Power BI has emerged as a must-have skill in today’s data-driven job market. Whether you’re applying for a Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Developer, or Data Visualization Specialist role, employers expect you to demonstrate not just your technical knowledge—but also your problem-solving mindset.
To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of top Power BI interview questions — from basic to advanced — along with explanations so you can walk into your next interview with confidence. 🚀
🔍 Why Power BI Skills Are in High Demand
Power BI combines data preparation, interactive dashboards, and rich visualization in one tool. Organizations across industries use it to make data-driven decisions.
✅ Easy to use
✅ Integrates with Excel and cloud services
✅ Great for both analysts and decision-makers
✅ Growing ecosystem with Power Platform and AI
And the best part? Learning Power BI doesn’t require a coding background, making it the perfect skill for career switchers.
🧠 Power BI Interview Questions (With Tips)
✅ Basic Power BI Interview Questions
1. What is Power BI?
Power BI is Microsoft’s business analytics tool that helps visualize data and share insights across an organization, or embed them in an app or website.
2. What are the main components of Power BI?
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Power BI Desktop
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Power BI Service (Cloud-based)
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Power BI Mobile
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Power BI Gateway
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Power BI Report Builder
3. What are Filters in Power BI?
Filters are used to restrict data in visuals or reports. Types include:
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Visual-level filters
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Page-level filters
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Report-level filters
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Drillthrough filters
4. Difference between DirectQuery and Import Mode?
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Import Mode loads data into Power BI for faster performance.
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DirectQuery connects to the data source in real-time but may impact performance.
🔁 Intermediate-Level Questions
5. What are DAX functions in Power BI?
DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is used to create custom calculations in Power BI.
Example:
6. Explain the difference between a dashboard and a report.
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Dashboard: Single-page summary with multiple visualizations.
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Report: Multi-page detailed analysis.
7. What are calculated columns vs. measures?
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Calculated columns are row-level calculations.
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Measures are aggregate-level calculations used in visualizations.
8. How can you optimize Power BI report performance?
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Use Import mode
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Reduce visuals on a page
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Remove unnecessary columns
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Use aggregations and summaries
🚀 Advanced Power BI Interview Questions
9. What is Row-Level Security (RLS)?
RLS restricts data access for users based on filters defined in roles. For example, a regional manager can only see data for their region.
10. What are Custom Visuals in Power BI?
Custom visuals are additional visualization types created by Microsoft or third-party developers, importable from the AppSource marketplace.
11. How does Power BI integrate with other tools?
Power BI integrates with:
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Microsoft Excel
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Azure services
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SQL Server
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Power Apps
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SharePoint
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Google Analytics
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Salesforce
12. What is a star schema? Why is it important in Power BI?
A star schema is a data model with one fact table in the center and dimension tables surrounding it. It improves query performance and simplifies relationships.
📌 Tips to Ace Your Power BI Interview
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👉 Prepare real-life project examples
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👉 Brush up on DAX functions
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👉 Practice creating dashboards with real data sets
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👉 Stay updated with Power BI’s latest features
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👉 Understand use cases for Power BI in different industries
💼 Want to Master Power BI & Land a Job?
At EdTech Informative, our Power BI + GenAI program helps learners:
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✅ Learn Power BI from scratch
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✅ Master data storytelling and DAX
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✅ Build real-world dashboards
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✅ Get 100% placement assistance
Start your journey to becoming a Data Analyst today:
🌐 www.edtechinformative.com
