Microsoft tests

Microsoft has been testing and certifying people for decades. Over that time, the tests have evolved and become much more complex. Microsoft exams are not just multiple-choice questions. During your exam, you will be presented with different types of questions, depending on what Microsoft considers the best way to make certain you know the answer.

Microsoft does not deduct points for wrong answers. Make certain to answer every question, even if you are uncertain.

PL-300 is about 55 questions long and you are given 3 hours to take the exam. Plan on it taking 3½ hours, as there will be some prep before the test. There is also an optional survey at the end.

You will have to score 700 out of a possible 1,000 points to pass the exam.

Types of questions

Some of the types of questions you might face include the following:

• Multiple choice – These types will more than likely make up much of the PL-300 exam.
• Best answer – Perhaps my least favorite is this type of question. Much like multiple choice, but with the possibility that more than one answer will work and only one of the answers is “best.”
• Build list – These questions present you with a scenario, then a list of steps that can be used to solve the scenario. You drag the steps from one side of the screen to the other and place them in the correct order. Usually, not all of the presented steps are part of the solution. Do not worry if you have steps left over.
• Drag and drop – Much like the build list type, with drag and drop you will be presented with a scenario and a series of processes or technologies. You match the process or technology to an answer by dragging it from the list to where it matches. As with the build list, Microsoft often provides more answers than needed. You may see this in the DAX section, where you will have to drag DAX commands into the appropriate place in the script.
• Active screen – This type of question will present you with a scenario part of a user interface. You must complete actions to achieve the desired outcome as specified by the scenario. You may see this type of question during the administration part of the exam. You may be asked to make a selection in the Power BI admin user interface.

Knowledge needed to pass

Microsoft publishes a list of topics covered by the PL-300 exam, and what percentage of the overall grade each topic will be worth. As you are going through the list, you may notice that it tracks with the layout of this book. This was intentional. If Microsoft is going to provide us with an outline, we are more than pleased to use it.

Here is the current list of exam topics and what percentage of your overall grade they are worth:

• Prepare the Data (20-25%)
• Model the Data (25-30%)
• Visualize the Data (20-25%)
• Analyze the Data (10-15%)
• Deploy and Maintain Deliverables (10-15%)

You may notice from the table of contents that this book is broken down into sections that follow these topics in this order. That was intentional.