Ace Your Next BI Role: 70 Power BI Interview Questions You Must Know

If you’re preparing for a job interview in business intelligence or data analytics, mastering these 70 Power BI interview questions is essential. Power BI remains one of the most in-demand tools in the data visualization and analytics space. This guide walks you through beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level questions, including real-world use cases, technical deep-dives, and scenario-based assessments. Whether you’re a fresh graduate or a seasoned BI professional, this comprehensive list will help you showcase your Power BI skills confidently.

Introduction to Power BI Interview Preparation

Power BI has become a cornerstone for data-driven decision-making in companies across the globe. Interviewers often assess not only your theoretical knowledge but also your practical application of the tool. These 70 Power BI interview questions cover a wide range of topics—from DAX and data modeling to Power Query and dashboard design—ensuring you’re ready for any challenge.

Basic Power BI Interview Questions (1–20)

These questions are suitable for entry-level positions or for interview rounds that test foundational knowledge.

1. What is Power BI?

Power BI is a Microsoft-powered business intelligence tool that allows users to transform raw data into interactive dashboards and reports.

2. What are the major components of Power BI?

• Power BI Desktop
• Power BI Service (Cloud-based)
• Power BI Mobile Apps
• Power BI Gateway
• Power BI Report Server

3. What are Power Query and Power Pivot?

• Power Query is used for data transformation and cleansing.
• Power Pivot is used for data modeling and creating relationships.

4. Difference between Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service?

Power BI Desktop is used for creating reports, while Power BI Service is for sharing and collaborating on those reports online.

5. What is DAX?

DAX stands for Data Analysis Expressions and is used to create custom calculations.

6. What is the difference between a calculated column and a measure?

• Calculated columns are evaluated row by row.
• Measures are evaluated based on aggregation context.

7. What is a dashboard in Power BI?

A dashboard is a single-page view of your most important metrics, using visuals from different reports.

8. What is the Power BI Gateway?

It’s a bridge that connects on-premise data sources to Power BI Service.

9. Can you schedule data refresh in Power BI?

Yes, using the Power BI Gateway and Power BI Service.

10. What are slicers in Power BI?

Slicers are visual filters that help users narrow down data interactively.

11. What are visuals in Power BI?

Visuals are graphical representations like bar charts, pie charts, maps, etc.

12. What is the Power BI Service URL?

https://app.powerbi.com

13. How can you share a Power BI report?

Through Power BI Service by publishing and granting access.

14. What is a data model?

A structure that defines how data is related and used in reports.

15. What file types does Power BI support?

Excel, CSV, XML, JSON, SQL Server, SharePoint, and many others.

16. Can you export reports from Power BI?

Yes, reports can be exported as PDF or PowerPoint presentations.

17. What is the use of bookmarks in Power BI?

Bookmarks save a specific view of your report and help in storytelling.

18. What is a KPI in Power BI?

KPI (Key Performance Indicator) visualizes performance against targets.

19. What are themes in Power BI?

Themes customize the appearance of visuals and report layout.

20. What is Power BI Q&A?

Q&A allows users to ask questions in natural language to generate visuals.

Intermediate Power BI Interview Questions (21–50)

These questions are commonly asked for mid-level roles or after clearing the basics.

21. What are the different data types in Power BI?

Whole Number, Decimal Number, Currency, Date/Time, Boolean, etc.

22. What are relationships in Power BI?

Relationships connect tables using common fields to allow related data to be used together.

23. What is star schema vs snowflake schema?

• Star Schema: Central fact table with direct dimension tables.
• Snowflake Schema: Dimension tables are normalized.

24. How do you handle many-to-many relationships?

By creating a bridge table with unique values.

25. What is Row-Level Security (RLS)?

RLS restricts data access for specific users.

26. How can you implement RLS in Power BI?

By defining roles and applying DAX filters.

27. What is drill-through in Power BI?

Drill-through lets users right-click to navigate to another page with detailed data.

28. What is drill-down vs drill-through?

• Drill-down: Navigate from high to low hierarchy within the same visual.
• Drill-through: Navigate to a different page.

29. What is Power BI Embedded?

It allows integration of Power BI reports into web applications.

30. How do you optimize a Power BI report?

• Reduce data volume
• Use proper relationships
• Limit visuals
• Use aggregation

31. What is the use of DAX functions like CALCULATE, FILTER, and ALL?

These functions are used to manipulate context for calculations.

32. How do you handle null values in Power BI?

Using Power Query to replace or remove nulls.

33. Explain the LOOKUPVALUE function.

It retrieves a value based on a relationship.

34. How to create a dynamic title in Power BI?

Use DAX and concatenate text with measures.

35. What is time intelligence in Power BI?

Functions like YTD, QTD, MTD that help analyze trends over time.

36. What is the difference between direct query and import mode?

• Import: Loads data into Power BI
• Direct Query: Queries the data source in real-time

37. What is composite model?

A model that combines both Direct Query and Import.

38. What is incremental refresh?

It allows refreshing only the new or changed data.

39. How do you perform data transformation?

Using Power Query Editor.

40. What is the role of parameters in Power BI?

Parameters help create dynamic reports and filter queries.

41. What is a tooltip page?

It provides additional information when hovering over a visual.

42. How do you merge queries?

Using the “Merge Queries” option in Power Query.

43. Difference between Append and Merge?

• Append: Combines rows
• Merge: Combines columns

44. What is the use of “Edit Interactions”?

It controls how visuals filter each other.

45. What are calculated tables?

Tables created using DAX instead of importing.

46. Can Power BI connect to Python or R?

Yes, for advanced analytics and visualizations.

47. What are custom visuals?

Third-party visuals imported via the marketplace.

48. How do you create a hierarchy?

By dragging fields into one another in the fields pane.

49. What is smart narrative?

An AI-generated summary of your report data.

50. How do you handle performance issues?

By using Aggregations, Summary Tables, and fewer visuals.

Advanced Power BI Interview Questions (51–70)

These questions target experienced professionals or advanced rounds.

51. Explain the evaluation context in DAX.

Evaluation context determines how DAX expressions are evaluated.

52. What is a virtual table?

A table created in memory using DAX without being stored physically.

53. What are some common DAX performance issues?

Excessive use of iterators, complex nested functions, and poor context transition.

54. Explain VAR function in DAX.

VAR allows you to define a variable that can be reused within the expression.

55. How do you troubleshoot a slow Power BI report?

Check:

• Relationships
• DAX logic
• Query folding
• Number of visuals

56. What is query folding?

Query folding refers to the ability of Power Query to push transformations back to the source.

57. How do you test query folding?

Right-click a step in Power Query and check “View Native Query”.

58. Explain the USERELATIONSHIP function.

It activates an inactive relationship for a specific calculation.

59. How do you track changes in data over time?

By using snapshots, change tables, or slowly changing dimensions.

60. What is ALLEXCEPT in DAX?

Removes filters from all columns except the specified one(s).

61. What is an example of using SWITCH in DAX?

It works like IF-ELSE to simplify conditional logic.

62. What is the purpose of HASONEVALUE?

Used to verify whether a column has only one distinct value.

63. How do you secure sensitive data?

By using RLS, data masking, and workspace permissions.

64. What are the limitations of Power BI Free vs Pro vs Premium?

• Free: Personal use
• Pro: Sharing and collaboration
• Premium: Enterprise-level features, larger datasets

65. What are deployment pipelines?

They help manage report versioning across dev, test, and prod environments.

66. What is XMLA endpoint?

Used to connect Power BI datasets via tools like SSMS or Excel.

67. What is Paginated Report in Power BI?

Pixel-perfect reports used for printing or precise layouts.

68. How to migrate SSRS reports to Power BI?

Use the Report Builder to re-create as Paginated Reports in Power BI.

69. What is a Semantic Model?

It defines the logical structure of the data used in Power BI reports.

70. What are best practices in Power BI development?

• Use star schema
• Minimize visuals
• Use descriptive names
• Document calculations
• Optimize DAX

Final Tips for Power BI Interviews

• Hands-on practice is crucial: Use real datasets to create sample dashboards.
• Understand business use cases: Know how Power BI applies in industries like finance, healthcare, and retail.
• Stay updated: Power BI evolves monthly. Track updates on Microsoft’s Power BI Blog.

Conclusion

Preparing for a BI job? These 70 Power BI interview questions offer a complete roadmap to ace your next interview. From basic to advanced concepts, this guide ensures you’re not just memorizing answers but understanding the “why” behind every feature.

Let this list be your Power BI success companion—study it, practice it, and land that dream job in data analytics or business intelligence.