EXCEL PRACTICE ASSIGNMENTS
These assignments will be completed for practice using new excel skills and techniques. They
will not be marked but will need to be completed in order to learn skills that will apply towards
formal assignments.
PRACTICE 1 – BUILD A CALCULATOR
For this assignment you will practice using the mathematical and formula functions of excel.
You will also play around with different formatting styles to create a visually appealing overall
layout.
Steps:
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Create a title for your assignment. Have this title be centered within the width that will
make up your calculator.
Use a function to add the date to the spreadsheet (This date should update and show
the current date when the spreadsheet is opened).
Create an area for a user to input two different numbers. Be sure to create appropriate
headings so that the user knows what to put into the cells.
In a column to the right, use mathematical functions to calculate the sum, the
difference, the product, the quotient, and the result of the first number to the power of
the second number,
Be sure to label each of the respective equations noted above so that the user knows
what sort of output they will be receiving.
Below the information that you have created above, generate a list of 15 random
numbers between 0 – 100. Be sure to use a formula for this.
Using the randomly generated numbers, use different formulas to find the average, the
median, the maximum, the minimum, the sum, the sum of the numbers greater than 50,
and the count of numbers (ie total number of numbers) that is less than 50.
Format these cells so that the maximum number of decimals shown is 2.
Create a formula that will show the Fibonacci sequence. If you do not know what this is
then look it up. Calculate the first 16 numbers in this sequence.
Spend some time formatting your spreadsheet to create a visually attractive layout. You
may want to try different borders, text alignment, shades, etc.
Show Mr. Jamieson when you have completed this.
PRACTICE 2 – SPREADSHEET FORMATTING
For this assignment you will practice using the mathematical and formula functions of excel.
You will also play around with different formatting styles to create a visually appealing overall
layout.
In this exercise, you will complete the following tasks independently:
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1.
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3.
Format a header
Use a simple formula
Copy data
Apply font styles
Adjust column and row size
Wrap text
Indent cell data
Format values
Add a border
Open a new spreadsheet
Set a header with your name in the left section, the current date in the center,
and the filename assigned to this exercise by your teacher in the right
section.
Key the data shown in the table below in the exact cell locations
4.
Merge and center the title cells for Technology Advancements in all caps
and bold across Columns A-F
5.
Merge and center the sub-title Sales Income Comparison-2 Years in initial
caps and bold across Columns A-F
6.
Adjust all column widths to fit contents
7.
Center all data in Row 4 and in cell range A5:A11
8.
Format the data in Columns D and E for two decimal places
9.
Change the title in A4 from Item No to Item Number
10.
Wrap the text in A4
11.
Merge and center the heading in B4 across Columns B and C
12.
Replace “Drive” with “Cartridge” in Cell B8
13.
Enter a formula in Cell F5 that will calculate Net Change
14.
Copy the formula to the remaining cells in Column F and format for 2 decimal
places
15.
Use conditional formatting to highlight the items that experienced negative
growth.
16.
Add and indent the word Total in Cell A12
17.
Use a formula to calculate the total net change in Cell F12 and format it for
currency.
18.
Add a single line bottom border to Row 4, Columns A-F
19.
Add an accounting border to Cell F12
PRACTICE 3 – CALCULATING BONUS PA YMENTS
For this assignment you will practice using IF statements as well as practice with advanced
functions, sorting a spreadsheet, and using basic charts.
Part 1:
 Create a spreadsheet that includes the information in the screenshot
below.
 Use an IF statement to calculate how much bonus should be paid out to
the employees listed. Employees only receive a bonus if they sold over
$65,000 for the year.
 Employees earn a bonus at a rate of 10% for every dollar of sales over the
Bonus Target. For example, if someone sold $70,000 they would earn a
bonus of $500.
 Calculate the total amount of bonuses paid out to employees this year.
 Sort the spreadsheet in order of the bonus amount paid. If the amount is
equal or “0” then sort by alphabetical order.
 Format your spreadsheet so that it is visually appealing.
Part 2:
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On Sheet 2 of the same document create a spreadsheet to look like the following:
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Ensure that your spreadsheet is formatted the same way.
You will be sorting the list by t-shirt size and then by colour. In order to do so you will
be creating a custom list so that the shirts are order “Small, Medium, Large, X-Large”.
The sorting is similar to how you would do so in Microsoft Word.
Once sorted, create a count of the number of shirts of each size.
Using this small count, create a chart that shows how many shirts of each size are being
ordered.
Format your chart so that it is visually appealing.
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PRACTICE 4 – USING IF STATEMENTS
In this activity you will create a spreadsheet, perform simple calculations, fill a series, and use IF
statements.
1.
Create a spreadsheet to match the one below.
2.
Enter a formula in Cell I4 to calculate the Value on Hand (Cost*Quantity on
Hand) of the beverages in stock. Copy the formula to the remaining cells in the
column and format the data as currency
3.
Use the AutoSum Feature to find the Total for Value On Hand of all the
beverages in stock
4.
Enter an IF statement in Cell G4 so that the word “Reorder” appears if the
Cases on Hand is less than or equal to the Reorder Point. If the Cases on Hand
has not reached the Reorder Point, the formula should return a value of “No”.
5.
Copy the formula to the remaining cells in the column and center the text
6.
Enter an IF statement in Cell H4 that will restore the Cases on Hand to 100
(100-Cases on Hand) if the reorder point has been reached. If the reorder
point has not been reached, the formula should return a value of “n/a”.
7.
Copy the formula to the remaining cells in the column.
8.
Sort the spreadsheet in ascending order by Vendor Name
PRACTICE 5 – FILTERING DATA
For this assignment you will practice filtering data to search for specific items that you want to
view.
1. Begin by entering the information below into a spreadsheet
2. Add filters to the data so that you can begin to sort and look for specific instances of
information.
3. Add a column after the Equipment Details labeled “PRICE” and create random prices for
the different items.
4. Apply the currency formatting to the prices column.
5. At the bottom of the table add the following subtotal functions in whichever row you
choose – SUBTOTAL(SUM), SUBTOTAL(COUNT), SUBTOTAL(MAX). For Sum, you will
show the sum of the prices of all the items being shown after applying a filter, count will
show the total number of items being shown, and max will show the highest priced
item.
6. Use a filter to look only at the Laptops.
7. Clear the filter
8. Use an advanced text filter to view all the items that do not have “Cam” in their details.
9. Use an advanced date filter to view all the items that were checked out between April
and August of 2010.
10. Use an advanced number filter to view all the items that have ID #’s less than 3000.
PRACTICE 6 – USING DIFFERENT CHARTS
For this assignment you will practice using different charts.
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Begin by creating the following spreadsheet.
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Format the information as a table. This will automatically apply filtering.
Rename the sheet to say “FICTION BOOK SALES”
Create charts to match the ones below. You can format your charts to appear visually
different. Add titles to all of your charts.
$140,000.00
$120,000.00
$100,000.00
Classics
Mystery
$80,000.00
Romance
$60,000.00
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
$40,000.00
Young Adult
$20,000.00
$0.00
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
$140,000.00
$120,000.00
$100,000.00
2006
$80,000.00
2007
$60,000.00
2008
2009
$40,000.00
2010
$20,000.00
$0.00
Classics
Mystery Romance Sci-Fi &
Fantasy
Young
Adult
$140,000.00
$120,000.00
$100,000.00
Classics
$80,000.00
Mystery
Romance
$60,000.00
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
$40,000.00
Young Adult
$20,000.00
$0.00
2006
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2007
2008
2009
2010
Add data labels to one of your charts.
Add axis labels to one of your charts.
Put each chart on a different sheet. Properly label all of the sheet names.
Use formulas to calculate the following:
o Average sales for each year and each different book type
o Calculate the total sales for each year
o Calculate the % change in sales from year to year. This is calculated by (Sales
from current year – sales from previous year)/Sales from current year).
PRACTICE 7 – USING SPARKLINES
For this assignment you will practice using sparklines.
1. Begin by copying out the spreadsheet below
2. Insert a sparkline for the first row. You will find sparklines in the same area that you
would find charts. A sparkline is basically a small chart that fits into a single cell.
3. Choose to use either a line or column sparkline.
4. Add markers for the highest and lowest points.
5. Change the color of the sparkline and the color of the high and low point markers.
6. Calculate the total sales for each month and each individual sales person.
7. Find the average for each month and each individual sales person.
8. Use conditional formatting to show who was in the top 10% and the bottom 10% in
terms of sales for each month. You will have to do this column by column.
9. Use conditional formatting to show who the top 10 sales people were in terms of overall
sales.
PRACTICE 8 – USING PIVOT TABLES
For this assignment you will practice using Pivot Tables. Pivot Tables can be difficult to use at
first. Check out these videos for support. Pivot Tables Part 1 Pivot Tables Part 2
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Start by entering in the data as shown below:
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Insert a pivot table to begin to analyze the data. First create a pivot table to determine
how much was sold in each region. Add a second row to see how much each
salesperson sold for each respective region.
Add the month category to the column section to see how much was sold each month
by each salesperson in their respective region.
Move the Salesperson category to the Filters section. View the different sales totals by
each respective salesperson.
Add a slicer to your pivot table. You can pick to slice the data by any category you wish.
Insert a Pivot Chart to your spreadsheet.
Format and reposition items in your spreadsheet to make it visually appealing.
PRACTICE 9 – WHAT-IF ANALYSIS – CAR BUYING
For this assignment you will practice using the data analysis tool – What-If Analysis.
1. Begin by finding a new car to buy online. You can find any car you want and modify or
add to it in any fashion that you desire. Make sure you have all the information on the
total cost of the car.
2. Assume that you will be taking out a loan for the entire amount of this car and will be
paying that loan off over time.
3. Complete a small chart in excel similar to the one below:
4. Do not enter in an interest rate or Payment amount. We will be using the Goal Seeking
tool to find what our optimum interest rate would be. Use the PMT formula to calculate
your payment amount with the following information – RATE = B4/12, NPER = B3, PV =
B2.
5. Use the What-If Analysis: GOAL SEEKING tool to calculate out what your interest rate
would have to be in order to have a monthly payment of $1500 on your car loan.
6. Use the What-If Analysis: SCENARIO MANAGER tool to be able to look at different
lengths of loans and interest rates. Create 5 different scenarios for possible monthly
payments. Create both a Scenario Summary Pivot Table Report and a Scenario
Summary Report. Be sure to have the Payment Cell selected for your Results cell.
7. Use the What-If Analysis: DATA TABLE tool to create a table of different possible
scenarios for your monthly payments. A data table allows you to view many different
results at once all in a table. To use a data table you need to select a range of cells with
your payment amount cell being selected for the top left cell of the table. Select the
Term cell for the row input and the Interest Rate cell for the column input. You will then
go about putting in different lengths of Terms (ie 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 months) and
different interest amounts. Your data table will display all the information about what
your monthly payments would be based on different terms and different rates.
8. Format your table so that it is visually appealing.