PL-300 exam format: questions, score and cost

PL-300 gives you 100 minutes, requires a scaled score of 700 out of 1000 to pass, and is priced per country at the booking step. Microsoft does not publish the number of questions. Here is everything else it publishes, and what it means for your preparation.

The four domains

The first three domains are equal in weight and together make up the large majority of the exam. Manage and secure Power BI is the smallest, but 15–20% is still a substantial block of questions, and they are some of the most predictable: workspace roles, apps, gateways, scheduled refresh and row-level security.

Because the weights are ranges, you cannot calculate exactly how many questions come from each area. Treat them as proportions. A candidate who is excellent at report design but cannot write a CALCULATE expression or reason about a relationship is giving away a third of the exam.

The April 2026 update

Microsoft revised the skills outline on April 20, 2026. Its change log marks the four domain headings as unchanged. Three sub-sections changed, each labelled “minor”: getting or connecting to data, enhancing reports for usability and storytelling, and creating and managing workspaces and assets. The current outline mentions choosing between Direct Lake, DirectQuery and Import, Copilot features in reports, visual calculations, and DAX query view. If you studied from material written for an earlier version, check it against the current list objective by objective.

The English version is always updated first. Localised versions follow roughly eight weeks later, so a candidate in another language shortly after an update may still get the previous outline.

The practice assessment is available

PL-300 has a free official practice assessment on Microsoft Learn. Use it once early to find your weakest domain, and once late to confirm you are ready. It shows the wording and difficulty of real questions, not their exact format. The exam sandbox is worth ten minutes too: it shows the interface and question types without testing content.

Question types

Expect the usual Microsoft mix:

• Single-answer and multiple-answer multiple choice
• Drag-and-drop ordering, for example the order of Power Query steps
• Dropdown completion of a DAX expression
• Yes/no statement series about one scenario, where you usually cannot go back once answered
• Case studies with several questions sharing one long scenario, which may include model diagrams and sample tables

Microsoft notes that the exam “may have interactive components”. Bring practice with reading a model diagram, a Power Query step list and a short DAX measure quickly.

The passing score is scaled

700 of 1000 is not 70% correct. Microsoft scales scores and weights questions differently, and does not publish the conversion. Aim for a consistent 80% or more on realistic practice material rather than trying to compute a margin.

Time management

100 minutes is enough if you do not get stuck. The case study is the main risk: a long scenario with several tables and requirements takes time to read once and is easy to reread too often. Read the requirements first, then the data description, and answer what you can from the model diagram. Move on from any single item after a couple of minutes.

Preview features

Most questions cover generally available features, but Microsoft states that preview features may appear when they are commonly used. Power BI changes monthly, so check the current documentation rather than old blog posts, especially for Copilot, visual calculations and Direct Lake.

Languages and extra time

PL-300 is offered in ten languages. If the exam is not available in your preferred language, you can request an additional 30 minutes. Arrange that before you book.

Retakes and renewal

If you fail, you can retake after 24 hours. Later attempts need 14 days between them, with at most five attempts in 12 months, under Microsoft’s retake policy. Once you pass, the certification is valid for 12 months and renews through a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn. Microsoft also recommends scheduling with a personal Microsoft account rather than a work account, because exam records tied to a work account are lost if you leave the organisation.

For the day itself, see the exam day guide, and for the full picture of fees see certification costs.