PL-900 Practice Question: Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Automate
A human resources manager wants to create a Power Automate cloud flow that runs every Monday at 9:00 AM to remind the team about timesheet submission. The flow should not depend on any external event. Which trigger should the manager use?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse event-driven triggers with scheduled triggers; a weekly reminder needs a time-based Recurrence trigger, not an event like a new email or list item.
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
✓
Recurrence
The Recurrence trigger is designed for flows that must run at regular intervals, such as daily, weekly, or monthly. By setting it to repeat every week on Monday at 9:00 AM, the HR manager creates a reliable, unattended reminder. Other triggers are event-driven and depend on external actions like receiving an email or creating a list item, which may not occur on the desired schedule. Recurrence ensures the flow runs regardless of external activity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Recurrence
Why this is correct
The Recurrence trigger starts a flow on a defined schedule, such as every Monday at 9:00 AM. It is independent of external events and is ideal for periodic tasks like weekly reminders. By configuring the frequency, interval, and start time, the HR manager ensures the flow runs consistently each week without needing any other trigger condition.
- ✗
Manually trigger a flow
Why it's wrong here
This trigger requires a user to manually start the flow, for example by clicking a button in Power Automate or a mobile app. It does not run automatically on a schedule. The HR manager would have to remember to trigger it every Monday, defeating the purpose of an automated reminder. A scheduled trigger is necessary for unattended, time-based execution.
- ✗
When an item is created – SharePoint
Why it's wrong here
This trigger fires when a new item is added to a SharePoint list. It is event-driven and unrelated to time schedules. Unless someone creates a list item every Monday, the flow will not run. It cannot enforce a weekly cadence on its own. The requirement is for a time-based reminder, so a Recurrence trigger is the appropriate choice, not a SharePoint list trigger.
- ✗
When a new email arrives (V3) – Office 365 Outlook
Why it's wrong here
This trigger fires only when a new email is received in the specified mailbox. It is event-driven and does not run on a schedule. If no email arrives, the flow never runs, so it cannot reliably send a Monday morning reminder. The HR manager needs a time-based trigger, not an email-based one, to ensure the reminder is sent weekly regardless of inbox activity.
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Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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