Microsoft Excel Beginner Learning Plan
(Printable)
📍 Purpose: This 20-day plan helps absolute beginners learn Excel from scratch. Follow step
by step, one topic per day.
🌱 Phase 1: Getting Comfortable
Day 1: Excel Interface
• Understand: Workbook, Worksheet, Rows, Columns, Cells.
• Explore the Name Box and Formula Bar.
• Learn how to save, open, and close a workbook.
Day 2: Entering & Editing Data
• Enter text, numbers, and dates.
• Use Cut, Copy, Paste.
• Use Undo (Ctrl+Z) and Redo (Ctrl+Y).
Day 3: Basic Formatting
• Apply bold, italics, font changes.
• Align text (left, center, right).
• Use cell background color and borders.
• Format numbers as Currency, Percent, Date.
📝 Practice: Make a personal budget sheet.
📘 Phase 2: Essential Tools
Day 4: Rows, Columns, and Sheets
• Insert/delete rows and columns.
• Rename and move sheets.
• Resize rows and columns.
Day 5: Autofill & Flash Fill
• Use fill handle to extend values (e.g., Monday → Friday).
• Use Flash Fill for names or patterns.
Day 6: Simple Formulas
• Use =A1+B1, =A1-A2, =A1*A2, =A1/A2
• Learn functions: SUM(), AVERAGE(), MAX(), MIN()
Day 7: Practice Day
• Build a simple income and expense tracker with formulas.
📊 Phase 3: Organizing Data
Day 8: Sorting & Filtering
• Use Data > Sort (A-Z, Z-A).
• Apply filters to show only selected values.
Day 9: Tables
• Convert data into a table (Insert > Table).
• Use headers and banded rows.
Day 10: Conditional Formatting
• Highlight cells based on values (e.g., >5000).
• Use color scales and icon sets.
Day 11: More Practice
• Create a monthly expense tracker with conditional formatting and sorting.
Day 12: Data Cleanup
• Remove duplicates.
• Use Find and Replace (Ctrl+F and Ctrl+H).
📈 Phase 4: Visualizing Data
Day 13: Creating Charts
• Create Pie, Bar, and Line charts from selected data.
• Learn to format and label charts.
Day 14: Working with Multiple Sheets
• Link cells between sheets (e.g., =Sheet2!A1)
• Create a summary dashboard.
Day 15: Freeze Panes & Print Setup
• Freeze top row.
• Set print area, orientation (landscape/portrait).
• Print preview and scaling.
🧠 Phase 5: Gaining Confidence
Day 16: Data Validation
• Create drop-down lists.
• Restrict inputs to numbers or specific values.
Day 17: Intro to IF Statements
• =IF(A1>1000, "High", "Low") – basic logic.
Day 18: Named Ranges
• Name a cell range and use it in formulas: =SUM(Expenses)
Day 19: Workbook Review
• Review all sheets and formulas.
• Clean up and format final project.
Day 20: Save & Share
• Save as .xlsx, .csv, and PDF.
• Upload to OneDrive or email it.
✅ By the End of 20 Days, You Can:
• Build and format spreadsheets.
• Use formulas and functions.
• Analyze, filter, and sort data.
• Create visuals and printable reports.
✨ Optional Tools
• Excel Online (Free): https://www.office.com
• Practice Site: https://www.excel-easy.com/
• Free Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/excel-essential
