ICDL Spreadsheets study materials
ICDL Spreadsheets study resources

ICDL Spreadsheets (ICDL) study guide

ICDL Spreadsheets · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

ICDL Spreadsheets is one of the modules within ICDL CORE, the programme ICDL describes as "Core digital skills for employability and productivity." It certifies that a candidate can work confidently with spreadsheet software - opening and saving files, entering and editing data, building formulas and functions, applying formatting, producing charts and preparing sheets for printing or sharing. Because it is a core rather than a professional module, it suits students, job-seekers, public-sector employees and anyone who needs a recognised, vendor-neutral proof of everyday spreadsheet competence alongside word processing and other core skills. The ICDL Spreadsheets study guide has 7 sections and about 2,258 words.

01

Using the Application

A spreadsheet stores numbers, text and formulas in a grid of cells and recalculates results whenever inputs change. For ICDL you must be comfortable with the application-level skills that surround the grid: opening, saving and closing files; creating new workbooks from a blank template; and switching between open windows.

350 words, about 2 min
02

Cells

A cell holds one of three things: a number, text, or a formula (starting with =). Learn the difference between typing in the cell and typing in the formula bar , and how to edit with F2 or a double-click.

325 words, about 2 min
03

Managing Worksheets

A workbook contains one or more worksheets (tabs). You must be able to insert, rename, move, copy, delete and hide/unhide sheets, and change tab colour.

325 words, about 2 min
04

Formulas and Functions

Every formula starts with = and uses operators: + − / and ^ for power, plus comparison operators (=, , <). Brackets control order of operations (multiplication before addition).

327 words, about 2 min
05

Formatting

Formatting changes how a value displays , not its underlying value. Learn to apply number, currency, percentage, date and decimal-place formats.

294 words, about 1 min
06

Charts

A chart turns selected data into a visual. Learn to select the correct range (including labels) and insert a column, bar, line or pie chart.

327 words, about 2 min
07

Prepare Outputs

Before printing or exporting, set orientation (portrait/landscape), paper size , margins and page scaling (fit to page or a percentage). A key trap: confusing print scaling with zoom - zoom changes the screen view only, while scaling changes the printed output.

310 words, about 2 min