Spreadsheets
This domain tests Microsoft Excel: workbook and worksheet structure, cell addresses, entering data, formulas, functions, cell references, charts, sorting, filtering, and printing. The exam expects correct formula syntax and interpretation of results.
Core rules
- A cell address combines column letter and row number: C5 is column C, row 5. A range is written A1:B5 and includes both corners.
- Every formula begins with =; without it, Excel treats the entry as text. Operators follow arithmetic precedence: ^, then * and /, then + and -, with brackets to control order.
- Relative references (A1) change when copied; absolute references ($A$1) stay fixed. Mixed references fix only row or column.
- Common functions: =SUM(B2:B6), =AVERAGE(B2:B6), =MAX(...), =MIN(...), =COUNT(...) counts numeric cells, =COUNTA(...) counts non-empty cells.
- =IF(condition, value_if_true, value_if_false) makes decisions, e.g. =IF(C2>=33,"Pass","Fail"). Text results go in double quotes.
Worked example
Marks 45, 67, 29, 80, 55 are in B2:B6. =AVERAGE(B2:B6) adds them to 276 and divides by 5, giving 55.2. =COUNT(B2:B6) returns 5 because all five cells are numeric. If a cell contained text AB, COUNT would ignore it. For a pass/fail column, =IF(B2>=33,"Pass","Fail") returns Pass for 45 and Fail for 29. Reasoning: the range must cover all marks, and the condition must use a comparison operator.
Traps that cost marks
- Forgetting the = sign, so the formula displays as text.
- Selecting the wrong range, such as B2:B5, leaving the last mark out.
- Using relative references when a fixed rate cell should be absolute ($B$1).
- Numbers stored as text align left and are ignored by SUM; convert them to numbers.
- #DIV/0! from dividing by zero or an empty cell; ##### means the column is too narrow.