Cells
What you need to understand
Everything in a worksheet lives in a cell addressed by column letter and row number (B7). You must be able to select a single cell, a contiguous range (A1:C10), non-adjacent cells (holding Ctrl), an entire row or column via its header, or the whole sheet. Recognise where to type a cell reference in the Name Box to jump straight there.
You should be able to enter and edit data, replace content, delete content (Delete key) versus delete the cell itself with its neighbours shifting up or left (a different command entirely), insert and delete rows and columns, and use copy, cut, paste and the fill handle to drag values or patterns.
Candidates must know the main data types - text, number, date, time, currency, percentage - and the good-practice rules for entering data: one item per cell, a single header row, no blank rows or columns inside a list, and consistent formats down a column. Learn Find and Replace, and sorting (ascending/descending) on a selected range or list.
Traps
- Numbers typed with a leading apostrophe, or imported as text, align left and are ignored by SUM - a classic question.
- Sorting a list that contains a merged cell or a totals row inside the range produces wrong results.
- Using Delete removes the contents only; formatting and comments remain.
- Dragging the cell border moves the cell; dragging the fill handle copies/fills it.
Rule of thumb: before sorting, select the whole list including its header row, or click a single cell inside the list and let the application detect the range.