This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of prepare 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.
Which TWO are valid ways to combine data from multiple sources in Power Query? (Choose two.)
Pivot Column.
Why wrong: Pivot transforms rows to columns.
Append Queries.
Combines tables by stacking rows.
Create relationships in the data model.
Why wrong: Relationships are in the data model, not Power Query.
Merge Queries.
Combines tables by matching columns.
Group By.
Why wrong: Group By aggregates rows, not combine tables.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Append Queries.
Option B is correct because the Append Queries operation in Power Query combines rows from two or more tables by stacking them vertically, which is a standard way to consolidate data from multiple sources when the columns are aligned. This is distinct from merging, which combines columns based on matching keys.
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.
Pivot Column.
Why it's wrong here
Pivot transforms rows to columns.
Append Queries.
Why this is correct
Combines tables by stacking rows.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Create relationships in the data model.
Why it's wrong here
Relationships are in the data model, not Power Query.
Merge Queries.
Why this is correct
Combines tables by matching columns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Group By.
Why it's wrong here
Group By aggregates rows, not combine tables.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'combining data from multiple sources' with 'creating relationships in the data model,' which is a separate step performed after data loading, not a Power Query transformation.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, Append Queries in Power Query generates a M language expression using Table.Combine, which performs a union-like operation that stacks rows from multiple tables, requiring matching column names and data types. Merge Queries uses Table.NestedJoin to perform left, right, full outer, or inner joins based on key columns, creating a new table with combined columns. In real-world scenarios, Append is ideal for combining monthly sales tables with identical schemas, while Merge is used to enrich a fact table with lookup data from a dimension table.
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
Prepare the data — This question tests Prepare the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Append Queries. — Option B is correct because the Append Queries operation in Power Query combines rows from two or more tables by stacking them vertically, which is a standard way to consolidate data from multiple sources when the columns are aligned. This is distinct from merging, which combines columns based on matching keys.
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
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