does this measure calculate?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Sum of Amount filtered by ShipDate
The measure TotalShipments uses the active relationship between OrderDate and Date, but the CALCULATE function or filter context in the measure applies a filter on ShipDate. Because the active relationship is based on OrderDate, any filter on ShipDate requires the measure to use the inactive relationship (via USERELATIONSHIP or by default crossing the active relationship). The correct answer is D because the measure sums Amount filtered by ShipDate, leveraging the inactive relationship to evaluate shipments based on their actual ship 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.
✗
Sum of Amount where ShipDate is not blank
Why it's wrong here
That is not what USERELATIONSHIP does.
✗
Sum of all Amount regardless of date
Why it's wrong here
The relationship still filters.
✗
Sum of Amount filtered by OrderDate
Why it's wrong here
USERELATIONSHIP overrides the active relationship.
✓
Sum of Amount filtered by ShipDate
Why this is correct
USERELATIONSHIP activates the ShipDate relationship.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the active relationship (OrderDate) is always used, but the measure explicitly filters by ShipDate, which requires using the inactive relationship, and many mistakenly think the measure sums all Amount or filters by OrderDate instead.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Power BI, when a measure references a column from a table that has multiple relationships to the date table, the active relationship is used by default. To use an inactive relationship, you must explicitly invoke USERELATIONSHIP in a CALCULATE modifier. In this scenario, the measure likely uses CALCULATE(SUM(Amount), USERELATIONSHIP(ShipDate, Date)) to filter by ShipDate, overriding the active OrderDate relationship. This is common in models where both order and ship dates need to be analyzed independently, and without USERELATIONSHIP, the filter would propagate via the active relationship, yielding incorrect results.
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.
Model the data — This question tests Model the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Sum of Amount filtered by ShipDate — The measure TotalShipments uses the active relationship between OrderDate and Date, but the CALCULATE function or filter context in the measure applies a filter on ShipDate. Because the active relationship is based on OrderDate, any filter on ShipDate requires the measure to use the inactive relationship (via USERELATIONSHIP or by default crossing the active relationship). The correct answer is D because the measure sums Amount filtered by ShipDate, leveraging the inactive relationship to evaluate shipments based on their actual ship 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.
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Question Discussion
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