Use this list to help prepare for the Excel computer based test. You may want to
check off these items as you master them.
1. Be familiar with the Excel program environment and terminology.
2. An Excel file is called a workbook. That one file can be made up of
several worksheets. The default number of worksheets is 3 but many
more can be added. Up to 255. Know how to add additional worksheets.
3. Each rectangle on the worksheet is a cell. A cell is named with the letter
(column) first and then the row number, such as B5.
4. The active cell is the one you are currently working in and will be outlined.
5. Know how to open and save an existing excel workbook file. The Excel
program uses the extension xls if saved in a format compatible with Office
97-Office 2000 and uses the extension xlsx if saved in the native Office
2007 format. It does not matter which one you use for the test.
6. Be able to enter labels and values. A label is any alpha-numeric entry and
it is left aligned by default. A value is any number and it is right aligned by
default. Of course the default alignment can be changed easily. If
changing the alignment with icons, they look exactly like they did in Word.
7. Be able to rearrange the worksheets in any order using the worksheet
tabs at the bottom left.
8. Know how to rename and change the color of the worksheet tabs.
9. Know how to preview and print an individual worksheet or the whole
workbook. Know how to fit the worksheet to one page in Page Setup in the
Print Preview window.
10. Know how to change from portrait to landscape layout.
11. Be able to change the data in a cell.
12. Know how to recognize the different ways your pointer will look and what
that means. There is a very good summary chart on page Excel 11.
13. Be very aware of what the fill handle is and how useful it is to “fill in” a
series or copy formulas across other cells.
14. Know how to enter simple formulas. It must start with an = sign if typing it
in yourself.
15. There are at least three ways to add up a row or column. Use your favorite
way.
16. Be able to enter basic functions, such as AVERAGE, COUNT, MAX, or
MIN.
17. Know how to copy or move entries from one cell to another.
18. Understand absolute (or fixed) references and relative references. Know
how to use them. Know that a $ changes it from a relative reference to an
absolute reference. For example B5 versus $B$5. The book had you use
the shortcut function F4 key to change it to an absolute reference, but you
can also just type the dollar signs in.
19. Be able to use the fill handle to copy formulas.
20. Know how to switch from one worksheet view to another. For example,
normal view to Page Layout view using the icons on the bottom right side
of the status bar. Be able to add a Left, Center, or Right aligned Header to
the top of your printout. (Excel pg. 14-15)
21. Know how to print the gridlines or not (Excel pg. 16). Know how to
automatically scale (fit) the spreadsheet to print to one page (Excel pg.
17).
22. As you study Excel Unit C there are many features that you can do in
Excel just like we did them in word. For example, know how to change the
fonts, font sizes, alignment, and attribute.
23. Know how to format values, such as increasing and decreasing the
decimal place, changing it to a date, changing it to a percentage, or
formatting it as money. There are icons to do all of these quickly.
24. Be able to adjust column widths. Don’t panic if you ever see ######### in
a cell. It just means your column is not wide enough to display the value.
25. Be able to change the width and height of cells.
26. Know how to insert new rows and columns.
27. Be able to delete rows and columns.
28. Know how to apply colors, patterns, and borders to make more visually
appealing spreadsheets.
29. Be able to use Conditional Formatting, such as having all values between
100 and 500 show up in red.
30. Just like in Word, know how to do a spell check.
31. Excel Unit D is all about charts. Know how to use the ribbon to add a
simple chart. As you go through the options, know how to name the chart
and label the x and y axis.
32. One of the most confusing things about charting is the terminology. They
call the x axis going horizontally the category axis and the y axis going
vertically the value axis.
33. When inserting the chart, it’s often easier to select the exact data that you
want to chart first and then select the chart type. That way it will give you a
preview of the chart which can be manipulated easily until you get it the
way you want it.
34. Know how to move and resize a chart.
35. Know how to annotate a chart (add text on top of the chart like on Excel
page 92). Also be able to enhance the chart with drawing features, such
as an arrow.