PL-300 cheat sheet

Exam at a glance

Domain weightings

How much of the exam each domain covers. Spend your study time in proportion — the heavier the domain, the more questions you'll see.

Key terms

Power BI

Power BI is Microsoft's business-analytics platform for preparing, modeling, visualizing, and sharing data. PL-300 covers the full analyst workflow across its four domains.

Power Query

Power Query is the Power BI data-connection and transformation engine used to get, clean, and shape data. PL-300 covers Power Query in the prepare-the-data domain.

DAX

DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is the formula language for creating measures and calculated columns in Power BI models. PL-300 requires proficiency with DAX for model calculations.

Measure

A measure is a DAX calculation evaluated in the context of a report, such as a sum or time-intelligence value. PL-300 covers creating aggregation, time-intelligence, and semi-additive measures.

CALCULATE

CALCULATE is a core DAX function that evaluates an expression in a modified filter context. PL-300 covers using CALCULATE as a foundation for advanced measures.

Semantic model

A semantic model (formerly dataset) is the Power BI data model of tables, relationships, and measures that reports query. PL-300 covers designing, optimizing, and securing semantic models.

Star schema

A star schema is a data-modeling pattern with central fact tables related to surrounding dimension tables. PL-300 covers building fact and dimension tables and modeling relationships.

Relationship

A relationship connects tables in a Power BI model by matching keys, with a cardinality and cross-filter direction. PL-300 covers defining relationships and role-playing dimensions.

DirectQuery

DirectQuery is a Power BI storage mode that queries the source at report time instead of importing data. PL-300 covers choosing between DirectLake, DirectQuery, and Import.

Import mode

Import mode is a Power BI storage mode that loads a copy of the data into the model for fast queries. PL-300 covers it alongside DirectQuery and DirectLake in the prepare-the-data domain.

Row-level security

Row-level security (RLS) restricts which rows a user can see in a Power BI report based on their identity or role. PL-300 covers implementing RLS roles and group membership.

Sensitivity label

A sensitivity label is a Microsoft Purview classification applied to Power BI content to enforce protection and compliance. PL-300 covers applying sensitivity labels in the manage-and-secure domain.

Copilot in Power BI

Copilot in Power BI is an AI assistant that generates report pages, narrative visuals, and semantic-model summaries from natural language. PL-300 covers using Copilot in the visualize-and-analyze domain.