How to prepare for Microsoft 70-778 Exam

As several people asked me about the Microsoft 70-778 exam, I am writing this article to explain a little about the questions types and preparation for the exam.

This exam will retire on Jan/2021, so if you plan to take it, it's important to begin to prepare. The good news is that this exam has no more expiration date! So, after the two years, your certification remains valid at Microsoft Transcript. The DA-100 exam will replace this 70-778 exam, but today it's still a beta exam and will have validity for two years. The price of the 70-778 may vary generally on $100 - $165 USD, with one tentative to pass.

Firstly, if you're going to do the exam at your home, it's important to ensure the points below:

- Let the exam's room the cleanest as possible, in terms of removing books, extra monitors, electronic gadgets (even watches), annotations and so on (the exam guidelines explain this more detailed, but I strongly suggest you to let only the essential at your room, as your computer, mouse, desk and chair :) );

- All the exam is done with your webcam and microphone opened, so you will be watched by someone at the other side;

- It's prohibited to eat and drink during the exam and also receiving help from someone, so if anybody talk with you, your exam is canceled;

- You won't be able to exit the room before ending your test, so pay attention on it;

- If the proctor need to talk with you, he/she will send you a message at the chat of exam's software application; if he/she cannot use the chat, you will receive a call at your cellphone (it's the only permitted way to use your cellphone at the exam);

- The exam's software ensures that all your desktop applications are closed, so you cannot use any software except the one for test.

About the types of questions:

- There will be questions about business cases that will be used for three or four questions (same scenario, but you have to say if determined steps are enough to solve or not a problem);

- There will be questions that you'll be asked about steps to perform something, and it's necessary to put in the correct order (pay attention on it);

- DAX questions to complete with the correct formulas;

- True or false questions;

- Business and technical questions asking the best thing that can be done on several options.

About the content:

- Connections between Power BI and the datasources (specially from files, databases, folders, Excel, SQL Azure, Big Data, SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS);

- Transformations applied to format data and apply business rules;

- Handle incomplete data;

- Relationships;

- Enter data manually;

- Power Query (M Language);

- DAX formulas (calculated columns, calculated tables and measures) - it's important to know the difference and better use of each of them; also, it's important to study the most used and how to use them on a nested way;

- What If parameters;

- Using KPIs, gauges and cards to calculate the actuals and targets;

- Hierarchies (date and not date related);

- Visualizations, such as configuring the interaction between visuals, handle categories without data, default summarization, alignment and sort, R visuals and bookmarks;

- Power BI Embedded;

- Power BI API;

- Custom visuals;

- Data Gateway (very important to understand the architecture and the differences between the personal and enterprise gateways);

- Power BI Service;

- Natural Language queries;

- Publish (web, Service, Sharepoint);

- RLS (Row-Level Security);

- Security Group using the Admin Portal, configure access to dashboards and app workspaces, configure the export and sharing setting of the tenant);

- Apps and Apps Workspaces (differences between them and how to create, configure and update them).

(The complete list from Microsoft is available here: https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE4tnJB)

Material for study:

- YouTube Channels: Karine Lago (portuguese), Laennder Alves (portuguese), Planilheiros (portuguese), Guy In A Cube (english);

- Power BI free courses: Power BI para Data Science, from Data Science Academy (portuguese: https://www.datascienceacademy.com.br/course?courseid=microsoft-power-bi-para-data-science), Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Power BI from EDX (Microsoft Official Course - english: https://courses.edx.org/courses/course-v1:Microsoft+DAT207x+1T2020a/course/);

- Microsoft Documentation (both Portuguese and English, but I recommend to see on English due to some translations that may confuse you: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/); at this material, I not recommend you to read it entirely, because it'so extensive, but it's valuable to take a look at the chapters that are required for exam.

So, if you're interested on taking this exam, do a great preparation before, letting all the content clear for you and have a great exam! :)