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 from an on-premises SQL Server database for a Power BI report. The source table contains 10 million rows and you only need the last 3 months of data. Which approach minimizes the data load time and memory consumption in the dataset?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a SQL query in Power Query that includes a WHERE clause to filter the last 3 months.
Option B is correct because query folding ensures that the filter is pushed to the source database, reducing the amount of data transferred. Option A is wrong because loading all data and then filtering in Power Query still transfers the full dataset. Option C is wrong because it still imports all data. Option D is wrong because importing all data and using a filter on the report is less efficient.
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.
✗
Use Power Query to group by month and then filter after aggregation.
Why it's wrong here
Grouping still requires loading all data first, and aggregation may not preserve row-level details.
✓
Use a SQL query in Power Query that includes a WHERE clause to filter the last 3 months.
Why this is correct
This enables query folding, pushing the filter to the source.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Load all data into Power Query and apply a filter on the date column using the 'Remove Rows' feature.
Why it's wrong here
This still loads all data into Power Query before filtering, which is inefficient.
✗
Load all data into Power BI and then use a report-level filter to show only the last 3 months.
Why it's wrong here
This imports all data into the model, increasing memory usage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 PL-300 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Use a SQL query in Power Query that includes a WHERE clause to filter the last 3 months. — Option B is correct because query folding ensures that the filter is pushed to the source database, reducing the amount of data transferred. Option A is wrong because loading all data and then filtering in Power Query still transfers the full dataset. Option C is wrong because it still imports all data. Option D is wrong because importing all data and using a filter on the report is less efficient.
What should I do if I get this PL-300 question wrong?
Identify which PL-300 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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