What Does it Take to Pass the DP-600? My Experience

Jul 25 • DP-600

My preparation strategy involved completing the entire DP-600 learning path on Microsoft Learn to grasp the core concepts, followed by additional targeted techniques. This comprehensive approach enabled me to pass the exam.

1) Start by taking the assessment test from the link below to identify the areas where you need improvement and target those. The questions in this test are more challenging than those in the actual exam, so aim for a score between 80% and 90%.

Practice Assessment | Microsoft Learn

2) The exam includes around 50 multiple-choice questions where you need to select the best answer, along with 4–5 case study-based questions presented separately. It's a good idea to allocate 15–20 minutes specifically for the case study section.

3) Since SQL is fundamental to working with databases, you can expect around 4–5 questions focused on key concepts such as CTEs, joins, GROUP BY, HAVING clauses, and window functions. Additionally, be prepared to use aggregation functions like MAX(), GREATEST(), MIN(), or LEAST() in various scenarios.

4) KQL is a relatively new query language that shares similarities with SQL. If you're already comfortable with SQL, you can refer to the cheat sheet below to get up to speed quickly. You can expect around 3 to 4 questions on KQL in the exam. (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/kusto/query/sql-cheat-sheet?view=microsoft-fabric)

5) Slowly Changing Dimensions (SCDs) are a key concept in data warehousing, and it's important to understand all six types and how each one functions. Type 2 SCD is especially critical, as it's the most used method for tracking historical changes. In the exam, expect at least 2–4 questions related to SCDs.

6) Remember Python / Py Spark is not included in DP-600

7) You can expect 2–3 questions on Azure Data Factory. Be familiar with assigning activities based on different outcomes: success, failure, or completion. Also, understand the requirements for setting up connections to various data sources like Amazon Redshift or others, including necessary credentials such as keys, user IDs, or passwords.

8) You can expect 2–3 questions related to Power Query in the exam. Make sure you're comfortable with tasks such as:

a. Grouping data in a table

b. Joining tables

c. Removing duplicate records

d. Grouping and extracting values like the maximum, minimum, oldest, or most recent entries

9) Power BI, expect 2-4 questions. Understand the purpose and functionality of each view—Data View, Model View, and Report (Visual) View. Also, be familiar with how to use the Performance Analyzer tool. Pay special attention to what the "Other" category represents in the analyzer results. If you notice high values under "Other," "DAX," or "Visual Display," you should know what actions to take to optimize performance accordingly.

10) DAX is a critical component of Power BI, and you can expect 2–3 questions focused on it in the exam. Make sure you're confident using the CALCULATE function, especially in combination with filters and variables. Filtering logic is often implemented through variables, so it's essential to understand how to structure and apply them effectively.

11) There were a few questions related to the Power BI Project file, specifically the recently introduced PBIR file format. It's important to be familiar with its structure and purpose of each type, as it's now part of the exam content.

12) Understand what can be accomplished using the XMLA endpoint, such as advanced data modeling and integration with external tools. You should also know how to set it up and which external tools—like Tabular Editor, DAX Studio, or SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)—are commonly used with it.

13) CI/CD, Git integration, and deployment pipelines are key topics, and you can expect around 2–4 questions on them in the exam. Make sure you're familiar with how these processes function within the Power BI ecosystem—including version control, automation, publishing workflows, and parallel development practices

14) Develop the ability to identify scenarios where you need to recommend the most appropriate tool for a specific task. This includes understanding when to use Dataflows, Data Factory, Notebooks, Warehouses, or Lakehouses, based on the nature of the data processing or transformation required.

15) Be familiar with DMVs (Dynamic Management Views) or queries in Lakehouse and Warehouse environments that help monitor system activity. This includes queries for tracking sessions, requests, connections, query frequency, and identifying long-running or resource-intensive queries. Expect 1-3 questions on it.

16) There are different types of administrative roles and portals—such as Azure, Microsoft Fabric, and Microsoft 365. It's important to understand the purpose of each and know when to use which one, depending on the task or scenario.

a. Microsoft Fabric documentation for admins - Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn

b. Microsoft 365 admin center

c. Microsoft 365 Security & Microsoft Purview compliance portal

d. Microsoft Entra ID in the Azure portal

e. PowerShell cmdlets

f. Administrative APIs and SDK

17) Expect a few questions on selecting the appropriate workspace access level -such as Admin, Member, Contributor, or Viewer. You should understand the permissions associated with each role and know when to assign them based on the scenario.

8 comments