nerdexam
Microsoft

PL-300 · Question #435

You have a Power BI semantic model named Model1 that runs in Import storage mode. You need to reduce the size of Model1. The solution must NOT increase report query response times. What should you do?

The correct answer is A. Remove unnecessary columns. To reduce the size of an Import mode Power BI semantic model without negatively impacting report query performance, the most effective action is to remove any columns that are not necessary for analysis or reporting.

Submitted by helene.fr· Apr 18, 2026

Question

You have a Power BI semantic model named Model1 that runs in Import storage mode. You need to reduce the size of Model1. The solution must NOT increase report query response times. What should you do?

Options

  • ARemove unnecessary columns.
  • BUnpivot unnecessary columns.
  • CRename unnecessary columns.
  • DChange Model1 to DirectQuery storage mode.

How the community answered

(15 responses)
  • A
    73% (11)
  • B
    7% (1)
  • C
    7% (1)
  • D
    13% (2)

Why each option

To reduce the size of an Import mode Power BI semantic model without negatively impacting report query performance, the most effective action is to remove any columns that are not necessary for analysis or reporting.

ARemove unnecessary columns.Correct

In Import storage mode, all data is loaded into Power BI's in-memory engine, so removing unnecessary columns directly reduces the amount of data stored and thus the model size. This action does not negatively affect query response times, as less data needs to be processed.

BUnpivot unnecessary columns.

Unpivoting columns reshapes data but typically increases the number of rows, potentially increasing model size and complexity, not reducing it.

CRename unnecessary columns.

Renaming columns only changes metadata and does not affect the actual data stored or the model size.

DChange Model1 to DirectQuery storage mode.

Changing to DirectQuery storage mode shifts data processing to the source database, which reduces the model size in Power BI but can significantly increase report query response times if the source is slow or queries are complex.

Concept tested: Power BI model size optimization (Import mode)

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/guidance/import-modeling-guidance#model-optimization

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