ICDL Advanced Spreadsheets study plan

Apply number formats, cell styles, borders, fills, and alignment to a raw data set so it reads cleanly at a glance

Build custom number formats (currency, thousands separator, date, percentage, trailing text) and use Paste Special to copy formats and values only

Write formulas using relative, absolute, and mixed references, then convert them into named ranges and reuse the names in new formulas

Construct SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, and COUNTA formulas across a multi-sheet workbook using 3-D references

Build nested IF formulas combined with AND, OR, and NOT to classify records into three or more categories

Apply VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and INDEX/MATCH to retrieve values from lookup tables, and diagnose #N/A and #REF! causes

Use text functions (LEFT, RIGHT, MID, LEN, TRIM, PROPER, CONCATENATE or text join) to split and reassemble imported fields

Apply rounding and date functions (ROUND, ROUNDUP, ROUNDDOWN, INT, TODAY, DATE, DATEDIF) to calculate aged balances and elapsed periods

Wrap error-prone formulas in IFERROR and test them against deliberately broken inputs

Sort data on multiple levels including custom sort order, then freeze panes and split the window to navigate large ranges

Apply AutoFilter with text, number, date, and colour criteria, plus custom filters using AND/OR logic

Build SUMIF, SUMIFS, COUNTIF, COUNTIFS, and AVERAGEIF formulas that mirror the filtered results

Remove duplicate records, use Text to Columns to split combined fields, and apply conditional formatting to flag exceptions

Create pivot tables from raw data and rearrange rows, columns, values, and filters to answer four different business questions

Change value summaries (sum, count, average, percentage of total) and group date fields by month, quarter, and year

Insert slicers and pivot charts, then connect one slicer to two pivot tables

Use SUBTOTAL with outline groups and refresh pivot sources after adding new records

Select the correct chart type (column, bar, line, pie, scatter) for 5 given data scenarios and justify each choice in writing

Format chart elements: titles, axis scale and units, gridlines, data labels, legends, and number formats on axes

Build a combination chart with a secondary axis and add a trendline with its equation displayed

Handle non-adjacent source ranges, switch rows and columns, and save a chart template for reuse

Apply data validation rules for whole numbers, decimals, dates, lists, and custom formulas, with input messages and error alerts

Circle invalid data, then correct the flagged entries without deleting them

Protect worksheets and workbook structure with a password, unlocking only input cells and hiding formula cells

Set print options: print area, page breaks, scaling, repeating title rows, headers and footers, and gridline printing

Consolidate data from three worksheets into one summary using both formula references and the Consolidate tool

Record a simple macro, assign it to a button, and confirm it runs on a copy of the workbook

Export a workbook to PDF, save a reusable template, and attach and review cell comments

Re-time a mixed 20-task drill covering all five domains and log every task that took longer than 3 minutes

Complete two full timed mock papers under exam conditions and score each against the domain weightings

Re-teach the two weakest domains by rebuilding the failed tasks from a blank workbook

Fix recurring errors: reference locking, chart source ranges, validation ranges, and filter resets

Run a final 45-minute speed drill on pivot tables and lookups, the highest-friction task types