14-Day Beginner Excel Course with Final Exam

Welcome to this enhanced 14-day Excel course! Each daily lesson unlocks 24 hours after your first visit, keeping you on track. Complete the final exam to test your skills! 🚀

How to Use This Course:

  • Daily Structure: Objective, simplified instructions, hands-on exercise, and practical tips.
  • Time Estimate: 15-20 minutes per day.
  • Practice File: Create a new Excel workbook named “ExcelSkills.xlsx” to use throughout.
  • Assumptions: Instructions are for Excel on Windows/Mac (2016 or later).

Day 1: Exploring the Excel Interface

🔓 Unlocked

Objective: Get comfortable navigating Excel’s layout. (Time: 15 min)

Explanation: Excel is a grid-based tool for organizing data. A workbook is your file, containing **worksheets** (tabs at the bottom). The ribbon at the top holds tools.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Open Excel, create a new blank workbook, and save it as “ExcelSkills.xlsx” (File > Save As).
  2. Explore the ribbon: Click the Home tab—see formatting tools (fonts, alignment).
  3. Click cell A1, type your name, and press Enter.
  4. Worksheets: Rename “Sheet1” to “Practice” (right-click tab > Rename). Add a new sheet with the “+” icon.

Practice Exercise:

Enter 5 random names in cells A1:A5. Switch between sheets. Save your file.

Day 2: Entering and Editing Data

🔒 Locked

Objective: Learn to input and modify data in cells. (Time: 15 min)

Explanation: Cells hold text, numbers, or dates. Editing is straightforward to fix or update entries.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Open “ExcelSkills.xlsx” and go to the Practice sheet.
  2. Enter: In A1, type “Item”; A2, “Pen”; B1, “Price”; B2, “2.5”.
  3. Edit: Double-click A2, change “Pen” to “Pencil,” press Enter.
  4. Copy/Paste: Select A2 (Ctrl+C), click C2, paste (Ctrl+V).

Practice Exercise:

Create a list in A1:A4 (e.g., Book, Eraser, Ruler) and prices in B1:B4 (e.g., 5, 1, 3). Edit one item and copy another to C2.

Day 3: Formatting for Clarity

🔒 Locked

Objective: Enhance your data’s appearance with fonts, colors, and alignment. (Time: 16 min)

Explanation: Formatting makes data visually appealing and easier to read, like bolding headers or coloring cells.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select range: Click and drag over A1:B4.
  2. Bold headers: Home tab > Bold (B icon) for A1 and B1.
  3. Align: Click Center Align icon for prices (B2:B4).
  4. Color: Select A2:A4, click Fill Color (bucket icon), choose light blue.

Practice Exercise:

Format your list: Bold headers, center prices, add yellow fill to A2:A4, and change font color of prices to dark blue.

Day 4: Starting with Formulas 

🔒 Locked

Objective: Perform basic calculations using formulas. (Time: 17 min)

Explanation: Formulas start with “=” and calculate using cell references (e.g., A1). They auto-update if data changes.

Step-by-Step:

  1. In B5, type “=B2+B3+B4” to sum prices.
  2. Multiply: In C2, type “=B2*1.5” (e.g., 50% markup).
  3. Toggle view: Press Ctrl+` (tilde) to show formulas instead of results.

Practice Exercise:

Add a total price in B5. In C1:C4, calculate a 20% discount (e.g., “=B2*0.8”) for each price.

Day 5: Using SUM and AVERAGE Functions

🔒 Locked

Objective: Simplify calculations with common functions. (Time: 16 min)

Explanation: Functions are built-in formulas, like SUM for totals or AVERAGE for means.

Step-by-Step:

  1. SUM: In B5, type “=SUM(B2:B4)”—easier than adding each cell.
  2. AVERAGE: In B6, type “=AVERAGE(B2:B4)” for the mean price.
  3. AutoSum: Select B5, click AutoSum (Σ icon) in Home tab—it auto-selects the range.

Practice Exercise:

Sum prices in B5 and average in B6. Add a column C for quantities (e.g., 10, 5, 8), then SUM and AVERAGE them.

Day 6: Copying Formulas and Cell References

🔒 Locked

Objective: Reuse formulas efficiently with relative and absolute references. (Time: 17 min)

Explanation: Relative references (B2) adjust; absolute references ($B$2) stay fixed.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Relative: In C2, type “=B2*2”. Drag the fill handle (small square at cell’s bottom-right) to C4.
  2. Absolute: In E1, enter 0.1 (tax rate). In D2, type “=B2*$E$1”. Drag down—E1 stays fixed.
  3. Tip: Press F4 when editing a reference to toggle $ signs.

Practice Exercise:

Calculate total cost (price * quantity) in D2:D4. Use an absolute reference for a 5% tax in F1.

Day 7: Sorting and Filtering Data

🔒 Locked

Objective: Organize and focus on specific data. (Time: 15 min)

Explanation: Sorting orders data; filtering shows only what matches your criteria.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select A1:D4 (include headers).
  2. Sort: Data tab > Sort > Column B (Price), Largest to Smallest.
  3. Filter: Data tab > Filter. Click B1’s arrow, filter for prices >2.
  4. Clear: Data tab > Clear to show all data.

Practice Exercise:

Sort by quantity (descending). Filter to show items with prices <4.

Day 8: Creating Simple Charts

🔒 Locked

Objective: Visualize data with charts like bar or pie. (Time: 18 min)

Explanation: Charts make data trends clear, like showing price comparisons visually.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select A1:B4 (items and prices).
  2. Insert: Insert tab > Bar Chart (or Recommended Charts).
  3. Customize: Click chart, add title (“Item Prices”) via Chart Tools.
  4. Change: Right-click chart > Change Chart Type, try Pie.

Practice Exercise:

Create a column chart for quantities. Add data labels and a title. Switch to a pie chart.

Day 9: Conditional Formatting

🔒 Locked

Objective: Highlight data automatically based on rules. (Time: 16 min)

Explanation: Conditional formatting applies colors or icons based on cell values, like marking high prices.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select B2:B4 (prices).
  2. Apply: Home tab > Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cells Rules > Greater Than > 3 (choose red fill).
  3. Icon sets: Conditional Formatting > Icon Sets > Arrows for trends.

Practice Exercise:

Highlight prices > average in green. Add data bars to quantities.

Day 10: Data Validation for Error-Free Input

🔒 Locked

Objective: Control what can be entered in cells. (Time: 15 min)

Explanation: Validation ensures data consistency, like restricting entries to numbers or specific options.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select B2:B4.
  2. Set rule: Data tab > Data Validation > Whole Number, Min 1, Max 100.
  3. Dropdown: In A2:A4, Data Validation > List, Source: “Pen,Book,Ruler”.

Practice Exercise:

Validate quantities (1-50). Create a dropdown for items in A2:A4.

Day 11: Summarizing with PivotTables

🔒 Locked

Objective: Analyze data quickly with summaries. (Time: 18 min)

Explanation: PivotTables summarize data (e.g., totals by category) without altering your original table.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select A1:D4.
  2. Create: Insert tab > PivotTable > New Worksheet > OK.
  3. Build: Drag Items to Rows, Prices to Values (Sum). Drag Quantities to Values (Average).

Practice Exercise:

Summarize total and average prices by item. Add quantities to the PivotTable.

Day 12: Advanced Functions (IF and VLOOKUP)

🔒 Locked

Objective: Use logic and lookup functions for smarter calculations. (Time: 18 min)

Explanation: IF makes decisions; VLOOKUP finds data in another table.

Step-by-Step:

  1. IF: In E2, “=IF(B2>3, “Expensive”, “Affordable”)”—labels high prices.
  2. VLOOKUP: Create a lookup table (G1:H3). In F2, “=VLOOKUP(A2, G:H, 2, FALSE)”—finds category.
  3. Copy down both formulas.

Practice Exercise:

Use IF to flag quantities >10. Use VLOOKUP to assign categories based on a separate table.

Day 13: Printing and Sharing

🔒 Locked

Objective: Prepare your sheet for printing or digital sharing. (Time: 15 min)

Explanation: Proper setup ensures your data prints clearly or saves as a PDF.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Preview: File > Print to check layout.
  2. Adjust: Page Layout tab > Margins > Narrow; Orientation > Landscape.
  3. Scale: Page Layout > Scale to Fit > Fit All Columns on One Page.

Practice Exercise:

Set your sheet to print on one page. Add a footer with your name. Save as PDF.

Day 14: Review and Final Exam

🔒 Locked

Objective: Consolidate skills and test your knowledge with a final exam. (Time: 20 min)

Explanation: Complete the exam, then use the link below to pay and submit your work for certification.

Final Exam Tasks: (20 min)

Create a new worksheet named “Exam” in your workbook. Follow these tasks:

  1. Data Entry (3 min): In A1:C5, enter the sample products, prices (800, 25, 50, 150), and quantities.
  2. Formatting (3 min): Bold headers, center-align prices/quantities, apply light green fill to A2:A5.
  3. Formulas/Functions (4 min): In B6, use SUM. In C6, use AVERAGE. In D2:D5, calculate total cost per product (=B2*C2, copy down).
  4. Chart (3 min): Create a column chart for prices (A1:B5). Add a title and data labels.
  5. Conditional Formatting (2 min): Highlight prices >100 in red.
  6. Data Validation (2 min): Add a dropdown in A2:A5 with the product options.
  7. Sorting (2 min): Sort the table by price (largest to smallest).

Certification & Submission:

To receive an official verified digital certificate, please complete the two steps below:

Step 1: Pay for Certification

Step 2: After payment, send your final ExcelSkills.xlsx workbook to the following submission email address: eschool@det-softwares.com

Join Challenge Group 💬

Share this:

14-Day Beginner Excel Course with Final Exam

Welcome to this enhanced 14-day Excel course! Each daily lesson unlocks 24 hours after your first visit, keeping you on track. Complete the final exam to test your skills! 🚀

How to Use This Course:

  • Daily Structure: Objective, simplified instructions, hands-on exercise, and practical tips.
  • Time Estimate: 15-20 minutes per day.
  • Practice File: Create a new Excel workbook named “ExcelSkills.xlsx” to use throughout.
  • Assumptions: Instructions are for Excel on Windows/Mac (2016 or later).

Day 1: Exploring the Excel Interface

🔓 Unlocked

Objective: Get comfortable navigating Excel’s layout. (Time: 15 min)

Explanation: Excel is a grid-based tool for organizing data. A workbook is your file, containing **worksheets** (tabs at the bottom). The ribbon at the top holds tools.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Open Excel, create a new blank workbook, and save it as “ExcelSkills.xlsx” (File > Save As).
  2. Explore the ribbon: Click the Home tab—see formatting tools (fonts, alignment).
  3. Click cell A1, type your name, and press Enter.
  4. Worksheets: Rename “Sheet1” to “Practice” (right-click tab > Rename). Add a new sheet with the “+” icon.

Practice Exercise:

Enter 5 random names in cells A1:A5. Switch between sheets. Save your file.

Day 2: Entering and Editing Data

🔒 Locked

Objective: Learn to input and modify data in cells. (Time: 15 min)

Explanation: Cells hold text, numbers, or dates. Editing is straightforward to fix or update entries.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Open “ExcelSkills.xlsx” and go to the Practice sheet.
  2. Enter: In A1, type “Item”; A2, “Pen”; B1, “Price”; B2, “2.5”.
  3. Edit: Double-click A2, change “Pen” to “Pencil,” press Enter.
  4. Copy/Paste: Select A2 (Ctrl+C), click C2, paste (Ctrl+V).

Practice Exercise:

Create a list in A1:A4 (e.g., Book, Eraser, Ruler) and prices in B1:B4 (e.g., 5, 1, 3). Edit one item and copy another to C2.

Day 3: Formatting for Clarity

🔒 Locked

Objective: Enhance your data’s appearance with fonts, colors, and alignment. (Time: 16 min)

Explanation: Formatting makes data visually appealing and easier to read, like bolding headers or coloring cells.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select range: Click and drag over A1:B4.
  2. Bold headers: Home tab > Bold (B icon) for A1 and B1.
  3. Align: Click Center Align icon for prices (B2:B4).
  4. Color: Select A2:A4, click Fill Color (bucket icon), choose light blue.

Practice Exercise:

Format your list: Bold headers, center prices, add yellow fill to A2:A4, and change font color of prices to dark blue.

Day 4: Starting with Formulas 

🔒 Locked

Objective: Perform basic calculations using formulas. (Time: 17 min)

Explanation: Formulas start with “=” and calculate using cell references (e.g., A1). They auto-update if data changes.

Step-by-Step:

  1. In B5, type “=B2+B3+B4” to sum prices.
  2. Multiply: In C2, type “=B2*1.5” (e.g., 50% markup).
  3. Toggle view: Press Ctrl+` (tilde) to show formulas instead of results.

Practice Exercise:

Add a total price in B5. In C1:C4, calculate a 20% discount (e.g., “=B2*0.8”) for each price.

Day 5: Using SUM and AVERAGE Functions

🔒 Locked

Objective: Simplify calculations with common functions. (Time: 16 min)

Explanation: Functions are built-in formulas, like SUM for totals or AVERAGE for means.

Step-by-Step:

  1. SUM: In B5, type “=SUM(B2:B4)”—easier than adding each cell.
  2. AVERAGE: In B6, type “=AVERAGE(B2:B4)” for the mean price.
  3. AutoSum: Select B5, click AutoSum (Σ icon) in Home tab—it auto-selects the range.

Practice Exercise:

Sum prices in B5 and average in B6. Add a column C for quantities (e.g., 10, 5, 8), then SUM and AVERAGE them.

Day 6: Copying Formulas and Cell References

🔒 Locked

Objective: Reuse formulas efficiently with relative and absolute references. (Time: 17 min)

Explanation: Relative references (B2) adjust; absolute references ($B$2) stay fixed.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Relative: In C2, type “=B2*2”. Drag the fill handle (small square at cell’s bottom-right) to C4.
  2. Absolute: In E1, enter 0.1 (tax rate). In D2, type “=B2*$E$1”. Drag down—E1 stays fixed.
  3. Tip: Press F4 when editing a reference to toggle $ signs.

Practice Exercise:

Calculate total cost (price * quantity) in D2:D4. Use an absolute reference for a 5% tax in F1.

Day 7: Sorting and Filtering Data

🔒 Locked

Objective: Organize and focus on specific data. (Time: 15 min)

Explanation: Sorting orders data; filtering shows only what matches your criteria.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select A1:D4 (include headers).
  2. Sort: Data tab > Sort > Column B (Price), Largest to Smallest.
  3. Filter: Data tab > Filter. Click B1’s arrow, filter for prices >2.
  4. Clear: Data tab > Clear to show all data.

Practice Exercise:

Sort by quantity (descending). Filter to show items with prices <4.

Day 8: Creating Simple Charts

🔒 Locked

Objective: Visualize data with charts like bar or pie. (Time: 18 min)

Explanation: Charts make data trends clear, like showing price comparisons visually.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select A1:B4 (items and prices).
  2. Insert: Insert tab > Bar Chart (or Recommended Charts).
  3. Customize: Click chart, add title (“Item Prices”) via Chart Tools.
  4. Change: Right-click chart > Change Chart Type, try Pie.

Practice Exercise:

Create a column chart for quantities. Add data labels and a title. Switch to a pie chart.

Day 9: Conditional Formatting

🔒 Locked

Objective: Highlight data automatically based on rules. (Time: 16 min)

Explanation: Conditional formatting applies colors or icons based on cell values, like marking high prices.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select B2:B4 (prices).
  2. Apply: Home tab > Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cells Rules > Greater Than > 3 (choose red fill).
  3. Icon sets: Conditional Formatting > Icon Sets > Arrows for trends.

Practice Exercise:

Highlight prices > average in green. Add data bars to quantities.

Day 10: Data Validation for Error-Free Input

🔒 Locked

Objective: Control what can be entered in cells. (Time: 15 min)

Explanation: Validation ensures data consistency, like restricting entries to numbers or specific options.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select B2:B4.
  2. Set rule: Data tab > Data Validation > Whole Number, Min 1, Max 100.
  3. Dropdown: In A2:A4, Data Validation > List, Source: “Pen,Book,Ruler”.

Practice Exercise:

Validate quantities (1-50). Create a dropdown for items in A2:A4.

Day 11: Summarizing with PivotTables

🔒 Locked

Objective: Analyze data quickly with summaries. (Time: 18 min)

Explanation: PivotTables summarize data (e.g., totals by category) without altering your original table.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Select A1:D4.
  2. Create: Insert tab > PivotTable > New Worksheet > OK.
  3. Build: Drag Items to Rows, Prices to Values (Sum). Drag Quantities to Values (Average).

Practice Exercise:

Summarize total and average prices by item. Add quantities to the PivotTable.

Day 12: Advanced Functions (IF and VLOOKUP)

🔒 Locked

Objective: Use logic and lookup functions for smarter calculations. (Time: 18 min)

Explanation: IF makes decisions; VLOOKUP finds data in another table.

Step-by-Step:

  1. IF: In E2, “=IF(B2>3, “Expensive”, “Affordable”)”—labels high prices.
  2. VLOOKUP: Create a lookup table (G1:H3). In F2, “=VLOOKUP(A2, G:H, 2, FALSE)”—finds category.
  3. Copy down both formulas.

Practice Exercise:

Use IF to flag quantities >10. Use VLOOKUP to assign categories based on a separate table.

Day 13: Printing and Sharing

🔒 Locked

Objective: Prepare your sheet for printing or digital sharing. (Time: 15 min)

Explanation: Proper setup ensures your data prints clearly or saves as a PDF.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Preview: File > Print to check layout.
  2. Adjust: Page Layout tab > Margins > Narrow; Orientation > Landscape.
  3. Scale: Page Layout > Scale to Fit > Fit All Columns on One Page.

Practice Exercise:

Set your sheet to print on one page. Add a footer with your name. Save as PDF.

Day 14: Review and Final Exam

🔒 Locked

Objective: Consolidate skills and test your knowledge with a final exam. (Time: 20 min)

Explanation: Complete the exam, then use the link below to pay and submit your work for certification.

Final Exam Tasks: (20 min)

Create a new worksheet named “Exam” in your workbook. Follow these tasks:

  1. Data Entry (3 min): In A1:C5, enter the sample products, prices (800, 25, 50, 150), and quantities.
  2. Formatting (3 min): Bold headers, center-align prices/quantities, apply light green fill to A2:A5.
  3. Formulas/Functions (4 min): In B6, use SUM. In C6, use AVERAGE. In D2:D5, calculate total cost per product (=B2*C2, copy down).
  4. Chart (3 min): Create a column chart for prices (A1:B5). Add a title and data labels.
  5. Conditional Formatting (2 min): Highlight prices >100 in red.
  6. Data Validation (2 min): Add a dropdown in A2:A5 with the product options.
  7. Sorting (2 min): Sort the table by price (largest to smallest).

Certification & Submission:

To receive an official verified digital certificate, please complete the two steps below:

Step 1: Pay for Certification

Step 2: After payment, send your final ExcelSkills.xlsx workbook to the following submission email address: eschool@det-softwares.com

Join Challenge Group 💬

Share this:

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