PL-300 Prepare the data Practice Question
You need to combine data from two tables in Power Query that have the same columns but different row sets. Which operation should you use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse 'Merge Queries' (which adds columns) with 'Append Queries' (which adds rows), especially since the term 'Union' is commonly used in SQL but is not the exact Power Query operation name.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Append Queries
Append Queries is the correct operation in Power Query when you need to combine two tables with identical columns but different row sets. It stacks the rows from the second table beneath the rows from the first table, effectively performing a union of the data. This is distinct from Merge Queries, which joins columns based on a key, and Group By, which aggregates data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Union Queries
Why it's wrong here
Union Queries appends rows from tables with matching columns, which is exactly the requirement here, so it is not incorrect. Group By aggregates rows, and Merge Queries joins on matching keys; neither combines row sets with identical columns.
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Group By
Why it's wrong here
Group By aggregates rows into summary values using functions such as Sum or Count, so it collapses the two row sets rather than appending them. It is tempting when consolidating data, but the requirement is to stack identical columns, which Union Queries performs.
- ✓
Append Queries
Why this is correct
Append Queries is the correct operation. It stacks the rows from the second table beneath the rows from the first table, effectively performing a union of the data when both tables have the same columns.
- ✗
Merge Queries
Why it's wrong here
Merge Queries joins two tables horizontally on matching key columns, producing widened rows rather than appending the separate row sets. It is tempting because it combines tables, but the stem specifies identical columns and different rows, which Union Queries handles.
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