EXCEL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What is Excel?
Excel is a spreadsheet software by Microsoft, used for data storage, analysis, and
visualization.
2. How is Excel used in data analysis?
Excel helps organize, manipulate, and visualize data through functions, formulas,
charts, and pivot tables.
3. What is a cell in Excel?
A cell is a single data point in Excel, located at the intersection of a row and column,
used to store data.
4. What are Excel workbooks and worksheets?
A workbook is an Excel file containing multiple worksheets (individual sheets), where
data is stored and analyzed.
5. What is the purpose of formulas in Excel?
Formulas perform calculations or operations on data, such as addition, averaging,
and logical tests.
6. How do you create a pivot table?
Go to Insert > PivotTable, select the data range, and choose where to place it.
7. What is the importance of a pivot table in data analysis?
Pivot tables summarize and aggregate large datasets, making it easier to derive
insights.
8. Explain the difference between relative and absolute cell references.
Relative references adjust when copied (e.g., A1), while absolute references remain
constant (e.g., $A$1).
9. What is conditional formatting?
Conditional formatting changes cell appearance based on criteria, helping highlight
important trends or outliers.
10. How does Excel handle missing data?
Excel allows users to filter, replace, or ignore missing data points or use formulas like
IFERROR to manage errors.
11. What is VLOOKUP, and how is it used?
VLOOKUP finds values in the first column of a range and returns data from another
column in the same row.
12. What does the IF function do?
Performs conditional checks, returning one value if true and another if false, like
=IF(A1>10, "Yes", "No").

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 13. How do you use the SUM function?
SUM adds values in a range, such as =SUM(A1:A10).
14. What is the COUNT function?
Counts numeric cells within a specified range, e.g., =COUNT(A1:A10).
15. Explain the difference between COUNT and COUNTA.
COUNT counts only numeric values, while COUNTA counts all non-empty cells.
16. What is data validation?
Data validation restricts the type of data entered into a cell, ensuring consistency and
accuracy.
17. How do you use the AVERAGE function?
AVERAGE finds the mean of a range of values, e.g., =AVERAGE(A1:A10).
18. How do you remove duplicates in Excel?
Go to Data > Remove Duplicates and select columns to check for duplicate data.
19. What is the CONCATENATE function?
Joins text from multiple cells, e.g., =CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1).
20. How do you create a chart in Excel?
Select data, go to Insert > Chart, and choose the chart type (e.g., bar, line, pie).
21. What is a trendline in Excel, and how is it used?
A trendline shows the general direction of data in a chart, useful for identifying
trends.
22. Explain the LEFT function.
Extracts characters from the start of a text string, e.g., =LEFT(A1, 3).
23. What is the purpose of the RIGHT function?
Extracts characters from the end of a text string, e.g., =RIGHT(A1, 3).
24. How does the MID function work?
Extracts text from the middle of a string, starting at a specified position, e.g.,
=MID(A1, 2, 3).
25. What is data cleaning, and how does Excel help with it?
Data cleaning is the process of correcting or removing inaccuracies in data. Excel
provides tools like TRIM, CLEAN, and conditional formatting for this.
26. How do you sort data?
Select the data, go to Data > Sort, and choose your sorting options.
27. How does the FILTER function work?
Allows data to be filtered by specific criteria, e.g., =FILTER(A1:B10, B1:B10>10).
28. Explain the use of the TODAY function.
Returns the current date, e.g., =TODAY().

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 29. What does the NOW function do?
Returns the current date and time, e.g., =NOW().
30. How do you use the INDEX function?
Returns a value or reference from within a range, e.g., =INDEX(A1:B10, 2, 1).
31. What is the purpose of the MATCH function?
Finds the position of an item in a range, e.g., =MATCH("Apple", A1:A10, 0).
32. How does the SUMIF function work?
Adds values that meet specified criteria, e.g., =SUMIF(A1:A10, ">5").
33. What is Goal Seek, and how is it used?
Adjusts a cell's value to achieve a desired result, found under Data > What-If Analysis
> Goal Seek.
34. Explain the HLOOKUP function.
Looks up values horizontally in the first row and returns data from other rows.
35. How do you create a drop-down list in Excel?
Use Data Validation to create a list of options in a cell.
36. What are Excel macros?
Macros are sequences of recorded actions that automate repetitive tasks.
37. How do you use the TEXT function?
Converts numbers to text in a specified format, e.g., =TEXT(A1, "0.00").
38. What is the use of sparklines in Excel?
Sparklines are mini-charts that visually represent data trends within a single cell.
39. What is a dashboard in Excel?
A dashboard is a collection of visualizations, like charts and tables, that summarize
key metrics.
40. Explain the RANK function.
Returns the rank of a number within a list, e.g., =RANK(A1, A1:A10).
41. What is data visualization in Excel?
It involves representing data graphically through charts to make insights easier to
understand.
42. How do you add data labels to a chart?
Select the chart, go to Chart Design > Add Chart Element > Data Labels.
43. What is the purpose of the SUBSTITUTE function?
Replaces specified text in a string, e.g., =SUBSTITUTE(A1, "old", "new").
44. How does the ROUND function work?
Rounds numbers to a specified number of decimal places, e.g., =ROUND(A1, 2).

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 45. What is a lookup table in Excel?
A reference table used with functions like VLOOKUP or HLOOKUP to find data based
on a key.
46. How do you protect a worksheet?
Go to Review > Protect Sheet to restrict editing by setting a password.
47. How is Excel used for trend analysis?
Excel helps in plotting data over time with line charts or trendlines to observe
patterns.
48. What is the FIND function?
Finds the position of a substring within a text string, e.g., =FIND("a", A1).
49. Explain how to group rows or columns in Excel.
Select them, go to Data > Group to combine for easy expansion or collapsing
50. What is the use of AutoSum?
AutoSum quickly adds up selected cells or provides other quick calculations.

Geethika Putcha