Microsoft Excel Course: Level 1
Microsoft Excel. Unlock insights and tell the story in your data.
This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations and data manipulation. It provides the skills and knowledge necessary to create and manage workbooks, and covers topics including adding data, editing data, working with formulas, managing list data, printing and charting. It is an ideal introductory course before progressing to Microsoft Excel Course: Level 2.
We encourage you to use the CCE Excel level self-assessment tool if you're unsure which course level to enrol in.
Aims
This course aims to provide new Excel users with a foundation knowledge of Excel’s core features such as formulas, formatting, navigation, printing and creating charts.
Outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- navigate your way around Excel
- create and work with a new workbook
- open and navigate within workbooks and worksheets
- understand and work with ranges in a worksheet
- understand, create and work with formulas and functions used to perform calculations
- copy and paste data
- understand and use formula cell referencing
- use font formatting techniques
- align the contents of cells
- format rows and columns in a worksheet
- understand and use the number formatting features
- sort and fliter list data
- print workbook data
- create effective charts.
Content
Getting to know Excel – The Excel screen, Ribbon and Toolbars
- Start Excel
- Understand the Start Screen
- Understand Excel terminology
- Understand and Navigate the Excel Workbook Screen
- Use and Customise the Quick Access Toolbar
- Understand and use the Ribbon
- Understand and use Contextual tabs
- Dialogue Box Launchers
- Live Preview
- Undo and Redo Changes
- Customise the Quick Access toolbar to store favourite buttons
- Use Shortcut menus
- Recognise mouse shapes and their functionality
Your first Workbook
- Create Your First Workbook
- Types of Data
- Enter Data
- Move Data
- Selecting Cells
- Editing Data
- Autocalculate
- Delete versus Clear
- Spellcheck
- Save Your Workbook
Working with workbooks
- Open a Workbook
- Move Between Worksheets
- Save a Workbook
- Close a Workbook
Formulas
- Create Simple Formulas
- View Formulas
- Problems with Formulas
- Delete Formulas
- SUM function
- Copying Formulas
- AVERAGE, COUNT, MIN, MAX Functions
- BODMAS
- Edit Formulas
Absolute References
- Understanding Absolute References
- Types of Absolute References
- Applying Absolute References
Filling Data
- Autofill
- Flash Fill
Formatting
- Formatting Numbers
- Formatting Dates
- Formatting Text
- Cell Alignment
- Borders
- Format Painter
Manage Worksheets
- Adjust Columns and Row Sizes
- Insert and Delete Columns and Rows
- Insert Cells
- Insert Sheets
- Move and Copy Sheets
- Delete Sheets
Manage Lists, Sort and Filter
- List Guidelines
- Sort Lists
- Filter Lists
- Freeze Titles
Printing
- Print Preview
- Page Setup
- Partial Printing
- Orientation, Margins and Scaling
- Manage Larger Printouts
- Page Numbering
Charts
- Understand Charting
- Create Charts
- Resize and Move charts
- Chart Styles
- Add and Edit Chart Elements
- Keyboard shorts for Instant Charts
Help
- Accessing Help
- Search the Menus
Best Practice – 5 Golden Rules
- Create sheets with the future in mind
- Choose clarity over looks
- Label columns and rows
- Keep styling and formatting consistent
- Never merge cells in lists
Quick reference guide
Top 25 keyboard shortcuts
Formula Error Messages
Intended audience
Suitable for beginners. Assumes little or no knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
Prerequisites
You should be familiar with the basic functions of a computer operating system such as navigating the environment using a mouse and keyboard, starting applications, copying and pasting objects, formatting text, creating folders, opening files, saving files, familiarity with the accessing the Internet and use of common web browsers.
Delivery modes
- Face-to-face, presenter-taught training
- Online training via the platform Zoom
Delivery style
Face-to-face classes (CCE, Newtown)
These classes run in a computer lab and you do not need to bring your own device.
Face-to-face classes (external venues including PARKROYAL and CBD)
These classes run in a classroom and you need to bring your own device.
Online classes
You will need your own device.
Materials
Course materials are provided electronically using Dropbox. Teaching instructions and materials are specifically tailored to Windows PC users.
Additional information
Recommended operating system: Windows or Mac
Recommended software for PC: MS Excel 2013, 2016, 2019, 365
Recommended software for Mac OS: MS Excel 2016, 2019, 365
Recommended browser: Chrome
Overview
Sessions:
Location:
Price:
Class schedule
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<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Mon 2 Jun 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)
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<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Wed 25 Jun 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)
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<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Wed 16 Jul 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)
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<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Wed 13 Aug 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Wed 10 Sep 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Mon 29 Sep 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Tue 28 Oct 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+11:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Fri 21 Nov 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+11:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Mon 15 Dec 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+11:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Thu 15 May 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Tue 10 Jun 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Tue 29 Jul 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Tue 26 Aug 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+10:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Tue 14 Oct 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+11:00)
<p>{block name:"Course Tagline - Microsoft Excel"}</p>
<p>This Microsoft Excel short course will help you improve the way you manage and present information, and take the legwork out of calculations
...Thu 13 Nov 2025
9:30am - 4:30pm (UTC+11:00)
If there isn't a class to suit your preferred time or delivery format, please JOIN the waiting list.
Featured facilitators
Cathy Jackson
Cathy is a dedicated professional with over 30 years of experience in delivering training in Microsoft applications. Her extensive background includes working with clients from various sectors,...
Danish Malik
Danish is an experienced professional with 20 years of experience in training, consulting, finance, project management and engineering. He has worked in organisations including Siemens, Shell,...
Denise Tsagaris
Denise Tsagaris is a highly experienced trainer and consultant with over 25 years of expertise in instructing Microsoft applications, spanning from fundamental to advanced levels. Throughout her...
Mandy Vyner
Mandy is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience in delivering transformational technology training services across a broad range of industries. Her expertise lies in curriculum...
What others say
What an excellent tutor! The course was very engaging and full of practical work. I prefer this teaching method rather than following straight from a textbook. The teacher was straight to the point and kept it interesting with funny stories.
- Jenzel Viray
The course was very well run. The tutor was very clear, patient and helpful. Very good resources and books provided. We were advised of many helpful Excel tips during the session. Would highly recommend this course.
- Evanthia Papas
I thoroughly enjoyed this course. I will certainly be back for the next level!
- Britta Crozier