Microsoft · PL-300 · Associate
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300) — Practice Questions and Mock Exam
Practice real PL-300 questions, never dumps. Alex explains every answer, and your readiness score tells you when you're ready to pass.
Checked against Microsoft · July 2026Current exam version
Overview
About the exam
The PL-300 certification validates skills in preparing, modeling, visualizing, and analyzing data using Microsoft Power BI. It covers connecting to data sources, transforming data with Power Query, designing data models and DAX measures, creating interactive reports and dashboards, and managing workspaces and datasets. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in delivering actionable business insights through compelling data visualizations.
This certification is designed for data analysts who use Power BI to enable organizations to make data-driven decisions. Candidates should have experience with data preparation, data modeling, and visualization, along with proficiency in DAX, Power Query M, and Power BI Service for publishing and sharing reports with stakeholders.
Exam Domains
What's on the exam
The exam consists of 40–60 questions to be completed in approximately 100 minutes (100 minutes if labs are included). Question types include multiple-choice, multiple-select, drag-and-drop, and hot area formats. Questions are scenario-based, often presenting data modeling challenges, DAX calculation requirements, or visualization design decisions. Expect questions that test Power Query transformations, relationship configurations, and report optimization.
Get or connect to data, profile and clean the data, and transform and load the data
Design and implement a data model, create model calculations by using DAX, and optimize model performance
Create reports, enhance reports for usability and storytelling, and identify patterns and trends
Create and manage workspaces and assets, and secure and govern Power BI items
SourceMicrosoft study guide
Format
What to expect
Watch out
Where candidates struggle
This exam tests both data modeling and DAX skills in depth. Candidates who are comfortable building basic reports but lack experience with star schemas, complex DAX measures, and performance optimization often struggle.
- 01DAX Calculations — Struggling with CALCULATE filter context, iterator functions, time intelligence, and complex measure patterns in DAX.
- 02Data Modeling — Not properly implementing star schema designs, managing many-to-many relationships, and understanding cross-filter direction.
- 03Power Query M — Overlooking advanced Power Query transformations, custom functions, and query folding optimization for large datasets.
- 04Row-Level Security — Confusing RLS dynamic rules, testing procedures, and how security roles interact with workspace membership.
- 05Report Optimization — Not understanding Import vs DirectQuery modes, aggregations, and performance analyzer for optimizing report load times.
Details
Exam logistics
Delivered via Pearson VUE online or at testing centers. Available in English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, and more. The certification is valid for 1 year with a free renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn.
SourceMicrosoft exam page
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