ICDL Spreadsheets (ICDL) study guide
ICDL Spreadsheets · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
ICDL Spreadsheets is the spreadsheet component of ICDL, a modular digital-literacy certification delivered through Accredited Test Centres. This is an independent study page, not an official ICDL publication. The ICDL Spreadsheets study guide has 7 sections and about 2,115 words.
01Using the Application: Files, Formats and the Program Interface
This domain tests whether you can operate the spreadsheet program itself rather than edit data. Expect questions on creating a blank workbook, opening an existing file, switching between open workbooks, saving, closing, and finding commands.
305 words, about 2 min02Cells: Content, Selection and Data Entry
A cell is the intersection of a row and column, addressed like B7. Content has three layers: the underlying value (number, date, text, TRUE/FALSE), the formula behind it if any, and the formatting applied.
309 words, about 2 min03Managing Worksheets: Tabs, Groups and Cross-Sheet References
A workbook is a file; worksheets are the pages inside it. Candidates must insert, delete, rename, move, copy, hide and unhide sheets, change tab colour, and reorder by dragging.
286 words, about 1 min04Formulas and Functions: References, Operators and Error Values
Every formula begins with = and combines values, cell references, operators and functions. Operator precedence runs brackets, percent, exponent, multiplication and division, addition and subtraction, then comparison; when in doubt, add parentheses.
290 words, about 1 min05Formatting: Numbers, Alignment and Conditional Presentation
Formatting changes how data looks, not what is stored. Number formats cover decimal places, thousands separators, currency, percentage and dates; the Format Cells dialog also controls alignment, font, borders, fill and protection.
291 words, about 1 min06Charts: Choosing, Building and Correcting a Chart
Charts turn numbers into a picture. Column or bar charts compare categories, line charts show a trend over time, pie charts show parts of one whole using a single data series, and scatter (XY) charts show the relationship between two numeric variables.
344 words, about 2 min07Prepare Outputs: Page Setup, Printing and Exporting
Before printing, set orientation (portrait or landscape), paper size, margins and scaling such as fit to one page wide. Define a print area so stray notes are excluded, and set print titles (rows or columns repeated on every page) for long tables.
290 words, about 1 min