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
      --> Implement Role-Playing Dimensions

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

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Question 1

A Sales table contains OrderDate, ShipDate, and DeliveryDate. All three columns reference the same Date dimension. What is the recommended modeling approach?

A. Create one Date table and mark two relationships inactive
B. Use calculated columns to combine the dates
C. Duplicate the Date dimension for each role
D. Use USERELATIONSHIP in every measure

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Duplicating the Date dimension allows all relationships to remain active, avoids complex DAX, and creates a clearer and more intuitive model—this is the preferred PL-300 approach.

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Question 2

Why is using a single Date table with multiple inactive relationships generally discouraged?

A. It prevents refresh
B. It increases storage requirements
C. It requires explicit DAX to activate filters
D. It violates star schema rules

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Inactive relationships do not filter visuals automatically. Measures must use USERELATIONSHIP(), increasing complexity and risk of errors.

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Question 3

Which DAX function is required when using an inactive relationship?

A. CROSSFILTER
B. TREATAS
C. RELATED
D. USERELATIONSHIP

✅ Correct Answer: D

Explanation:
USERELATIONSHIP() temporarily activates an inactive relationship within a calculation.

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Question 4

A report user wants to analyze sales by both Order Date and Ship Date using slicers. What model design best supports this?

A. One Date table with calculated columns
B. One Date table with inactive relationships
C. Two duplicated Date dimension tables
D. A single Date table with bidirectional filtering

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Duplicated role-playing dimensions allow independent slicers that filter correctly without special DAX logic.

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Question 5

Which of the following is a common example of a role-playing dimension?

A. Product Category
B. Calendar Date
C. Fact table surrogate keys
D. Measure tables

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:
Date dimensions commonly play multiple roles such as Order Date, Ship Date, and Due Date.

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Question 6

What is the primary benefit of role-playing dimensions in a Power BI model?

A. Reduced data refresh time
B. Smaller model size
C. Improved filter clarity and usability
D. Automatic time intelligence

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Role-playing dimensions provide clear business meaning and ensure intuitive filtering behavior in reports.

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Question 7

Which action should be taken after duplicating a dimension table for a role-playing scenario?

A. Enable bidirectional filters
B. Rename the table to reflect its role
C. Disable data load
D. Hide all columns

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:
Renaming the table (e.g., Date – Order, Date – Ship) improves model readability and user understanding—important for exam and real-world models.

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Question 8

What is the impact of duplicating a dimension table on model performance?

A. Significant performance degradation
B. No change in filtering behavior
C. Slight increase in model size with minimal impact
D. Increased query execution time for all visuals

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Duplicated dimensions slightly increase model size but typically have negligible performance impact, especially compared to the benefits.

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Question 9

Which scenario most strongly indicates the need for role-playing dimensions?

A. A fact table with multiple numeric measures
B. A dimension table with many attributes
C. A fact table with multiple foreign keys to the same dimension
D. A model with many-to-many relationships

✅ Correct Answer: C

Explanation:
Multiple foreign keys pointing to the same dimension is the classic role-playing dimension scenario.

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Question 10

Which modeling choice is most likely to cause confusion for report consumers?

A. Duplicating dimensions with clear names
B. Using inactive relationships without explanation
C. Using a star schema
D. Hiding surrogate keys

✅ Correct Answer: B

Explanation:
Inactive relationships do not filter automatically and can lead to confusing or incorrect visuals if not carefully managed.

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Exam Tips for This Topic 🧠

• When in doubt, duplicate the dimension
• Avoid unnecessary USERELATIONSHIP() usage
• Look for questions involving multiple dates or roles
• Favor clarity and simplicity over clever DAX
• Think from a report consumer’s perspective

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