Microsoft Excel Intermediate

Overview

This course takes the core Excel Intermediate syllabus and adds a flexible Choose Your Adventure approach. Learners explore the standard Excel tools and functions with demonstrations from the trainer, while giving them the opportunity to apply them to realistic scenarios from one of seven sectors: Retail, Education, Local Government, Legal, Policing, Healthcare, or Finance. Each module includes hands-on, independent tasks that mirror real workplace challenges, helping learners build confidence and transfer their skills back into their day-to-day roles.

Prerequisites

This course is for existing Excel users who understand how to enter data and create basic formulas such as SUM and AVERAGE.

Target Audience

This course is designed for users who already have a foundational understanding of Excel and want to develop their skills further in a practical, applied context. It is particularly suited to professionals who regularly work with data and want to improve productivity and analytical capability.

Objectives

By the end of the course, learners will be able to:

• Use formula‑related tools and techniques
• Work with a range of popular Excel functions
• Use advanced data list features and Excel tables
• Create charts and sparklines to visualise information
• Apply and manage conditional formatting
• Apply these skills within a chosen industry scenario using independent, realistic activities

Outline

Formula tools and techniques

• Quick Analysis
• Absolute and mixed referencing
• Working with Range Names
• Linking to other worksheets
• Linking to external workbooks

Popular Excel functions

• Understanding functions
• Criteria‑based functions
• Logical functions
• Lookup and reference functions
• Dynamic array functions

Working with data lists

• Flash Fill
• Advanced sorting
• Summarising with subtotals
• Advanced filters

Mastering Excel tables

• Introducing tables
• Creating and managing tables
• Calculation and totals in tables
• Formatting a table
• Further table tools

Creating Visuals

• Understanding charts
• Creating a chart
• Resizing and moving
• Managing a chart
• Working with chart elements
• Formatting charts
• Working with chart templates
• Creating maps from Geographic data
• Creating Infographics with Excel add-ins *
• Analyse data with sparklines

Conditional formatting

• Applying and managing conditional formatting
• Creating custom conditional formatting
• Sorting and filtering by colour

* Please note, the inclusion of Infographics is dependant upon the add-ins being installed on the learner’s PC. If your organisation does not permit the installation the topic may not be covered by the Trainer. This will be included if the training is located at a QA Training Centre.

Exams and Assessments

There are no formal exams within this two-day course. Knowledge checks to support skill and application of learning, will however be supported.

Hands on learning

This course uses a mix of hands-on activities. Learners follow demonstrations, complete short, guided tasks and take part in scenario-based exercises.