How I Passed the PL-300 Exam as a Data Analyst [50% Off]

If you want to break into data analytics and business intelligence, the Microsoft PL-300 (Power BI Data Analyst) certification is a great addition to your resume.

I took the PL-300 exam a few months ago, and while it wasn’t a walk in the park, I passed it on my first attempt.

In this post, I’ll answer key questions about the PL-300, share my tips and tricks, and my own exam experience, hoping to help you pass it as well. Plus, I’ll give you a tip on how to get 50% off the exam fee.

Why I Took the PL-300 Exam

Shortly after I was hired as a Data Analyst at a bank, I was required to pass this exam to be allowed to do my job: publishing dashboards and analyzing data.

This exam is becoming increasingly important, especially if you want to work at a big company.

It is recognized globally, trusted by big organizations, and gets recruiters’ attention.

Is the PL-300 Worth it in 2025?

Yes, the PL-300 is certainly worth taking because more and more companies that work with Microsoft products (e.g., Power BI) require their employees to have this certification before they are allowed to publish dashboards.

Is it an easy exam? No, but it will set you apart from other candidates applying to the same role, and it will add credibility to your resume.

How Much Does the PL-300 Cost?

The PL-300 exam isn’t the cheapest certification out there, costing around $165 USD or €165 EUR, depending on location.

A tip I wish I knew is that if you study through the Datacamp platform, you can get 50% OFF on the exam fee.

How to Get a 50% Discount on the Exam Fee

With the 50% off using the Datacamp platform, you get a great deal: you get to learn for the exam with pre-prepped study material + once you complete the DataCamp Data Analyst in Power BI career track, you receive a 50% discount code for taking your exam.

Datacamp created its course in collaboration with Microsoft, so you can trust you will get the right material aligned with the exam’s requirements.

They’ll send you a code via email.

Here’s how it works:

• Complete the DataCamp Data Analyst in Power BI career track.
• Receive a 50% discount code upon completion (you’ll get it in your email).

Best Way to Study for the Exam

I would recommend that you first study through Datacamp, and two days before taking your exam, also practice the questions you find on Examtopics.com.

Examtopics.com offers realistic practice questions similar to what you’ll see on the test, and I highly recommend practicing there a few days before the exam. It’s honestly like a cheat sheet because the questions are very similar to what you get on the exam.

Any earlier than 2 days, and you may forget everything you learned.

With Examtopics, I feel it’s all about memorizing the questions and answers (tip: if you’re unsure about the correct answer, go check the comments section where people share their own opinions).

For those not using Datacamp, the Microsoft Learn platform also offers an official study path; however, I find this option overwhelming as it is a lot of information to process and the practice questions are not similar to what you get in the actual exam.

Exam Format and Key Challenges

What I didn’t expect was to be tested on how well I know the Power BI interface and how good I am with VERY specific Microsoft terminology.

For example, some questions sounded like: “What three actions (aka what do you need to click on) do you need to take to import a SharePoint list as a data source?”

So the answer can be: You first click on this tab, then select “X”, and finally click on this specific button.

This can be a bit frustrating if you’re a practical, hands-on learner like me; in the real world, I’d simply Google these things, find the answer in two seconds, and learn while doing.

However, in the PL-300 exam, your ability to navigate Power BI precisely, following Microsoft’s terminology, is critical.

They also start/end the exam with a big case study having more than 5 questions related to that study.

Here’s what to expect in terms of question format:

• Multiple choice
• Single answer
• Drag and drop
• Large case studies (with multiple questions per case)

My “Mark and Master” Technique for Practice Questions (for ExamTopics)

If you want to practice on Examtopics.com, I recommend you use my “Mark and Master” technique.

It helped me and my colleagues pass the exam.

Here’s how it works:

1. Get a notebook and a pen – Working with paper can better reinforce your memory than digital tools alone.
2. Go to Examtopics.com and go through each question carefully – Mark each answer with a checkmark if it’s correct and an “X” if it’s wrong.
3. Review Round 2 – Redo all the questions, focusing on the ones you got wrong
4. Review Round 3 – Attempt only the questions you missed.

Example format:

Question 1: Correct ✅ | Correct ✅ | Correct ✅

Question 2: Wrong ❌ | Correct ✅ | Correct ✅

Question 3: Wrong ❌ | Wrong ❌ | Correct ✅

Online vs. In-Person Testing: My Experience

I chose to take my exam online, though many people advised going to a local test center.

I can see why they recommended in-person testing: it’s so much less stressful!

Online Exam Challenges:

• Proctoring: The exam is live-proctored, meaning you have to stay in the frame at all times, someone is watching you non-stop, and you can’t stare or blink too much, with no unusual eye movements or interruptions (for example, reaching out for your charger). Any disturbance, like someone knocking on the door, could disqualify you.
• Setup Requirements: You need to take photos of your desk and room from all possible angles using your phone, covering anything that seems “suspicious” (like bookshelves or external monitors).
• Technical Issues: My laptop overheated mid-exam, which added extra stress. I had to hold it up to keep it cool while hoping the proctor wouldn’t notice or find it suspicious.

If you can, I highly recommend taking the exam in person.

I took another Microsoft exam in person a few months ago, a cybersecurity one, and the experience was much less stressful.

At a test center, you only need to empty your pockets, sign some papers, identify yourself and then you’re free to entering a room full of computers where you can only worry about the questions / answers.

Final Thoughts

Is it an easy exam? No, mostly because of its format.

Is it worth taking the PL-300 in 2025? 100% yes. Examtopics is a good option to see a more realistic version of how the questions look in real life. I highly recommend that you to go there and take a look 2 or 3 days before the exam. Again, not sooner, because otherwise, you forget everything.

I hope my experience helps you prepare for the PL-300 exam. It’s not an easy exam, but with the right preparation—especially using Datacamp and Examtopics.com—you can pass on your first try. Good luck!