BJ38 SUPPORT FOR MICROSOFT EXCEL

  1. Description of the Evaluation
  2. Competency Elements
  3. Seminar

A. Description of the Evaluation

Excel is perhaps the most important software used in the workplace today, with an estimated market share of 90 percent in the spreadsheet industry. The 2007 version allows spreadsheets to have up to a million rows and 16,000 columns, enabling the user to work with massive amounts of data and achieve faster calculation performance than ever before. Outside the workplace, Excel is broadly used for everyday problem solving, which is why so many workers and prospective employees are required to learn how to use it in order to enter or remain in the workplace. From the viewpoint of the employer, particularly those in the field of information systems, the use of Excel as an end-user computing tool is essential. Not only are many business professionals using Excel to perform everyday functional tasks in the workplace, an increasing number of employers rely on it for decision support.

In brief, Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program that allows users to insert and manipulate data. Excel permits the user to insert cells, add mathematical formulas, order data and sort lists. Simply put, it is a software program whose options for manipulating and ordering numbers have made it a very popular and indispensable tool. Its widespread use makes it efficient to exchange files with almost anyone, or to display information in printed form. Due to its inclusion in Microsoft’s Office Suite, it can easily exchange data with the database, word processing and presentation programs that accompany it. To be awarded this competency, the candidate must demonstrate a broad knowledge of Excel and its functions.

Please note that this competency contains five elements to be evaluated. The candidate must pass each element with a grade of ≥60%.

The format of the evaluation will mostly consist of ‘hands-on’ practical exercises to demonstrate knowledge of the specific features of MS Excel.

Download “Preparation Guide for BJ38”.

B. Competency Elements

1. Create, edit, format and manage worksheets and workbooks

Evaluation Criteria

  • Create and format a workbook
  • Enter text, numbers, and dates in a worksheet
  • Accurately edit cell contents and enter a range of data
  • Insert and delete cells, rows and columns
  • Navigate between worksheets and name and save a workbook
  • Preview and print a worksheet and close a workbook and exit Excel

Study Material

  • Up to Speed with MS Excel 2007.
  • Create your first workbook.
  • Worksheet background.
 

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5. Provide technical support to Excel users

Evaluation Criteria

  • Provide trouble-shooting advice for a specific Excel worksheet problem
  • Provide clear and concise advice on how to trouble shoot a problem to a client

Study Material

  • Microsoft Office 2007 Help Tab.
  • Excel 2007 features that are not supported in earlier versions of Excel.
  • Check Excel 2007 Discussion forums.

C. Seminar

Please note the following PowerPoint presentations that address elements 1, 2 and 3. Practice exercises for elements 4 and 5 are found in the Supplemental Study Materials to help prepare you for the evaluation.

  • Microsoft Excel – Get Up to Speed (addresses Element 1)
  • Microsoft Excel – Figure out dates using formulas in Excel(addresses Element 2 and 3)
  • Microsoft Excel Pivot Report.(addresses Element 2)
  • Microsoft Excel – Enter Formulas.(addresses Element 3)