Power Query interview questions

18 real Power Query questions from the Power BI bank, as asked in Indian campus drives and tech interviews. Every question has a verified answer and an AI-tutor explanation on placd — free to start.

1. What is M language?

Junior
  1. A.the case-sensitive functional formula language that records and powers data import and transformation logic
  2. B.the distinction between a query that points at another query's output versus a standalone independent copy of its steps
  3. C.the optimization where transformation logic is translated back into a native source query so work runs at the database instead of locally
  4. D.a reusable cloud-stored ingestion artifact that runs Power Query online and saves results for multiple datasets to consume
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3. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.M language — the ordered, replayable list of transformations recorded for a query, each editable or removable individually
  2. B.M language — the case-sensitive functional formula language that records and powers data import and transformation logic
  3. C.M language — the distinction between a query that points at another query's output versus a standalone independent copy of its steps
  4. D.M language — a transformation that turns columns into attribute-value row pairs to reshape wide data into a tall normalized layout
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4. What is Applied steps?

Junior
  1. A.the ordered, replayable list of transformations recorded for a query, each editable or removable individually
  2. B.the optimization where transformation logic is translated back into a native source query so work runs at the database instead of locally
  3. C.the distinction between a query that points at another query's output versus a standalone independent copy of its steps
  4. D.a reusable cloud-stored ingestion artifact that runs Power Query online and saves results for multiple datasets to consume
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6. Which statement is correct?

Junior
  1. A.Applied steps — the case-sensitive functional formula language that records and powers data import and transformation logic
  2. B.Applied steps — the optimization where transformation logic is translated back into a native source query so work runs at the database instead of locally
  3. C.Applied steps — the ordered, replayable list of transformations recorded for a query, each editable or removable individually
  4. D.Applied steps — a transformation that turns columns into attribute-value row pairs to reshape wide data into a tall normalized layout
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7. What is Query folding?

Mid
  1. A.a reusable cloud-stored ingestion artifact that runs Power Query online and saves results for multiple datasets to consume
  2. B.the optimization where transformation logic is translated back into a native source query so work runs at the database instead of locally
  3. C.the distinction between a query that points at another query's output versus a standalone independent copy of its steps
  4. D.the ordered, replayable list of transformations recorded for a query, each editable or removable individually
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8. Which term means: "the optimization where transformation logic is translated back into a native source query so work runs at the database instead of locally"?

Mid
  1. A.Query folding
  2. B.M language
  3. C.Reference vs Duplicate
  4. D.Dataflow
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9. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Query folding — a reusable cloud-stored ingestion artifact that runs Power Query online and saves results for multiple datasets to consume
  2. B.Query folding — the optimization where transformation logic is translated back into a native source query so work runs at the database instead of locally
  3. C.Query folding — the distinction between a query that points at another query's output versus a standalone independent copy of its steps
  4. D.Query folding — a transformation that turns columns into attribute-value row pairs to reshape wide data into a tall normalized layout
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10. What is Reference vs Duplicate?

Mid
  1. A.a transformation that turns columns into attribute-value row pairs to reshape wide data into a tall normalized layout
  2. B.the ordered, replayable list of transformations recorded for a query, each editable or removable individually
  3. C.the distinction between a query that points at another query's output versus a standalone independent copy of its steps
  4. D.a reusable cloud-stored ingestion artifact that runs Power Query online and saves results for multiple datasets to consume
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12. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Reference vs Duplicate — the optimization where transformation logic is translated back into a native source query so work runs at the database instead of locally
  2. B.Reference vs Duplicate — the ordered, replayable list of transformations recorded for a query, each editable or removable individually
  3. C.Reference vs Duplicate — a reusable cloud-stored ingestion artifact that runs Power Query online and saves results for multiple datasets to consume
  4. D.Reference vs Duplicate — the distinction between a query that points at another query's output versus a standalone independent copy of its steps
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13. What is Dataflow?

Senior
  1. A.the ordered, replayable list of transformations recorded for a query, each editable or removable individually
  2. B.the distinction between a query that points at another query's output versus a standalone independent copy of its steps
  3. C.a transformation that turns columns into attribute-value row pairs to reshape wide data into a tall normalized layout
  4. D.a reusable cloud-stored ingestion artifact that runs Power Query online and saves results for multiple datasets to consume
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14. Which term means: "a reusable cloud-stored ingestion artifact that runs Power Query online and saves results for multiple datasets to consume"?

Senior
  1. A.Dataflow
  2. B.Applied steps
  3. C.Reference vs Duplicate
  4. D.Unpivot
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15. Which statement is correct?

Senior
  1. A.Dataflow — the optimization where transformation logic is translated back into a native source query so work runs at the database instead of locally
  2. B.Dataflow — the ordered, replayable list of transformations recorded for a query, each editable or removable individually
  3. C.Dataflow — a reusable cloud-stored ingestion artifact that runs Power Query online and saves results for multiple datasets to consume
  4. D.Dataflow — the case-sensitive functional formula language that records and powers data import and transformation logic
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16. What is Unpivot?

Mid
  1. A.the optimization where transformation logic is translated back into a native source query so work runs at the database instead of locally
  2. B.a transformation that turns columns into attribute-value row pairs to reshape wide data into a tall normalized layout
  3. C.the distinction between a query that points at another query's output versus a standalone independent copy of its steps
  4. D.the case-sensitive functional formula language that records and powers data import and transformation logic
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18. Which statement is correct?

Mid
  1. A.Unpivot — the case-sensitive functional formula language that records and powers data import and transformation logic
  2. B.Unpivot — a transformation that turns columns into attribute-value row pairs to reshape wide data into a tall normalized layout
  3. C.Unpivot — a reusable cloud-stored ingestion artifact that runs Power Query online and saves results for multiple datasets to consume
  4. D.Unpivot — the ordered, replayable list of transformations recorded for a query, each editable or removable individually
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