Visualisation & dashboards — quiz

To highlight an entire row where C exceeds 1000, the formula rule is:

1. =C2>1000
2. =$C2>1000
3. =$C$2>1000
4. =C$2>1000

Answer: =$C2>1000 — Locking the column with $C makes every cell in the row test column C, while the row stays relative.

What does Stop If True do?

1. Deletes the rule
2. Prevents later rules from being evaluated when this one matches
3. Freezes the cell
4. Converts to a value

Answer: Prevents later rules from being evaluated when this one matches — It halts rule evaluation for matching cells, protecting the formatting from later rules.

What is the main problem with a 3-D column chart?

1. It is slow
2. Perspective distorts the values
3. It cannot be printed
4. It needs the Data Model

Answer: Perspective distorts the values — Depth and angle make bar heights harder to compare accurately.

When is a secondary axis appropriate?

1. Always, for clarity
2. When the two series use genuinely different units
3. When there are many categories
4. Never

Answer: When the two series use genuinely different units — Same-unit series on independent scales can imply relationships that are not real.

What should you use instead of VBA for repeatable data import and cleanup?

1. Office Scripts
2. Power Query
3. Conditional formatting
4. Data validation

Answer: Power Query — Power Query is refreshable, maintainable, and does not need macro-enabled files.

Why put Option Explicit at the top of a module?

1. It runs faster
2. Undeclared variables become errors instead of silent bugs
3. It enables loops
4. It is required for .xlsm

Answer: Undeclared variables become errors instead of silent bugs — It forces declaration, so a mistyped variable name is caught at compile time.

Which skill appears most consistently in practical Excel tests?

1. VBA class modules
2. Lookups and pivot tables
3. Custom chart templates
4. Power Pivot DAX

Answer: Lookups and pivot tables — Lookups and pivots are near-universal; the advanced tools appear at analyst level and above.

Which answer signals seniority in an interview?

1. Listing every function you know
2. Explaining when Excel was the wrong tool and what you used instead
3. Saying you always use VBA
4. Describing keyboard shortcuts

Answer: Explaining when Excel was the wrong tool and what you used instead — Judgment about tool fit reads as more experienced than feature recall.

Why place pivot output using a linked picture?

1. It is faster
2. It can be positioned freely without the pivot layout constraining the design
3. It reduces file size
4. It avoids refreshing

Answer: It can be positioned freely without the pivot layout constraining the design — The picture updates when the pivot does.

The test of a maintainable dashboard is:

1. It uses macros
2. Someone else can add data and refresh without help
3. It has many charts
4. It uses conditional formatting

Answer: Someone else can add data and refresh without help — Which is why raw data belongs on its own sheet.