eGigExcel interview questions and answers
Excel tests are common for accounts, MIS, data entry, sales support and analyst roles. Practise each of these on a real sheet before your interview.
12 questions. Read each one, start the timer and answer out loud as if you were in the room, then open the tip. Nothing is recorded.
VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP or INDEX-MATCH: what is the difference?
What a good answer covers
VLOOKUP looks right only and breaks when columns move. INDEX-MATCH looks in any direction. XLOOKUP does both simply in newer Excel.
How do you create a pivot table?
What a good answer covers
Select the data, Insert → PivotTable, then drag fields to rows, columns and values. Refresh when data changes.
COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTIF and COUNTIFS: what is the difference?
What a good answer covers
COUNT counts numbers, COUNTA counts non-empty cells, COUNTIF counts with one condition, COUNTIFS with several.
How do you remove duplicates?
What a good answer covers
Data → Remove Duplicates, or the UNIQUE function in Microsoft 365. Keep a copy of the original first.
What is the difference between relative and absolute references?
What a good answer covers
A1 changes when copied; $A$1 stays fixed. Press F4 to switch between them.
What is conditional formatting? Give an example.
What a good answer covers
Formatting cells by rules, like marking overdue dates in red or the top 10 sales in green.
How do you join text from two cells?
What a good answer covers
Use & or CONCAT, for example =A2&" "&B2, or TEXTJOIN for many cells with a separator.
What is IFERROR used for?
What a good answer covers
Showing a clean value like 0 or “Not found” instead of an error such as #N/A.
How do you split full names into first and last names?
What a good answer covers
Text to Columns, Flash Fill (Ctrl+E), or TEXTSPLIT in Microsoft 365.
What is data validation?
What a good answer covers
Rules on what can be entered in a cell, like a dropdown list or a date range.
How do you protect a sheet?
What a good answer covers
Unlock the cells people may edit, then Review → Protect Sheet with a password.
Which shortcuts do you use most?
What a good answer covers
Ctrl+T for a table, Ctrl+Shift+L for filters, Alt+= for AutoSum, Ctrl+arrow keys to jump, F4 for $ references.
All 12 questions with answers
1. VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP or INDEX-MATCH: what is the difference?
VLOOKUP looks right only and breaks when columns move. INDEX-MATCH looks in any direction. XLOOKUP does both simply in newer Excel.
2. How do you create a pivot table?
Select the data, Insert → PivotTable, then drag fields to rows, columns and values. Refresh when data changes.
3. COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTIF and COUNTIFS: what is the difference?
COUNT counts numbers, COUNTA counts non-empty cells, COUNTIF counts with one condition, COUNTIFS with several.
4. How do you remove duplicates?
Data → Remove Duplicates, or the UNIQUE function in Microsoft 365. Keep a copy of the original first.
5. What is the difference between relative and absolute references?
A1 changes when copied; $A$1 stays fixed. Press F4 to switch between them.
6. What is conditional formatting? Give an example.
Formatting cells by rules, like marking overdue dates in red or the top 10 sales in green.
7. How do you join text from two cells?
Use & or CONCAT, for example =A2&" "&B2, or TEXTJOIN for many cells with a separator.
8. What is IFERROR used for?
Showing a clean value like 0 or “Not found” instead of an error such as #N/A.
9. How do you split full names into first and last names?
Text to Columns, Flash Fill (Ctrl+E), or TEXTSPLIT in Microsoft 365.
10. What is data validation?
Rules on what can be entered in a cell, like a dropdown list or a date range.
11. How do you protect a sheet?
Unlock the cells people may edit, then Review → Protect Sheet with a password.
12. Which shortcuts do you use most?
Ctrl+T for a table, Ctrl+Shift+L for filters, Alt+= for AutoSum, Ctrl+arrow keys to jump, F4 for $ references.
Before the interview
- Read the job description twice and match two of your examples to what it asks for.
- Keep printed copies of your resume, ID proof and certificates ready, even for online rounds.
- Know your current CTC, expected salary and notice period. Check typical pay in our salary guide, and compare offers with the in-hand salary calculator.
- Genuine employers never ask you to pay for an interview, training kit or joining. Report anyone who does.