This post is a part of the PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Exam Prep Hub; and this topic falls under these sections:
Model the data (25–30%)
   --> Design and implement a data model
      --> Identify Use Cases for Calculated Columns and Calculated Tables

Below are 10 practice questions (with answers and explanations) for this topic of the exam.
There are also 2 practice tests for the PL-300 exam with 60 questions each (with answers) available on the hub.

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Practice Questions

Question 1

You need to concatenate First Name and Last Name for use in a slicer. Which solution is most appropriate?

A. Measure
B. Calculated column
C. Calculated table
D. Power Query parameter

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:
Slicers require columns, not measures. A calculated column performs row-level logic and is evaluated at refresh.

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Question 2

A calculation must respond dynamically to report filters and slicers. Which option should you choose?

A. Calculated column
B. Calculated table
C. Measure
D. Power Query step

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Measures are evaluated at query time and respond to filter context, unlike calculated columns or tables.

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Question 3

You need to create a reusable calendar table using DAX. Which object should you create?

A. Measure
B. Calculated column
C. Calculated table
D. Power Query column

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Calculated tables return entire tables and are commonly used to create date dimensions.

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Question 4

Which scenario is best suited for a calculated column rather than a measure?

A. Total sales
B. Year-to-date revenue
C. Product price category
D. Average discount rate

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Categorizing each row (e.g., Low / Medium / High) is a row-level operation, making a calculated column appropriate.

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Question 5

Why should calculated columns be used sparingly?

A. They don’t support DAX
B. They increase model size
C. They can’t be sorted
D. They break relationships

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:
Calculated columns are stored in the model, increasing memory usage and refresh time.

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Question 6

Which scenario most strongly indicates a calculated table?

A. Creating a dynamic ranking
B. Generating a disconnected slicer table
C. Summing sales by category
D. Calculating profit margin

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:
Disconnected slicers and parameter tables are common use cases for calculated tables.

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Question 7

A user expects a calculated column to change when a slicer is applied. Why does this not happen?

A. Calculated columns use row context
B. Calculated columns require USERELATIONSHIP
C. Calculated columns evaluate at refresh
D. Calculated columns cannot reference measures

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Calculated columns are computed during data refresh and do not respond to filter context.

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Question 8

Which option is NOT an appropriate use of a calculated table?

A. Creating a bridge table
B. Creating a what-if parameter
C. Creating a static lookup table
D. Creating a dynamic aggregation

✅ Correct Answer: D

Explanation:
Dynamic aggregations should be handled by measures, not calculated tables.

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Question 9

You need a column to sort month names chronologically. What should you create?

A. Measure
B. Calculated column
C. Calculated table
D. Aggregation table

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:
Sorting requires a column. A calculated column (e.g., MonthNumber) supports Sort by Column.

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Question 10

Which modeling decision best improves performance?

A. Replacing measures with calculated columns
B. Using calculated tables for all dimensions
C. Moving row-level logic to Power Query
D. Adding more calculated columns

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Power Query transformations occur before loading and do not increase DAX complexity or model memory usage.

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Final Exam Reminders 🧠

• Columns = row-level, static
• Tables = structure, relationships, parameters
• Measures = dynamic, aggregation
• Power Query = preferred for data shaping

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