2012 MSDE BMF SUMMER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:MS EXCEL CERTIFICATIONDR. NICOLE BUZZETTO-MORE

• Microsoft dictates to Certiport the tasks that should be included on the certification exams.

• A test is developed around these skills and several versions of the same question are created each of equal difficulty.

• The test does not change once it is developed until a new version of Microsoft is introduced.

• What this means is that every certification test is inherently the same as every other certification test whereas each test is comprised of the same tasks with variations in the wording of the question and the task specifics.

NOW ABOUT THE TESTHOW THE TEST IS DEVELOPED

• The tests are skill based and take place in a simulated application environment.

• Most questions have multiple tasks and the examination is assessed based on both the outcome and the clicks involved.

• Microsoft wants to insure that users can locate and utilize key feature. With this in mind, test takers are not required to do much typing.

• Rather, the test requires users to locate the necessary feature and click appropriately.The questions are not worded to be tricky or misleading.

• For success a test taker just needs to be well versed in the software application, ready to be persistent and search for the correct answer, and pace their self.

• Learn all of the tabs and associated groups • Be familiar with the MS Office button or in 2010 Backstage view • Learn Excel Options• If you are not sure about a question, select skip to move ahead. You will be able to return to the question at the end of the test. • If you think that you have clicked too many places looking for the answer, you can reset the question and start again and you will not be penalized. • Keep track of the time. You neither want to move too sluggishly nor at a hurried pace. • Do not over think questions. • Stick to the literal.

If a question asks you to change the initials of a user, you may be include to change the author’s information. This would be incorrect. The author information is part of a document’s properties and is specific to a single document. The user is set at the software level by visiting Options.

TIPS

• The 2003 tests were very easy to pass and used the most common features. Do not use them to set your expectations for the 2007 or 2010 tests.

• The 2007 tests are more complicated than the 2003 tests. The test is around 24 questions. The test covers a lot of the software and makes you use all of the tabs available in Excel. Several questions use the Microsoft Office Button. A couple of questions use Excel Options. More work with tables required.

• 2010 tests are comprised of more questions than the 2007 tests. 2010 test is 18 questions.

2010 test does not cover as many components Covers all relevant new features (elements in Backstage view, sparklines, artistic effects,

new smart art graphics, file recovery, etcetera) No pivot tables More modification of formulas required.

COMPARING THE 2003, 2007, AND 2010 TESTS

2007 EXAM TASKS (SEE HANDBOOK)

Managing the Worksheet Environment• Navigate through a worksheet.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Hot keys, name box• Print a worksheet or workbook.

This objective may include but is not limited to: printing only selected worksheets, printing an entire workbook, constructing headers and footers, and applying printing options (scale, print titles, page setup, print area, gridlines)

• Personalize environment by using Backstage. This objective may include but is not limited to: Manipulate the Quick Access Toolbar, manipulate the ribbon tabs

and groups, manipulate Excel default settings, import data to Excel, import data from Excel, demonstrate how to manipulate workbook properties, manipulate workbook files and folders. apply different name and file formats for different uses by using save and save as features

Creating Cell Data• Construct cell data.

This objective may include but is not limited to: using paste special (formats, formulas, values, preview icons, transpose rows and columns, operations, comments, validation, paste as a link), and cutting, moving, and select cell data

• Apply AutoFill. This objective may include but is not limited to: Copy data using AutoFill, fill series using AutoFill, copy or preserve

cell format with AutoFill, select from drop-down list• Apply and manipulate hyperlinks.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Create a hyperlink in a cell, modify hyperlinks, modify hyperlinked-cell attributes, remove a hyperlink

2010 Test Objectives

Formatting Cells and Worksheets• Apply and modify cell formats.

This objective may include but is not limited to: aligning cell content, applying a number format, wrapping text in a cell, and using Format Painter

• Merge or split cells. This objective may include but is not limited to: using Merge & Center, Merge Across, Merge cells, and Unmerge

Cells• Create row and column titles.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Print row and column headings, print rows to repeat with titles, print columns to repeat with titles, configure titles to print only on odd or even pages, configure titles to skip the first worksheet page

• Hide and unhide rows and columns. This objective may include but is not limited to: Hide a column, unhide a column, hide a series of columns, hide a

row, unhide a row, hide a series of rows• Manipulate Page Setup options for worksheets.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Configure page orientation, manage page scaling, configure page margins, change header and footer size

• Create and apply cell styles. This objective may include but is not limited to: Apply cell styles, construct new cell styles

• Managing Worksheets and Workbooks• Create and format worksheets.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Insert worksheets, delete worksheets, copy, reposition, copy and move, rename, grouping, apply coloring to worksheet tabs, hiding worksheet tabs, unhiding worksheet tabs

• Manipulate window views. This objective may include but is not limited to: splitting window views, arranging window views, and opening a new window with

contents from the current worksheet• Manipulate workbook views.

This objective may include but is not limited to: using Normal, Page Layout, and Page Break workbook views, and creating custom views• Applying Formulas and Functions• Create formulas.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Use basic operators, revise formulas• Enforce precedence.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Order of evaluation, precedence using parentheses, precedence of operators for percent vs. exponentiation

• Apply cell references in formulas. This objective may include but is not limited to: Relative, absolute

• Apply conditional logic in a formula. This objective may include but is not limited to: Create a formula with values that match your conditions, edit defined conditions in a

formula, use a series of conditional logic values in a formula• Apply named ranges in formulas.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Define, edit and rename a named range• Apply cell ranges in formulas.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Enter a cell range definition in the formula bar, define a cell range using the mouse, define a cell range using a keyboard shortcut

• Presenting Data Visually• Create charts based on worksheet data.• Apply and manipulate illustrations.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Clip Art, SmartArt, shapes, screenshots• Create and modify images by using the Image Editor.

This objective may include but is not limited to: making corrections to an image (sharpen or soften an image, changing brightness and contrast), using picture color tools, and changing artistic effects on an image

• Apply Sparklines. This objective may include but is not limited to: using Line, Column, and Win/Loss chart types, creating a Sparkline chart,

customizing a Sparkline, formatting a Sparkline, and showing or hiding data markers• Sharing worksheet data with other users• Share spreadsheets by using Backstage.

This objective may include but is not limited to: sending a worksheet via E-mail or Skydrive, changing the file type to a different version of Excel, and saving as PDF or XPS

• Manage comments. This objective may include but is not limited to: inserting, viewing, editing, and deleting comments

• Analyzing and Organizing Data• Filter data.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Define, apply, remove, search, filter lists using AutoFilter• Sort data.

This objective may include but is not limited to: using sort options (values, font color, cell color)• Apply conditional formatting.

This objective may include but is not limited to: Apply conditional formatting to cells, use the Rule Manager to Apply Conditional Formats, use the IF Function and Apply Conditional Formatting, icon sets, data bars, clear rules

  FormattingSplit WorksheetUse Format PainterHide or Show ColumnsDelete RowsShow InkChange MarginsEdit Header/FooterShow File NameDisplay File PathModify Style

Change Tab ColorShow FormulasModify Page Set Up OptionsMerge CellsPaste Only ValuesModify CommentsDelete CommentsModify Heading Style

Convert to Table    Document Management

Save As Other File Type (csv, pdf)Change Comment DisplayInsert a new commentCopy WorksheetMove WorksheetModify Print OptionsManipulate Print AreaProtect WorksheetEdit Autosave Options

    Design Elements

Move position of a pictureChange SmartArt GraphicAdd Effects to SmartArt GraphicChange Direction of GraphicRemove Background of ImageScale Chart or Image

Correct Image    Formulas

Create Formulas Using Named Ranges Create a Formula Across SheetsReference Cells Across SheetsAbsolute ReferencesFind MaximumModify Logical Formula (If)Change Order of Evaluation In A Formula

  

Manipulating DataEdit Named RangesFilter by two criteriaSort By Two LevelsCustom Auto-filterCreate or Edit Range

Insert Sparklines Apply Conditional Formatting Find and Replace

2010 EXCEL TEST CONTENT (EXAM TASKS IDENTIFIED)

• Performance-based technology similar to the certification exams offers an authentic certification exam experience

• Each Office application features a Practice Test and Learning Mode—giving test-takers self-paced learning and a testing experience that's just like sitting for the actual exam

• The Practice Test provides a testing experience (including time limitations and interface) that uses the same certification exam technology to assess initial skills and certification exam preparedness

• The Learning Mode provides feedback and step-by-step instruction for each question.• The large bank of test items aligns to specific certification skill objectives• Network licenses can be tracked and managed through the same Web interface used

for the certification exams• Network licenses work in tandem with Web-based reporting that details group or

individual performance to illustrate growth or pinpoint areas for improvement• The Certiprep Study Guide maps to learning resources for further study and displays

results by skill objective that can be printed or shared electronically

CERTIPREP

• Overview of features: • • Practice tests map to the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam objectives • • All tests are in-application or performance-based simulations to provide the best assessment of

real-world experience • • All tests have both a testing and a training mode providing step-by-step help on each question • • 50+ questions per test in training mode covering all objectives • • Progress at own pace, save test to resume later, return to skipped questions • • Detailed, printable score report highlighting areas requiring further review • • Integration with Learning Management Systems (available Q2 11) •

• Overview of Administrator features: • • Online administration and tracking tool for teacher/manager • • Online dashboard for each student to his or her own track progress • • Create/manage student accounts • • Create/manage groups of students • • Create customized tests from question pools to target specific areas of study • • Activate/De-activate test access codes, customize codes to your unique requirements, control

expiration dates, number of retakes, access to all or just certain tests • • Online dashboard for each student for tracking his or her own progress •

1. Make sure you are familiar with all the tabs and features.2. Really, examine all the tasks that will be on the test. Go through and find in

Excel where each feature is located. 1. First time do it with some direction2. Next do it with no guidance and make sure you can locate features quickly

3. Take practice tests in Learning Mode to get familiar with questions and use built in assistance

4. Write down questions that were difficult5. Ask Muna, Magdi, and Myself lots of questions we will work with you one on

one and as a group6. Use the handbook and the Exam Reference book7. Take practice tests in test mode (don’t try to memorize questions exactly as

they will not be identical just similar)

YOUR CURRENT STRATEGIES

• THE MS WORD HANDBOOK INCLUDES ALL THE SAME INFORMATION FOR MS WORD 2007 AND 2010

•QUESTIONS?