Quick Answer
The answer is removing columns, changing data types, and merging queries. These three actions are correct because the Power Query Editor serves as Power BI’s dedicated environment for data transformation and cleaning, where you reshape raw data before loading it into a model. Removing unnecessary columns reduces dataset size and improves performance, while changing data types ensures numeric, date, or text fields are correctly formatted for calculations and visualizations. Merging queries allows you to combine tables based on a common key, similar to a SQL JOIN, which is essential for building relational models. On the PL-900 exam, this question tests your understanding of Power Query’s role in the data preparation phase, often contrasting it with report-building actions like creating measures or visuals. A common trap is confusing Power Query transformations with DAX calculations—remember that Power Query handles row-level shaping, not aggregations. For a quick memory tip, think “Clean, Type, Combine” to recall the core actions of removing columns, changing data types, and merging queries.
This PL-900 practice question tests your understanding of demonstrate capabilities of power bi. 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.
Which THREE actions can be performed in the Power Query Editor?
Create measures
Why wrong: Measures are created in the report view using DAX.
Change data types
Power Query Editor allows changing data types.
Merge queries
Power Query Editor can merge queries.
Remove columns
Power Query Editor can remove columns.
Create relationships between tables
Why wrong: Relationships are created in the model view.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Change data types
Option B is correct because the Power Query Editor is specifically designed for data transformation and cleaning tasks. Changing data types (e.g., from text to number) is a fundamental transformation that ensures data is correctly formatted for analysis in Power BI.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Create measures
Why it's wrong here
Measures are created in the report view using DAX.
Change data types
Why this is correct
Power Query Editor allows changing data types.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Merge queries
Why this is correct
Power Query Editor can merge queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Remove columns
Why this is correct
Power Query Editor can remove columns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Create relationships between tables
Why it's wrong here
Relationships are created in the model view.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the Power Query Editor's data transformation role with the data modeling and DAX capabilities of Power BI Desktop, leading them to incorrectly select options like creating measures or relationships.
Detailed technical explanation
The Power Query Editor uses the M formula language to apply transformations like changing data types, merging queries (combining tables based on key columns), and removing columns. Under the hood, each transformation step is recorded as a sequential query step, allowing for non-destructive editing and easy refresh. In real-world scenarios, merging queries is critical for combining data from multiple sources (e.g., sales and customer tables) before loading into the data model.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Demonstrate capabilities of Power BI — This question tests Demonstrate capabilities of Power BI — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Change data types — Option B is correct because the Power Query Editor is specifically designed for data transformation and cleaning tasks. Changing data types (e.g., from text to number) is a fundamental transformation that ensures data is correctly formatted for analysis in Power BI.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A data analyst needs to combine data from two Excel tables that have a common column 'ProductID'. Which Power BI tool should they use?
mediumWhy B: Merge Queries is the correct tool because it combines two tables by matching rows based on a common column (ProductID), similar to a SQL JOIN. This allows the analyst to bring in additional columns from one table into the other, which is exactly what is needed when data from two Excel tables must be integrated on a shared key.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This PL-900 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PL-900 exam.
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