Is Excel a Hard Class?

Microsoft Excel is one of the widely used professional tools across industries, with an estimated 750 million people around the globe relying on this spreadsheet application. Because of how prevalent Excel use is, many types of coursework are available for learners at all levels. Before you embark on Excel coursework, you may wonder how difficult and demanding this type of training will be. This answer depends largely on the depth of study you choose, as well as the prior experience working with datasets and spreadsheets that you bring to the table. Most people who work with Excel consider it a relatively easy skill to acquire, even though it will require time and practice. Basic Excel skills can be picked up fairly quickly, while more advanced concepts will take longer for most learners to grasp and commit to memory. The good news is that learning Excel is an achievable goal for anyone willing to devote effort to their studies. 

What is Hard about Learning Excel?

Learning to work with Excel is a subjective process and isn’t the same for any two students. Some individuals can pick up Excel skills with relative ease, whereas others may find it daunting, especially at first, to become familiar with how to use this application. Those who are just getting started working with spreadsheets or don’t have training in handling data may

Require additional time learning the interface and performing basic tasks. Additionally, individuals who already use other Microsoft 365 applications will likely find the Excel learning process easier and more intuitive than those who are new to using this suite of tools.

Excel has more than 450 functions that span from simple to complex, as well as 270 keyboard shortcuts. The sheer number of features this program offers can be overwhelming to some learners, especially those who think they must become familiar with every single one. One of the hardest components of learning Excel is determining which shortcuts and functions are essential to learn and which won’t be necessary. Most Excel students will find that they only really need to work with a fraction of this app’s full capabilities to perform the tasks they need. The good news is that if you enroll in an Excel bootcamp or skills class, they will likely hone in on the most essential functions and shortcuts, including SUM, COUNT, AVERAGE, and IF. Those enrolled can use these as a foundation in their Excel studies before adding more.

For those who are looking to learn Excel’s advanced features, some of the most challenging tasks you’ll encounter involve complicated data analysis, dynamic reporting, VB programming, PivotTables, automation, advanced formulas, data cleaning, integration with other software, and collaboration features. Fully grasping these tasks will require that you have a deep understanding of Excel, basic understanding of computer programming, and an eye for detail. Some learners may also encounter difficulty creating interactive dashboards, working with PowerQuery, using array formulas, implementing security measures, and debugging complex formulas. 

How Can I Make Learning Excel Easier? 

While it can seem like a daunting task at first to learn Microsoft Excel, many excellent resources are available to help with this process. The following sections will explore how you can use online tutorials, YouTube videos, on-demand classes, and live coursework, including skills classes and bootcamps, to help you learn the ins and outs of Excel. 

Skills Classes/Bootcamps 

Live coursework is an effective way to receive hands-on Excel training in the small class environment. Excel skills classes are often divided into introductory, intermediate, or advanced-level training. One of the main benefits of enrolling in a short class is that it ensures you’ll receive the level of Excel instruction commensurate with your ability level. Novice Excel users can opt for beginner-friendly short classes that teach the basics, such as navigating a spreadsheet and making basic calculations, and not being overwhelmed by trying to master harder spreadsheet skills. Rather than wasting time learning about the Excel user interface, those who already have a background in Excel can opt for intermediate or advanced-level coursework that will teach them topics like how to create PivotTables, split and join text, and create basic macros. 

For those who want to progress from beginner to intermediate and advanced-level Excel training over the course of several days or weeks, bootcamp study is an excellent option. Bootcamps are available in person and live online. One of the main benefits of bootcamp study is that they cover spreadsheet basics before progressing into more advanced concepts and skills. This learning approach ensures that participants have a solid foundation with the basics before attempting advanced-level tasks, such as creating macros. Some providers who offer skills classes in Excel offer a discount for those who attend all three levels as part of the same comprehensive bootcamp.

On-demand Classes

Another learning resource that some learners choose to help them acquire spreadsheet skills is through on-demand Excel coursework. In these asynchronous classes, the educational provider records video lessons and posts additional resources like online tutorials or blogs, which students can complete at their own pace. This flexible learning option is a good choice for those who have busy schedules and may not be able to commit to live bootcamps or certificates that require attending regularly scheduled classes. Students not only have the benefit of determining when and where they wish to study in the asynchronous training format, but they also can dictate their own learning pace. This is especially helpful for those who wish to pause and rewind lessons or rewatch entire videos to commit a tricky Excel skill to memory. Cost-wise, on-demand content is often much more affordable than live study since the content is pre-recorded. 

Some learners may struggle to fully learn the ins and outs of Excel solely through on-demand content because no instructor is present in this training format. This means that students will have to find answers to questions on their own or seek additional support, if needed, to master challenging concepts and ensure they’re applying them correctly. This is why on-demand materials and other asynchronous content like YouTube videos can be a good starting point when studying Excel or provide answers to specific questions, but ultimately are not a substitute for the benefits and support that come with live instruction.

YouTube & Online Video Content

Whether you’re new to Excel or have years of experience working with spreadsheets and are interested in filling in skill gaps, many free spreadsheet resources and tutorials are available online on platforms like YouTube that can provide useful knowledge in a range of Excel features and functions. Tech training companies like Noble Desktop offer free online Excel resources, including 10 Beginner Excel Tricks You Need to Know. This hour-long video is a great place to start your Excel learning journey, as it includes instruction on core topics like navigation shortcuts, autofill, and absolute cell reference. In addition, other top providers around the world upload short videos on platforms like YouTube in which they provide instruction on specific Excel tasks. Students can select short clips that take just a few minutes to watch or more involved video training that runs for more than an hour. Some popular YouTube Excel channels are available from ExcelisFun, Excel Campus, TeachExcel, and Excel Dude. 

Online Blogs & Tutorials

Many top educational providers post well-researched written content on Microsoft Excel. These articles are useful for those looking to learn a specific spreadsheet skill. A simple Google search will yield many such resources that students can read on their own to learn how to perform a specific task in Excel. Educators like Noble Desktop post well-researched articles on a range of useful Excel skills, features, and topics. Noble’s Learn Hub contains more than three dozen articles on Excel topics like how to customize the ribbon, create a basic sparkline, and use Excel on an Android phone. 

Best Ways to Learn Excel Without Difficulty

The process of learning Excel is different for all users. No matter if you’re new to spreadsheets and hoping to learn basic skills like navigating the interface or if you have advanced spreadsheet skills and want to master complex features like VBA, live training is a great resource. Live classes are available from many providers in or near major cities, as well as in the live online learning environment using a teleconferencing platform like Zoom. This ensures that students looking for live coursework can find a class that meets their learning needs. Students connect with an expert instructor who has real-world training in creating worksheets and workbooks and is available to provide in-the-moment feedback, guidance, and support. This interactive learning environment not only provides a way for students to have their questions answered immediately but also to connect with other learners who are on a similar training path. This sense of community can make learning and retaining Excel lessons even easier.

Whereas online resources and on-demand classes can quickly become obsolete, the information taught in live Excel classes reflects the current best practices with spreadsheets and teaches the most current Excel version. Students often have the opportunity to work with real datasets in these small classes (or even bring their own data to use), which is a great way to maximize retention and ensure the topics covered will resonate after the course ends. Many of these programs employ a “learning-by-doing” approach, which is an effective way for students to practice the skills they’re being taught by completing tasks designed to reinforce the skills presented.

Live classes are available in many formats. Students can opt for short skills classes in Excel that take only a day to complete and are available at the introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. They can select a more rigorous bootcamp or certificate program, which spans weeks or months, depending on the course focus. Both part-time and full-time study options are available for Excel bootcamps and certificates so learners with busy schedules can tailor their studies around other commitments. Some live courses also provide incentives like 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, a free course retake option for up to a full year, access to networking events, or professional portfolio development sessions.

Learn Excel with Noble Desktop

If you want to learn how to work with spreadsheets and do so in well under three months, Noble Desktop offers in-person and live online Excel courses. These programs are available to those who are just getting started using spreadsheets, as well as professionals who want to acquire advanced-level Excel training. All Noble courses provide hands-on training in the small class environment and offer a free course retake for up to one year after graduation.

If you’re interested in basic spreadsheet training, Excel Level I: Fundamentals is an excellent learning option. This one-day program teaches all the essential spreadsheet skills you’ll need to get started working with this application. Participants explore basic functions, calculations, graphs, formatting, and printing. This program is intended for students with limited Excel experience and who want to become more proficient.

Excel Level 2: Intermediate is available for those who want to build on their basic Excel training and take their skills even further. This short class covers skills like working with SUMIFs and VLOOKUP. Participants become familiar with using PivotTables to summarize data, split and join text, and sort and filter databases. As a prerequisite, students should have already completed Excel Level 1 or have a similar skill set, including knowledge of formulas, functions, formatting, and printing.

Noble also offers Excel Level 3: Advanced for those who want to master this application’s complicated features. This program teaches students how to use advanced analytics tools, write macros to save time and improve efficiency, and use complex functions like INDEX-Double MATCH and VLOOKUP-MATCH. Those looking to enroll in this program should have proficiency with spreadsheets equivalent to Noble’s Intermediate Excel course, including knowledge of IF statements, VLOOKUP, and PivotTables.

In addition to short course offerings, Noble has a bootcamp that offers more comprehensive spreadsheet training. In Excel Bootcamp, participants progress from Excel beginners to pros over the course of several days. This hands-on course combines beginner, intermediate, and advanced course training and leaves students with the skills necessary to work with functions and formulas, create macros, and work with PivotTables.