Study guide for Exam PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst
Purpose of this document
This study guide should help you understand what to expect on the exam and includes a summary of the topics the exam might cover and links to additional resources. The information and materials in this document should help you focus your studies as you prepare for the exam.
| Useful links | Description |
|---|---|
| Review the skills measured as of April 23, 2024 | This list represents the skills measured AFTER the date provided. Study this list if you plan to take the exam AFTER that date. |
| Review the skills measured prior to April 23, 2024 | Study this list of skills if you take your exam PRIOR to the date provided. |
| Change log | You can go directly to the change log if you want to see the changes that will be made on the date provided. |
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| Exam scoring and score reports | A score of 700 or greater is required to pass. |
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| Take a free Practice Assessment | Test your skills with practice questions to help you prepare for the exam. |
Updates to the exam
Our exams are updated periodically to reflect skills that are required to perform a role. We have included two versions of the Skills Measured objectives depending on when you are taking the exam.
We always update the English language version of the exam first. Some exams are localized into other languages, and those are updated approximately eight weeks after the English version is updated. Although Microsoft makes every effort to update localized versions as noted, there may be times when the localized versions of an exam are not updated on this schedule. Other available languages are listed in the Schedule Exam section of the Exam Details webpage. If the exam isn't available in your preferred language, you can request an additional 30 minutes to complete the exam.
Note
The bullets that follow each of the skills measured are intended to illustrate how we are assessing that skill. Related topics may be covered in the exam.
Note
Most questions cover features that are general availability (GA). The exam may contain questions on Preview features if those features are commonly used.
Skills measured as of April 23, 2024
Audience profile
As a candidate for this exam, you should deliver actionable insights by working with available data and applying domain expertise. You should:
Provide meaningful business value through easy-to-comprehend data visualizations.
Enable others to perform self-service analytics.
Deploy and configure solutions for consumption.
As a Power BI data analyst, you work closely with business stakeholders to identify business requirements. You collaborate with enterprise data analysts and data engineers to identify and acquire data. You use Power BI to:
Transform the data.
Create data models.
Visualize data.
Share assets.
You should be proficient at using Power Query and writing expressions by using Data Analysis Expressions (DAX). You know how to assess data quality. Plus, you understand data security, including row-level security and data sensitivity.
Skills at a glance
Prepare the data (25–30%)
Model the data (25–30%)
Visualize and analyze the data (25–30%)
Deploy and maintain items (15–20%)
Prepare the data (25–30%)
Get data from data sources
Identify and connect to a data source
Change data source settings, including credentials, privacy levels, and data source locations
Select a shared semantic model, or create a local data model
Choose between DirectQuery, Import, and Dual mode
Change the value in a parameter
Clean the data
Evaluate data, including data statistics and column properties
Resolve inconsistencies, unexpected or null values, and data quality issues
Resolve data import errors
Transform and load the data
Select appropriate column data types
Create and transform columns
Transform a query
Design a star schema that contains facts and dimensions
Identify when to use reference or duplicate queries and the resulting impact
Merge and append queries
Identify and create appropriate keys for relationships
Configure data loading for queries
Model the data (25–30%)
Design and implement a data model
Configure table and column properties
Implement role-playing dimensions
Define a relationship's cardinality and cross-filter direction
Create a common date table
Implement row-level security roles
Create model calculations by using DAX
Create single aggregation measures
Use CALCULATE to manipulate filters
Implement time intelligence measures
Identify implicit measures and replace with explicit measures
Use basic statistical functions
Create semi-additive measures
Create a measure by using quick measures
Create calculated tables
Optimize model performance
Improve performance by identifying and removing unnecessary rows and columns
Identify poorly performing measures, relationships, and visuals by using Performance Analyzer
Improve performance by choosing optimal data types
Improve performance by summarizing data
Visualize and analyze the data (25–30%)
Create reports
Identify and implement appropriate visualizations
Format and configure visualizations
Use a custom visual
Apply and customize a theme
Configure conditional formatting
Apply slicing and filtering
Configure the report page
Use the Analyze in Excel feature
Choose when to use a paginated report
Enhance reports for usability and storytelling
Configure bookmarks
Create custom tooltips
Edit and configure interactions between visuals
Configure navigation for a report
Apply sorting
Configure sync slicers
Group and layer visuals by using the Selection pane
Drill down into data using interactive visuals
Configure export of report content, and perform an export
Design reports for mobile devices
Enable personalized visuals in a report
Design and configure Power BI reports for accessibility
Identify patterns and trends
Use the Analyze feature in Power BI
Use grouping, binning, and clustering
Incorporate the Q&A feature in a report
Use AI visuals
Use reference lines, error bars, and forecasting
Detect outliers and anomalies
Create and share scorecards and metrics
Deploy and maintain items (15–20%)
Create and manage workspaces and items
Create and configure a workspace
Assign workspace roles
Configure and update a workspace app
Publish, import, or update items in a workspace
Create dashboards
Choose a distribution method
Apply sensitivity labels to workspace content
Configure subscriptions and data alerts
Promote or certify Power BI content
Manage global options for files
Manage semantic models
Identify when a gateway is required
Configure a semantic model scheduled refresh
Configure row-level security group membership
Provide access to semantic models
Configure automatic page refresh
Study resources
We recommend that you train and get hands-on experience before you take the exam. We offer self-study options and classroom training as well as links to documentation, community sites, and videos.
| Study resources | Links to learning and documentation |
|---|---|
| Get trained | Choose from self-paced learning paths and modules or take an instructor-led course |
| Find documentation | Power BI documentation Microsoft Power Apps documentation |
| Ask a question | Microsoft Q&A | Microsoft Docs |
| Get community support | Power Apps - Power Platform Community Power Query - Power Platform Community Building Power Apps - Power Platform Community |
| Follow Microsoft Learn | Microsoft Learn - Microsoft Tech Community |
| Find a video | Exam Readiness Zone | Microsoft Learn #LessCodeMorePower | Shows Browse other Microsoft Learn shows |
Change log
Key to understanding the table: The topic groups (also known as functional groups) are in bold typeface followed by the objectives within each group. The table is a comparison between the two versions of the exam skills measured and the third column describes the extent of the changes.
| Skill area prior to April 23, 2024 | Skill area as of April 23, 2024 | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Audience profile | No change | |
| Prepare the data | Prepare the data | No change |
| Get data from data sources | Get data from data sources | No change |
| Clean the data | Clean the data | No change |
| Transform and load the data | Transform and load the data | No change |
| Model the data | Model the data | No change |
| Design and implement a data model | Design and implement a data model | No change |
| Create model calculations by using DAX | Create model calculations by using DAX | No change |
| Optimize model performance | Optimize model performance | No change |
| Visualize and analyze the data | Visualize and analyze the data | No change |
| Create reports | Create reports | No change |
| Enhance reports for usability and storytelling | Enhance reports for usability and storytelling | Major |
| Identify patterns and trends | Identify patterns and trends | No change |
| Deploy and maintain items | Deploy and maintain items | No change |
| Create and manage workspaces and items | Create and manage workspaces and items | No change |
| Manage semantic models | Manage semantic models | Minor |
Skills measured prior to April 23, 2024
Audience profile
As a candidate for this exam, you should deliver actionable insights by working with available data and applying domain expertise. You should:
Provide meaningful business value through easy-to-comprehend data visualizations.
Enable others to perform self-service analytics.
Deploy and configure solutions for consumption.
As a Power BI data analyst, you work closely with business stakeholders to identify business requirements. You collaborate with enterprise data analysts and data engineers to identify and acquire data. You use Power BI to:
Transform the data.
Create data models.
Visualize data.
Share assets.
You should be proficient at using Power Query and writing expressions by using Data Analysis Expressions (DAX). You know how to assess data quality. Plus, you understand data security, including row-level security and data sensitivity.
Skills at a glance
Prepare the data (25–30%)
Model the data (25–30%)
Visualize and analyze the data (25–30%)
Deploy and maintain items (15–20%)
Prepare the data (25–30%)
Get data from data sources
Identify and connect to a data source
Change data source settings, including credentials, privacy levels, and data source locations
Select a shared semantic model, or create a local data model
Choose between DirectQuery, Import, and Dual mode
Change the value in a parameter
Clean the data
Evaluate data, including data statistics and column properties
Resolve inconsistencies, unexpected or null values, and data quality issues
Resolve data import errors
Transform and load the data
Select appropriate column data types
Create and transform columns
Transform a query
Design a star schema that contains facts and dimensions
Identify when to use reference or duplicate queries and the resulting impact
Merge and append queries
Identify and create appropriate keys for relationships
Configure data loading for queries
Model the data (25–30%)
Design and implement a data model
Configure table and column properties
Implement role-playing dimensions
Define a relationship's cardinality and cross-filter direction
Create a common date table
Implement row-level security roles
Create model calculations by using DAX
Create single aggregation measures
Use CALCULATE to manipulate filters
Implement time intelligence measures
Identify implicit measures and replace with explicit measures
Use basic statistical functions
Create semi-additive measures
Create a measure by using quick measures
Create calculated tables
Optimize model performance
Improve performance by identifying and removing unnecessary rows and columns
Identify poorly performing measures, relationships, and visuals by using Performance Analyzer
Improve performance by choosing optimal data types
Improve performance by summarizing data
Visualize and analyze the data (25–30%)
Create reports
Identify and implement appropriate visualizations
Format and configure visualizations
Use a custom visual
Apply and customize a theme
Configure conditional formatting
Apply slicing and filtering
Configure the report page
Use the Analyze in Excel feature
Choose when to use a paginated report
Enhance reports for usability and storytelling
Configure bookmarks
Create custom tooltips
Edit and configure interactions between visuals
Configure navigation for a report
Apply sorting
Configure sync slicers
Group and layer visuals by using the Selection pane
Drill down into data using interactive visuals
Configure export of report content, and perform an export
Design reports for mobile devices
Identify patterns and trends
Use the Analyze feature in Power BI
Use grouping, binning, and clustering
Incorporate the Q&A feature in a report
Use AI visuals
Use reference lines, error bars, and forecasting
Detect outliers and anomalies
Create and share scorecards and metrics
Deploy and maintain items (15–20%)
Create and manage workspaces and items
Create and configure a workspace
Assign workspace roles
Configure and update a workspace app
Publish, import, or update items in a workspace
Create dashboards
Choose a distribution method
Apply sensitivity labels to workspace content
Configure subscriptions and data alerts
Promote or certify Power BI content
Manage global options for files
Manage semantic models
Identify when a gateway is required
Configure a semantic model scheduled refresh
Configure row-level security group membership
Provide access to semantic models