Excel Power Query is a robust data connection and transformation tool integrated into Microsoft Excel, designed to simplify the process of importing, shaping, and combining data from various sources. It empowers users to perform advanced data preparation tasks without complex coding, making it ideal for analysts and business professionals.
Key Features:
– Data Connectivity: Seamlessly connect to a wide range of sources, including files (Excel, CSV, JSON), databases (SQL Server, Access), web pages, and cloud services (Azure, SharePoint).
– Data Transformation: Use intuitive interfaces to clean and shape data, such as filtering rows, removing duplicates, pivoting columns, merging queries, and applying custom formulas.
– Query Editor: A dedicated environment for step-by-step data manipulation, where changes are recorded as a series of steps that can be reviewed, edited, or refreshed.
– M Language: Underlying Power Query uses a functional language called M for advanced customizations, allowing for reusable scripts and automation.
– Integration: Works hand-in-hand with Excel features like Power Pivot and Power BI for enhanced data modeling and visualization.
How to Get Started:
1. Open Excel and go to the Data tab.
2. Click Get Data to select your data source.
3. In the Power Query Editor, apply transformations using the ribbon tools or by writing M code.
4. Load the transformed data back into Excel as a table, pivot table, or for further analysis.
Benefits and Use Cases:
– Efficiency: Automates repetitive data tasks, reducing errors and saving time on manual cleaning.
– Scalability: Handles large datasets and complex operations, suitable for business intelligence and reporting.
– Common Applications: Ideal for financial analysis, sales reporting, market research, and data consolidation from multiple sources.
– Collaboration: Share queries easily within teams or embed them in Power BI reports for broader insights.
Power Query has transformed data handling in Excel, making it accessible for beginners while offering depth for experts, ultimately streamlining workflows and improving decision-making.
Table of Contents
- Part 1: Create An Amazing Excel Power Query Quiz Using AI Instantly in OnlineExamMaker
- Part 2: 20 Excel Power Query Quiz Questions & Answers
- Part 3: OnlineExamMaker AI Question Generator: Generate Questions for Any Topic
Part 1: Create An Amazing Excel Power Query Quiz Using AI Instantly in OnlineExamMaker
The quickest way to assess the Excel Power Query knowledge of candidates is using an AI assessment platform like OnlineExamMaker. With OnlineExamMaker AI Question Generator, you are able to input content—like text, documents, or topics—and then automatically generate questions in various formats (multiple-choice, true/false, short answer). Its AI Exam Grader can automatically grade the exam and generate insightful reports after your candidate submit the assessment.
Overview of its key assessment-related features:
● Create up to 10 question types, including multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, matching, short answer, and essay questions.
● Automatically generates detailed reports—individual scores, question report, and group performance.
● Instantly scores objective questions and subjective answers use rubric-based scoring for consistency.
● API and SSO help trainers integrate OnlineExamMaker with Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, CRM and more.
Automatically generate questions using AI
Part 2: 20 Excel Power Query Quiz Questions & Answers
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1. What is the primary purpose of Power Query in Excel?
A. To create charts and graphs
B. To transform and clean data from various sources
C. To perform complex calculations like VLOOKUP
D. To automate macro recordings
Answer: B
Explanation: Power Query is designed to import, transform, and clean data from multiple sources, making it easier to prepare data for analysis.
2. How do you access Power Query in Excel?
A. Through the Insert tab
B. Via the Data tab under Get & Transform Data
C. In the Formulas tab under Function Library
D. By opening the VBA editor
Answer: B
Explanation: Power Query is accessed through the Data tab in Excel, specifically under the Get & Transform Data section.
3. What does the “Remove Duplicates” feature in Power Query do?
A. Deletes all rows with identical values in selected columns
B. Merges duplicate rows into one
C. Highlights duplicates without removing them
D. Adds new columns for duplicates
Answer: A
Explanation: The Remove Duplicates step eliminates rows that have identical values in the specified columns, helping to clean the dataset.
4. In Power Query, what is an “M” query?
A. A type of Excel formula
B. The programming language used for advanced transformations
C. A shortcut for merging tables
D. A method for importing data
Answer: B
Explanation: M is the formula language in Power Query that allows users to write custom queries for data transformation and manipulation.
5. Which step is used to combine two queries in Power Query?
A. Append Queries
B. Merge Queries
C. Join Tables
D. Combine Data
Answer: B
Explanation: Merge Queries is specifically used to combine data from two or more queries based on a common column or key.
6. What happens when you apply a filter in Power Query?
A. It permanently deletes the filtered rows
B. It creates a new query with only the filtered data
C. It sorts the data alphabetically
D. It adds a new column with filter results
Answer: B
Explanation: Applying a filter in Power Query creates a new step in the query that includes only the rows meeting the filter criteria, without altering the original data.
7. How can you pivot columns in Power Query?
A. Using the Pivot Column button in the Transform tab
B. By selecting Pivot from the Insert tab
C. Through the Group By feature
D. Via the Sort function
Answer: A
Explanation: The Pivot Column button in the Transform tab allows you to turn unique values from one column into multiple columns in the dataset.
8. What is the function of the “Group By” operation in Power Query?
A. To aggregate data based on one or more columns
B. To sort data in ascending order
C. To remove empty rows
D. To split columns
Answer: A
Explanation: Group By enables users to summarize data by grouping rows and applying aggregations like sum, count, or average.
9. In Power Query, what does the “Unpivot Columns” feature do?
A. Converts rows into columns
B. Turns columns into rows for normalization
C. Merges multiple columns into one
D. Deletes unnecessary columns
Answer: B
Explanation: Unpivot Columns transforms data from a wide format to a long format, which is useful for normalizing data structures.
10. How do you connect to an external data source like a CSV file in Power Query?
A. Use the From Table/Range option
B. Select Get Data > From File > From CSV
C. Import via the Formulas tab
D. Link through the Review tab
Answer: B
Explanation: The Get Data option under the Data tab allows users to connect to various sources, including CSV files, for data import.
11. What is a common use of the “Replace Values” step in Power Query?
A. To change text or numbers in a column
B. To add new rows of data
C. To format dates automatically
D. To create conditional columns
Answer: A
Explanation: Replace Values is used to find and replace specific values within a column, helping to clean and standardize data.
12. Which query editor view shows the applied steps in Power Query?
A. The Data view
B. The Query Settings pane
C. The Advanced Editor
D. The Formula Bar
Answer: B
Explanation: The Query Settings pane displays the sequence of applied steps, allowing users to review and edit transformations.
13. What does the “Split Column” feature accomplish?
A. Divides a single column into multiple columns based on a delimiter
B. Merges columns together
C. Sorts the column values
D. Removes the column entirely
Answer: A
Explanation: Split Column separates data in a column into additional columns, often using delimiters like commas or spaces.
14. In Power Query, how can you handle errors in a column?
A. Using the Replace Errors function
B. By applying a filter to remove errors
C. Through the Remove Rows option
D. All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: Power Query offers multiple ways to handle errors, including replacing them, filtering them out, or removing rows, depending on the data needs.
15. What is the purpose of the “Add Column” feature?
A. To create a new column based on existing data or formulas
B. To delete existing columns
C. To rename columns only
D. To merge two queries
Answer: A
Explanation: Add Column allows users to introduce new columns derived from calculations, custom values, or other transformations.
16. How does Power Query handle data types automatically?
A. It detects and suggests data types based on the content
B. It always defaults to text
C. It requires manual assignment
D. It converts everything to numbers
Answer: A
Explanation: Power Query automatically detects data types during import and provides options to change them if needed.
17. What is the result of using “Append Queries” in Power Query?
A. Stacks two queries vertically, combining rows
B. Joins queries horizontally based on a key
C. Creates a pivot table from queries
D. Removes common rows between queries
Answer: A
Explanation: Append Queries combines the rows of two or more queries into a single query, as long as they have the same column structure.
18. In the Advanced Editor, what language is used to write custom queries?
A. M language
B. VBA
C. SQL
D. PowerPivot formula
Answer: A
Explanation: The Advanced Editor uses the M language for writing and editing custom formulas and queries in Power Query.
19. How can you refresh a Power Query in Excel?
A. By right-clicking the query and selecting Refresh
B. Through the Data tab under Refresh All
C. Both A and B
D. Only by reopening the file
Answer: C
Explanation: Queries can be refreshed manually via the right-click menu or the Data tab, ensuring the latest data is pulled from sources.
20. What is a key benefit of using Power Query for data preparation?
A. It automates repetitive tasks and ensures reproducibility
B. It replaces the need for PivotTables
C. It only works with Excel files
D. It requires advanced coding skills
Answer: A
Explanation: Power Query streamlines data cleaning and transformation processes, making them repeatable and efficient for future use.
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Part 3: OnlineExamMaker AI Question Generator: Generate Questions for Any Topic
Automatically generate questions using AI