ICDL Spreadsheets (ICDL) study plan

Locate at least 20 named commands across the ribbon, quick-access toolbar and backstage view without hunting through menus

Open, save, save-as and close workbooks, choosing the correct file type for each purpose (native workbook, CSV, PDF)

Switch between open workbooks and arrange windows side by side to compare data

Adjust basic application options such as default save location, undo levels and autosave interval, then restore defaults

Use the built-in help and command search to find three unfamiliar features by keyword

Enter and edit text, numbers, dates and percentages in specified cells, using in-cell editing and the formula bar correctly

Select contiguous ranges, non-contiguous ranges, entire rows and columns, and the whole sheet using keyboard and mouse methods

Copy, move and paste data using paste-special options for values only and formats only

Fill a series with the fill handle and autofill, and use find, find-and-replace and undo/redo to correct blocks of entries

Insert and delete cells, rows and columns, choosing the correct shift direction so neighbouring data stays intact

Build arithmetic formulas using cell references, the four operators and parentheses to control calculation order

Write the functions SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, COUNTA and ROUND with correct argument syntax and separators

Distinguish relative from absolute references, then copy a single formula across four columns and down ten rows with correct results

Recognise and repair the common error values produced by bad division, deleted references, wrong data types and misspelled function names

Trace which cells a formula depends on and confirm totals reconcile against an independent check calculation

Rename, insert, delete, move and copy worksheets, and change tab colour to group related sheets visually

Group two or more sheets and enter shared labels and formulas across all of them in a single action, then ungroup safely

Write formulas that reference cells on another sheet by name and confirm they survive a sheet rename

Freeze panes and split windows to keep headers visible while scrolling a long list

Hide and unhide rows, columns and whole sheets, then verify no hidden data is lost when printing or saving

Apply number formats for currency, percentage, date and fixed decimal places, and explain the difference between a stored value and its displayed form

Format fonts, borders, fill colours and alignment, using wrap text, indent, shrink-to-fit and merged cells appropriately

Apply built-in cell styles and create conditional formatting rules that highlight values above a threshold, then clear those rules cleanly

Set column widths and row heights manually and with autofit so no text is cut off and no column is needlessly wide

Create column, bar, line and pie charts from both contiguous and non-contiguous data ranges

Select the chart type that fits a stated data story and justify the choice in one sentence

Add and edit chart title, axis titles, legend position and data labels, and remove elements that add no information

Change a chart's source range, switch rows and columns, and move or resize the chart without distorting it

Delete a chart cleanly and confirm the underlying data is unaffected

Set page orientation, margins, paper size and scaling so a wide sheet fits the page width without cutting columns

Define and clear a print area, insert manual page breaks, and set a repeating header row as print titles

Add a header and footer containing the sheet name, page numbers and date, then verify them in print preview

Export a selected sheet to PDF with the intended page range and confirm the output opens with correct pagination

Run a final check for stray errors, hidden rows and clipped text before saving the output-ready file

Complete two full timed mock exams covering all seven domains and score at least 85 per cent on each

Re-attempt every missed item and write down the underlying rule or menu path behind each one

Repair a deliberately broken workbook containing faulty references, inconsistent number formats and missing print titles within 25 minutes

Consolidate a personal one-page checklist of the ten operations you are slowest at, with the exact keystrokes or menu path for each