Preparing Data for Analysis with Microsoft Excel

This course is part of Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate

Instructor: Microsoft

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491,496 already enrolled

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

5,447 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

5,447 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

NEW [optional] introduction to Generative AI

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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Assessments

21 assignments

Taught in English

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Build your Data Analysis expertise

This course is part of the Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Professional Certificate.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate from Microsoft

There are 4 modules in this course

This course forms part of the Microsoft Power BI Analyst Professional Certificate. This Professional Certificate consists of a series of courses that offers a good starting point for a career in data analysis using Microsoft Power BI.

No prior skills are needed to be successful in this course. In this course, you’ll learn how to make use of Excel in business scenarios for data analysis. You’ll also learn how to utilize formulas and functions for data analysis.  Specifically, this course will help you gain knowledge and skills for preparing data for analysis using Microsoft Excel and take you one step closer to becoming a Microsoft Power BI Analyst.  After completing this course, you’ll be able to:  • Create data in Microsoft Excel and prepare it for data analysis.  • Make use of common formulas and functions in a worksheet.  • Prepare Excel data for analysis in Power BI using functions.

This module introduces essential Excel elements and techniques beginning with the creation and formatting of worksheets. It explores the Excel features that are useful when viewing large data blocks and explains how to create accurate calculations.

What's included

12 videos19 readings7 assignments2 discussion prompts

12 videos Total 72 minutes

Introduction to the program 6 minutes
Course introduction: Preparing data for analysis with Microsoft Excel 3 minutes
Day in the life 4 minutes
Welcome to Generative AI for everyone 6 minutes
Understanding the Capabilities of Generative AI for Business Functions 9 minutes
Generative AI - Under the hood 8 minutes
The potential pitfalls and shortcomings of GEN AI 6 minutes
Introduction to Microsoft Excel 7 minutes
Entering and formatting data 6 minutes
Reading large data blocks 7 minutes
Sorting and filtering data in Excel 7 minutes
Module summary: Excel fundamentals 4 minutes

19 readings Total 235 minutes

Course syllabus: Preparing data for analysis with Microsoft Excel 10 minutes
How to be successful in this course 10 minutes
Skills measured in the Microsoft Exam PL300 10 minutes
How to open an image in a new tab 10 minutes
How to locate your downloaded files 10 minutes
Additional resources: Key concepts 5 minutes
Generative AI Terminology 10 minutes
Generative AI in Business 10 minutes
Regional variations in Excel 10 minutes
Working with rows and columns 10 minutes
Working with worksheets 10 minutes
Exercise: Adding data to a worksheet 30 minutes
Exemplar: Adding data to a worksheet 10 minutes
Additional resources: Creating workbook content 5 minutes
Exercise: Sorting data 30 minutes
Exemplar: Sorting data 10 minutes
Exercise: Filtering data 30 minutes
Exemplar: Filtering data 10 minutes
Additional resources: Working with blocks of data in Excel 5 minutes

7 assignments Total 105 minutes

General Knowledge Quiz 15 minutes
Self-review: Adding data to a worksheet 10 minutes
Knowledge check: Creating workbook content 15 minutes
Self-review: Sorting data 10 minutes
Self-review: Filtering data 10 minutes
Knowledge check: Working with blocks of data in Excel 15 minutes
Module quiz: Excel fundamentals 30 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 20 minutes

Discussion prompt: Meet and greet 10 minutes
What features were new to you and which were most useful 10 minutes

This module introduces formulas and functions in Excel. It explores how these are important to data analysis and how these are used in business scenarios.

What's included

6 videos9 readings5 assignments1 discussion prompt

6 videos Total 38 minutes

What is a formula? 6 minutes
Controlling calculations 6 minutes
Controlling calculations in action 6 minutes
What is a function formula and how to write it 7 minutes
Using the INSERT function 6 minutes
Module summary: Formulas and functions 7 minutes

9 readings Total 120 minutes

Order of precedence in calculations 10 minutes
Useful percentage calculations 10 minutes
Exercise: Calculating profit and margin 30 minutes
Exemplar: Calculating profit and margin 10 minutes
Additional resources: Formulas in Excel 5 minutes
The AutoSum shortcut 10 minutes
Exercise: Preparing a monthly sales report 30 minutes
Exemplar: Preparing a monthly sales report 10 minutes
Additional resources: Getting started with functions 5 minutes

5 assignments Total 80 minutes

Self-Review: Calculating profit and margin 10 minutes
Knowledge check: Formulas in Excel 15 minutes
Self-Review: Preparing a monthly sales report 10 minutes
Knowledge check: Getting started with functions 15 minutes
Module quiz: Formulas and functions 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

What features were new to you and which were most useful? 10 minutes

The module introduces common functions that help prepare Excel data for analysis in tools such as Power BI.

What's included

6 videos13 readings7 assignments1 discussion prompt

6 videos Total 40 minutes

How inconsistent data can affect data analysis 6 minutes
Why understanding date calculations is important 6 minutes
Dynamic date and time entries 6 minutes
Using the IF function 8 minutes
Using nested IF and IFS function 8 minutes
Module summary: Preparing Data for Analysis Using Functions 7 minutes

13 readings Total 175 minutes

Functions which can be used to standardize text data 10 minutes
Exercise: Standardizing text-based data 30 minutes
Exemplar: Standardising text-based data 10 minutes
Additional resources: Using functions to clean or standardize text 5 minutes
Other useful date calculations 10 minutes
Exercise: Calculating the number of working days remaining in the year 30 minutes
Exemplar: Calculating the number of working days remaining in the year 10 minutes
Additional resources: Date and time functions 5 minutes
AND and OR functions 10 minutes
IF functions 10 minutes
Exercise: Adding a data column using the IFS function 30 minutes
Exemplar: Adding a data column using the IFS function 10 minutes
Additional resources: Logical functions 5 minutes

7 assignments Total 105 minutes

Self-review: Standardizing text-based data 10 minutes
Knowledge check: Using functions to clean or standardize text 15 minutes
Self-review: Calculating the number of working days remaining in the year 10 minutes
Knowledge check: Date and time functions 15 minutes
Self-Review: Adding a data column using the IFS function 10 minutes
Knowledge check: Logical functions 15 minutes
Module quiz: Formulas and functions 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

What features were new to you and which were most useful 10 minutes

In this module, you will be assessed on the key skills covered in the Course.

What's included

2 videos4 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

2 videos Total 10 minutes

Course recap: Preparing data for analysis with Microsoft Excel 7 minutes
Congratulations 4 minutes

4 readings Total 60 minutes

About the final project and assessment: Preparing data for analysis with Microsoft Excel 10 minutes
Final course project: Creating an executive data summary 30 minutes
Exemplar: Creating an executive data summary 10 minutes
Next steps 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 105 minutes

Self-review: Creating an executive data summary 15 minutes
Course quiz: Preparing data for analysis with MS Excel 90 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Reflect on learning 10 minutes

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Microsoft

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Reviewed on Feb 8, 2026

Muy práctico y fácil de digerir, no te quedes con lo que ya sabes, ten la mente abierta para que aprendas nuevas formas de hacer las cosas de una forma rápida y práctica, optimizando tiempo.

Reviewed on Nov 14, 2023

It was awesome experience and Coursera is the Best Platform for Learning new skills and polishing your existing skills. Thanks to Coursera team for valuable contribution in the journey of knowledge.

Reviewed on Sep 10, 2025

It was great helping me become more efficient in Excel. I am a basic user but now I feel confident leveraging the advanced Excel tools. I am super excited to learn more about Power BI

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