If you’re looking to become a certified Power BI expert, the Microsoft Certified: Power BI certification (PL-300) is a great way to showcase your skills and knowledge. This exam is designed for professionals who work with data models, reports, and dashboards in Power BI, and who want to validate their expertise in this area.
Here’s what you need to know about the Microsoft Certified: Power BI exam (PL-300):
Exam Overview
The PL-300 exam consists of 40-60 multiple-choice questions, and you have 150 minutes to complete it. The exam covers a range of topics related to Power BI, including data modeling, data preparation, visualization, and collaboration.
To prepare for the exam, Microsoft recommends that you have at least two years of experience working with Power BI and a good understanding of key concepts and tools in the platform.
Exam Objectives
The PL-300 exam covers four main areas:
- Power BI architecture and deployment: This includes topics such as understanding the Power BI service, deploying and configuring Power BI, and managing data sources.
- Data preparation: This includes topics such as data modeling, data transformation, and data loading.
- Data modeling and visualization: This includes topics such as creating and managing data models, creating visualizations and reports, and working with Power BI Desktop.
- Collaboration and sharing: This includes topics such as sharing and collaborating on reports and dashboards, creating and managing workspaces, and managing Power BI Premium.
Exam Preparation
To prepare for the PL-300 exam, Microsoft offers a range of resources, including online courses, certification exams, and study guides. Here are a few resources to get you started:
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft offers a range of online courses and tutorials on Power BI, including courses on data modeling, data visualization, and report authoring. These courses are free and can be accessed online.
- Exam Study Guide: Microsoft also offers an official exam study guide for the PL-300 exam. This guide includes information on the exam objectives, sample questions, and study resources.
- Practice Tests: Practice tests are a great way to prepare for the exam and get a sense of the types of questions you may encounter. Microsoft offers a range of practice tests for the PL-300 exam, including free and paid options.
Exam Cost and Certification
The PL-300 exam costs $165 USD per attempt, and you can take the exam online or at a testing center. If you pass the exam, you will receive the Microsoft Certified: Power BI certification, which is valid for two years. To maintain your certification, you will need to pass a renewal exam or participate in Microsoft’s Continuing Professional Education program.
Overall, the Microsoft Certified: Power BI exam (PL-300) is a great way to validate your skills and knowledge in Power BI and demonstrate your expertise to potential employers. With the right preparation and study resources, you can pass the exam and become a certified Power BI expert.
Here are 10 sample multiple-choice questions written by Ernesto.Net with the correct answer marked with a star:
- Which of the following is a best practice for designing Power BI reports and visualizations?
A. Using as many colors and fonts as possible to make the report visually appealing
B. Including all available data in the report, regardless of its relevance
C. Using consistent formatting and layout to make the report easy to read and understand
D. Embedding external content such as videos and images in the report
*Answer: C
2. Which of the following is a type of data transformation that can be performed in Power Query?
A. Sorting
B. Filtering
C. Joining
D. All of the above
*Answer: D
3. Which of the following is a key benefit of using Power BI Premium over Power BI Pro?
A. Lower pricing
B. Access to all Power BI features and capabilities
C. Better performance and scalability
D. None of the above
*Answer: C
4. What is the purpose of a calculated column in Power BI?
A. To aggregate data in a table
B. To filter data in a table
C. To perform calculations on data in a table
D. To sort data in a table
*Answer: C
5. Which of the following is a common use case for DAX?
A. Creating calculated columns
B. Filtering data
C. Joining tables
D. Creating visualizations
*Answer: A
6. Which of the following is a best practice for sharing and collaborating on Power BI reports and dashboards?
A. Sharing reports with as many people as possible to get feedback
B. Using workspaces to organize content and control access
C. Sharing reports as PDF files to ensure compatibility
D. Embedding reports in external websites and applications
*Answer: B
7. What is the purpose of a relationship between tables in Power BI?
A. To combine data from two or more tables into a single visualization
B. To aggregate data from multiple tables into a single table
C. To join tables based on a common field or column
D. To create a hierarchy between tables
*Answer: C
8. Which of the following is a common use case for Power BI Embedded?
A. Embedding reports and dashboards in external websites and applications
B. Automating workflows and data integration using Power Automate
C. Creating custom data visualizations using Power BI Desktop
D. None of the above
*Answer: A
9. What is the purpose of Power Automate in relation to Power BI?
A. To automate workflows and data integration with Power BI
B. To create custom data visualizations using Power BI Desktop
C. To manage data sources and connections in Power BI
D. None of the above
*Answer: A
10. What is the purpose of the Power BI API?
A. To programmatically interact with the Power BI service
B. To manage data sources and connections in Power BI
C. To create custom data visualizations using Power BI Desktop
D. None of the above
*Answer: A