Excel practice questions, with answers.

Question 1A workbook named RegionalReports.xlsm contains a macro called FormatQuarterly. A colleague wants NewDivision.xlsm, a brand-new workbook, to have its own working copy of that macro without rewriting it. Both workbooks are open in the VBA editor. What is the most direct way to accomplish this?

1. Drag the VBA module containing FormatQuarterly from RegionalReports.xlsm's project onto NewDivision.xlsm's project in the Project Explorer.
2. Open NewDivision.xlsm's Trust Center settings and add RegionalReports.xlsm as a trusted publisher.
3. Create a new VBA module in NewDivision.xlsm and type only the name FormatQuarterly into it.
4. Use Data, Edit Links in NewDivision.xlsm to link to RegionalReports.xlsm's macro.

Question 2A workbook contains the formula ='[Budget2026.xlsx]Q1'!$B$2, and Budget2026.xlsx is currently closed. The value in Budget2026.xlsx's Q1!B2 was changed yesterday. What does the formula currently display?

1. The value Excel last read from Budget2026.xlsx, which may no longer match the current value in that cell.
2. A #REF! error, because Excel cannot evaluate a reference to a closed workbook under any circumstances.
3. The current, up-to-date value, because external references silently poll the source file in the background even while closed.
4. Blank, until the source workbook is renamed to force Excel to re-establish the link.

Question 3A team stores every macro-enabled budgeting workbook it builds in-house inside a single shared folder, and wants those workbooks to open with macros already enabled instead of showing a security warning every time. What should be configured?

1. Add that shared folder as a trusted location in the Trust Center.
2. Set the macro security level to "Enable all macros without notification" for every user's installation of Excel.
3. Save every workbook in the folder with the .xlsx extension instead of .xlsm.
4. Turn on Protect Workbook for each file in the folder.

Question 4Which best describes the difference between copying a macro into a new workbook and writing an external reference formula to another workbook?

1. Copying a macro duplicates working code into the new workbook; an external reference formula reads a live value from another workbook without duplicating anything.
2. Both operations produce the exact same result: a stored value that stops updating once the source workbook closes.
3. An external reference formula copies code, while copying a macro only creates a pointer to the original workbook.
4. Neither operation is possible unless both workbooks are stored in the same folder.

Question 5A workbook stored on SharePoint was accidentally overwritten with the wrong quarterly figures an hour ago, and it has been saved several times since. What is the most direct way to recover the version from before the mistake?

1. Open File, Info, Version History, and restore the saved version from before the overwrite.
2. Undo (Ctrl+Z) repeatedly until the workbook returns to its state from an hour ago.
3. Reopen the file -- SharePoint automatically reverts to the last correct version on every open.
4. Search the recipient's Downloads folder for a cached local copy from before the mistake.

Question 6Column A holds full names, and Flash Fill was used to extract first names into column B. Three rows in column A are later corrected due to typos. What happens to the corresponding first names in column B?

1. Nothing -- column B keeps the old, now-incorrect first names until Flash Fill is run again with Ctrl+E.
2. Column B updates automatically the next time the workbook is saved.
3. Column B updates automatically the next time the workbook is opened.
4. Excel shows a #REF! error in column B until Flash Fill is rerun.

Question 7A project schedule needs a column of dates that increases one business day at a time, automatically skipping Saturdays and Sundays, starting from a given date. Which Fill Series configuration accomplishes this directly?

1. A Date series with the unit set to Weekday.
2. A Linear series with a step value of 1.
3. A Growth series with a step value of 1.
4. AutoFill, dragging the fill handle without opening the Series dialog.

Question 8A single formula needs to produce a 4-row by 2-column grid of random whole numbers between 10 and 50. Which formula, entered in one cell, does this?

1. =RANDARRAY(4,2,10,50,TRUE)
2. =RAND(4,2,10,50)
3. =RANDARRAY(2,4,10,50,TRUE)
4. =RANDARRAY(4,2,10,50)

Question 9A sample dataset was generated with RANDARRAY() and needs to stay exactly as it currently appears for a report being finalized today, with no further changes even as other parts of the workbook are edited later. What accomplishes this?

1. Copy the RANDARRAY() range, then use Paste Special, Values to replace the formula with its current static output.
2. Nothing needs to be done -- RANDARRAY() only recalculates when its own arguments are edited.
3. Set the workbook's calculation mode to Automatic Except for Data Tables.
4. Add a fifth TRUE argument to the RANDARRAY() formula to freeze its output.

Question 10A column of prices needs to always display exactly two decimal places -- $4 should show as $4.00, not $4. Which custom number format accomplishes this?

1. $0.00
2. $#.##
3. $#,###
4. "$"@