Practice for Excel

In the Spreadsheets portion of the TCA, you will be required to use Microsoft Excel to produce a document similar to the example shown on this page. We have identified 11 basic skills that are tested by this assessment. The skills are located in the list below. The corresponding bullet point appears on the example shown on this page. 

Excel Help

Never used Microsoft Excel before? Here are some great tutorials created by Microsoft that will teach you the basics of spreadsheets: Microsoft Excel 2016 Tutorials. For additional help, use these step-by-step tutorials to complete the practice test. There is also a video tutorial that you can use to reference the skills needed to complete the spreadsheet. 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TCA PRACTICE

Use a spreadsheet to create a budget for your class using the instructions given below. Then create a chart to show the total cost per item. It should look identical to the example shown below (same layout, colors, font, etc). You can use the data for the spreadsheet provided in the link above (to help you save time). When you are finished, save your spreadsheet as a file called "class_budget.xls". Make sure include the following:

  • Copy and paste the content from the webpage into cell A1.
  • Format the data (A1-F19) to Courier New, 10 pt., black.
  • Format the text in Row 1 to Courier New, 16 pt., purple, bold, then Merge and Center the text across columns A-F.
  • Format the headings in Row 5 to Courier New, 12 pt., black, italic, centered, with a light yellow cell background.
  • Adjust the column width to fit the data.
  • Format the dates in the cells in Column 1 to show day and month as shown in the example.
  • In cell E6 write your own formula for the total cost of pencils, then apply it to all items.
  • In cell E17 use the Sum function to add the dollar amounts in Column E.
  • In cell E19, calculate the ending balance based on the starting balance of $4,000. Change the text to green, bold.
  • In cell F6 write your own formula to show the percentage of the starting total balance for the total cost of pencils (the percentage $71.30 is of the original $4,000), then apply it to the other items.
  • Format all the decimal places as shown in the example.
  • Put borders around the cells as shown in the example, with a thicker one around the headings in Row 5.
  • Using the items in B5:B16 and the data in E5:E16, create a 3D bar chart and place it under the data.
  • In the bar chart, add data labels to show the dollar amount for each item and a legend to the right of the chart.
  • Change all of the text in the chart to Arial. Bold the chart title as shown in the example. 
  • One additional item. [Since technology proficiency includes the ability to find help when you need it, on the assessment you will be asked to demonstrate one additional skill. You will not know what that skill is until you come to take the assessment. If you do not know how to do the skill, you may use any helps built in to the spreadsheet program. You will also be able to use any website (msn.com, google.com, wikipedia.com, etc.). You will not be able to ask another person (friend, relative, lab assistant, etc.) by any means (chat, email, cell phone, face-to-face, etc.) or use the EdTech Lab website practice material.]
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