Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) MO-201

The Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) examination is designed to demonstrate the correct application of the principal features of Excel at an expert level and can complete tasks independently. The exam covers the ability to customize Excel environments to meet project needs and to enhance productivity. Expert workbook examples include custom business templates, multiple-axis financial charts, amortization tables, and inventory schedules.

Knowledge Required for the Exam

After completion of this certification which includes approximately 150 hours of instruction and hands-on experience with the product, you will be ready to enter into the job market. 

Exam Overview

The Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) MO-201 examination consists primarily of multiple-choice questions, but you might also encounter build a tree, reorder, or simulation questions. Furthermore, the cost of the examination is $100 and you need to get at least a score of  700/1000 to clear the examination. You are approximately given 90 minutes to complete the examination but Microsoft does not disclose the exam’s time limit. Furthermore, it is available in the English language only.

Exam Registration

For Registering yourself for the Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) MO-201 examination, follow the following steps:

• Go to the official website and click on the schedule now option.
• You will be redirected to the Certiport registration page.
• Follow the steps and complete your registration.
• Furthermore, you will be receiving a confirmation mail once you have made your payment.

Exam Policies for Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) MO-201

The candidate is recommended to read these policies so as to avoid any kind of confusion in the future. These policies contain information about registration options, learning credits, etc.

Exam Retake Policy

If the candidate failed to achieve the passing score, then he/she has to wait for 24 hours before reapplying to the examination. The candidate can go to their certificate dashboard and reschedule the exam themselves. The candidate can reappear for the examination only five times. Failure in the second attempt will result in a waiting time of 14 days before rescheduling your third attempt. The waiting period for the fourth and the fifth attempts will also be 14 days. 

Exam Cancellation Policy

Microsoft offers candidates to cancel or reschedule their exams within a minimum of 24 hours prior to the exam date. However, to prevent any cancellation fee, you must cancel or reschedule your exam, at least 6 business days prior to the date scheduled for your exam. Also, if you fail to appear in the exam, then you will not receive any refund of the exam fee.

Recertification Policy

Microsoft certification is expected to expire when the products are out of mainstream support although the person`s certification will be recognized. Officially, the certification will never expire.

You can read the full policies on the official website of Microsoft.

For more information, click on Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) MO-201 FAQ.

Course Outline

The Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) MO-201 examination covers the following topics:

 Manage workbook options and settings (15-20%)

• Manage workbooks
  • copy macros between workbooks (Microsoft Documentation: Copy a macro module to another workbook)
  • reference data in other workbooks
  • enable macros in a workbook (Microsoft Documentation: Enable or disable macros in Microsoft 365 files)
  • manage workbook versions (Microsoft Documentation: View previous versions of Office files)

• Prepare workbooks for collaboration
  • restrict editing (Microsoft Documentation: Restrict changes to files)
  • protect worksheets and cell ranges (Microsoft Documentation: Protect a worksheet)
  • protect workbook structure (Microsoft Documentation: Protect a workbook)
  • configure formula calculation options
  • manage comments (Microsoft Documentation: Insert comments and notes in Excel)

• Use and configure language options
  • configure editing and display languages (Microsoft Documentation: Change the language Office uses in its menus and proofing tools)
  • use language-specific features (Microsoft Documentation: Language-specific Properties, Methods, and Functions)

Manage and format data (20-25%)

• Fill cells based on existing data
  • and then fill cells by using Flash (Microsoft Documentation: Fill Using Flash Fill in Excel)
  • fill cells by using advanced (Microsoft Documentation: Fill Series options Fill data automatically in worksheet cells)

• Format and validate data
  • create custom number formats (Microsoft Documentation: Create and apply a custom number format)
  • configure data validation (Microsoft Documentation: Apply data validation to cells)
  • group and ungroup data (Microsoft Documentation: Outline (group) data in a worksheet)
  • calculate data by inserting subtotals and totals (Microsoft Documentation: Insert subtotals in a list of data in a worksheet)
  • remove duplicate records 

• Apply advanced conditional formatting and filtering
  • create custom conditional formatting rules (Microsoft Documentation: Highlight patterns and trends with conditional formatting)
  • create conditional formatting rules that use formulas (Microsoft Documentation: Use formulas)
  • manage conditional formatting rules

Create advanced formulas and macros (30-35%)

• Perform logical operations in formulas
  • perform logical operations by using nested functions including the IF(), IFS(), SWITCH(), SUMIF(), AVERAGEIF(), COUNTIF(), SUMIFS(), AVERAGEIFS(), COUNTIFS(), MAXIFS(), MINIFS(), AND(), OR(), and NOT() functions
  • Look up data by using functions (Microsoft Documentation: LOOKUP function)
  • look up data by using the VLOOKUP(), HLOOKUP(), MATCH(), and INDEX() functions (Microsoft Documentation: Look up values with VLOOKUP, INDEX, or MATCH)

• Use advanced date and time functions
  • reference date and time by using the NOW() and TODAY() functions (Microsoft Documentation: Insert the current date and time in a cell)
  • calculate dates by using the WEEKDAY() and WORKDAY() functions (Microsoft Documentation: WORKDAY function, WEEKDAY function)

• Perform data analysis
  • summarize data from multiple ranges by using the Consolidate Feature (Microsoft Documentation: Consolidate data in multiple worksheets)
  • perform what-if analysis by using Goal Seek and Scenario Manager
  • forecast data by using the AND(), IF(), and NPER() functions (Microsoft Documentation: NPER function)
  • calculate financial data by using the PMT() function (Microsoft Documentation: PMT function)

• Troubleshoot formulas
  • trace precedence and dependence (Microsoft Documentation: Display the relationships between formulas and cells)
  • monitor cells and formulas by using the Watch Window
  • validate formulas by using error checking rules (Microsoft Documentation: Detect errors in formulas)
  • evaluate formulas

• Create and modify simple macros
  • record simple macros (Microsoft Documentation: Create or run a macro)
  • name simple macros
  • edit simple macros (Microsoft Documentation: Edit a macro)

Manage advanced charts and tables (25-30%)

• Create and modify advanced charts
  • Firstly, create and modify dual axis charts (Microsoft Documentation: Add or remove a secondary axis in a chart in Excel)
  • Secondly, create and modify charts including Box & Whisker, Combo, Funnel, Histogram, Map, Sunburst, and Waterfall charts (Microsoft Documentation: Create a box and whisker chart)

• Create and modify PivotTables
  • create PivotTables (Microsoft Documentation: Create a PivotTable to analyze worksheet data)
  • modify field selections and options
  • create slicers (Microsoft Documentation: Use slicers to filter data)
  • group PivotTable data (Microsoft Documentation: Group or ungroup data in a PivotTable)
  • add calculated fields
  • format data

• Create and modify PivotCharts
  • create PivotCharts (Microsoft Documentation: Create a PivotChart)
  • manipulate options in existing PivotCharts (Microsoft Documentation: Overview of PivotTables and PivotCharts)
  • apply styles to PivotCharts
  • drill down into PivotChart details

Preparatory Guide for Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) MO-201

Whenever it comes to any examination a student needs to prepare thoroughly for it. Similarly for the Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) MO-201 examination you need a proper structured guide and study plan which will help you to ace the examination. It necessary to have an in-depth knowledge of the topics and other important aspects of the examination. To help you in your preparation, we have curated a preparatory guide. Therefore, let’s get started:

Refer the Exam Guide

It is important to know the topics beforehand. Significantly, this is the most important step in the preparation guide. Furthermore, exam objectives are very important when it comes to preparing the exam strategy. So, let’s take a quick look:

• Manage workbook options and settings (15-20%)
• Manage and format data (20-25%)
• Create advanced formulas and macros (30-35%)
•  Manage advanced charts and tables (25-30%)

Microsoft Books

Microsoft provides reference books that can be helpful while studying for the exam. Furthermore, these books contain various useful resources that can be used while studying. Visit Microsoft Press books, to find relevant books to get a deeper insight into the exam objectives, and hence crack the test, and earn your certification. You can also buy these books from Amazon. These books will help you prepare for the examination in a structural way.

• MOS Study Guide for Microsoft Excel Expert Exam MO-201 by Paul McFedries

Join Microsoft Community

A healthy discussion is always beneficial, no matter where it is done. The prospects of getting resolutions to an issue increase steeply when a greater number of people are involved. These discussions make the studies more comprehensive. Forums work really well to build a community that is essential for understanding others. Interacting with people with the same goal puts you one step forward in achieving those goals. Furthermore, it is suggested that you should join Microsoft Community.

Evaluate yourself with Practice Test

It is very important to practice what you have learned so that you are in a position to analyze your practice. Furthermore, by practicing you will be able to improve your answering skills that will result in saving a lot of time. Moreover, the best way to start doing practice tests is after completing one full topic. It will work as a revision part for you. Furthermore, practicing you will be able to improve your answering skills that will result in saving a lot of time. Moreover, the best way to start doing practice tests is after completing one full topic as this will work as a revision part for you. Moreover, the best way to start doing practice tests is after completing one full topic. Furthermore, it will work as a revision part for you. Start practicing now!