The answer is that the DateTable is not related to the fact table. This is the most likely cause because a slicer on the Year column can only filter data when an active relationship exists between the date table and the fact table; without it, the slicer cannot cross-filter the fact table, so Power BI defaults to showing only the current year—often 2024—or the first year in the date table. On the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst PL-300 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of model relationships and how slicers depend on them to propagate filters, a common trap where candidates overlook the need for a one-to-many relationship from DateTable[Date] to FactTable[Date]. If you encounter a date table slicer that shows only one year, always check the relationship first. Memory tip: No link, no filter—just the current year.
PL-300 Prepare the data Practice Question
This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of prepare the data. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
// DAX calculated table definition
DateTable =
VAR StartDate = DATE(2020,1,1)
VAR EndDate = DATE(2025,12,31)
RETURN
ADDCOLUMNS(
CALENDAR(StartDate, EndDate),
"Year", YEAR([Date]),
"Month", FORMAT([Date], "MMMM"),
"MonthNumber", MONTH([Date])
)
You are reviewing the DAX expression above. The DateTable is supposed to have a continuous date range from 2020 to 2025. However, when you use the Year column in a slicer, the data shows only 2024 values. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The DateTable is not related to the fact table.
Option C is correct because the slicer showing only 2024 values indicates that the DateTable is not related to the fact table. Without an active relationship, the slicer on the Year column cannot filter the fact table, so it defaults to showing only the current year (2024) or the first year in the DateTable. A proper relationship (e.g., one-to-many from DateTable[Date] to FactTable[Date]) is required for cross-filtering to work.
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.
✗
The ADDCOLUMNS function is not supported.
Why it's wrong here
ADDCOLUMNS is supported.
✗
The DAX syntax for CALENDAR is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
CALENDAR is used correctly.
✓
The DateTable is not related to the fact table.
Why this is correct
Without a relationship, the slicer shows only dates present in both tables.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The DateTable has too many rows.
Why it's wrong here
Number of rows does not cause this issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a slicer showing only one year is due to a data or syntax error, rather than recognizing it as a classic symptom of a missing or broken relationship between the date table and the fact table.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Power BI uses active relationships to propagate filters between tables. If the DateTable lacks a relationship to the fact table, the slicer filters only the DateTable itself, not the fact table, so measures referencing the fact table return unfiltered results (often defaulting to the current year). A common real-world scenario is when a date table is created but not marked as a date table or linked via a relationship, leading to misleading slicer behavior.
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: The DateTable is not related to the fact table. — Option C is correct because the slicer showing only 2024 values indicates that the DateTable is not related to the fact table. Without an active relationship, the slicer on the Year column cannot filter the fact table, so it defaults to showing only the current year (2024) or the first year in the DateTable. A proper relationship (e.g., one-to-many from DateTable[Date] to FactTable[Date]) is required for cross-filtering to work.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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