The correct choice is to split the column by delimiter using comma, then use Trim to remove extra spaces. This method is technically sound because Power Query’s Split Column by Delimiter function separates values at each comma, but it does not automatically handle inconsistent spacing—such as the space after the comma in 'John, Doe' versus no space in 'John,Doe'. Applying the Trim transformation afterward strips any leading or trailing whitespace from the resulting FirstName and LastName columns, ensuring clean, normalized data without manual cleanup. On the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst PL-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of data cleaning workflows in Power Query, specifically the order of operations: splitting first, then trimming. A common trap is assuming the split alone handles spacing, or choosing a split by number of characters, which would fail with variable name lengths. Remember the memory tip: “Split then trim—don’t let spaces sink your swim.” This two-step approach is a core pattern for handling real-world delimited data with messy formatting.
PL-300 Prepare the data Practice Question
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.
You are preparing data for a Power BI report. The source data contains a 'CustomerName' column with values like 'John, Doe'. You need to split this column into two columns: 'FirstName' and 'LastName'. The comma is used as a delimiter, but some names have a space after the comma. Which split method should you use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Split by delimiter using comma, then use 'Trim' to remove extra spaces
Option C is correct because splitting by comma and then trimming extra spaces handles the inconsistent spacing after the comma (e.g., 'John, Doe' vs 'John, Doe'). Power Query's 'Split Column by Delimiter' using comma will separate the values, and the subsequent 'Trim' step removes leading/trailing spaces from the resulting columns, ensuring clean 'FirstName' and 'LastName' values without manual cleanup.
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.
✗
Split by number of characters using a fixed width
Why it's wrong here
Fixed width is not appropriate because names vary.
✗
Split by delimiter using semicolon
Why it's wrong here
The delimiter is comma, not semicolon.
✓
Split by delimiter using comma, then use 'Trim' to remove extra spaces
Why this is correct
Splitting by comma and then trimming cleans the data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Split by delimiter using comma, using 'Left-most delimiter'
Why it's wrong here
Left-most delimiter would split only first comma, but there is only one comma.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think 'Left-most delimiter' or a simple split is sufficient, overlooking the need to trim extra spaces, which Power Query does not do automatically when splitting by delimiter.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Power Query (M language), the 'Split Column by Delimiter' operation uses the `Splitter.SplitTextByDelimiter` function, which by default does not trim spaces. The 'Trim' transformation applies `Text.Trim` to each cell, removing Unicode whitespace characters (U+0020 and others). This two-step approach is essential when source data has inconsistent formatting, such as CSV exports where spaces after delimiters are common. A real-world scenario is importing customer data from legacy systems where manual data entry introduced variable spacing.
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.
Prepare the data — This question tests Prepare the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Split by delimiter using comma, then use 'Trim' to remove extra spaces — Option C is correct because splitting by comma and then trimming extra spaces handles the inconsistent spacing after the comma (e.g., 'John, Doe' vs 'John, Doe'). Power Query's 'Split Column by Delimiter' using comma will separate the values, and the subsequent 'Trim' step removes leading/trailing spaces from the resulting columns, ensuring clean 'FirstName' and 'LastName' values without manual cleanup.
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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