These ten questions are original and use invented data. They mix model layout, charts, unit formats, boundary tests and hidden rows, and run from easy to harder. Try each in your own spreadsheet or on paper, then open the answer and compare.
Check the current Cambridge syllabus page for the exact wording of the course. The ideas come from the spreadsheet modelling and charts module, and you can rehearse reference skills on the spreadsheet reference practice grid.
Q1 (easy). A fare model has B2 = 12 (distance in km), B3 = 0.80 (rate in RM per km) and B4 = =B2*B3. Which cells are inputs, and what does B4 show?
Show answer
Inputs are B2 and B3. B4 is a calculation: 12 × 0.80 = 9.60, so RM9.60.
Q2 (easy). A student writes =B2*0.8 in B4 instead. The rate changes to RM0.90. What should the fare be, and what does the sheet show?
Show answer
It should be 12 × 0.90 = 10.80. The sheet still shows 9.60, because the rate is typed inside the formula. The fix is =B2*B3 with the rate in B3.
Q3 (easy). Monthly visitor numbers for an invented library are recorded from January to June. Which chart type fits, and why?
Show answer
A line chart. The months are in order, and the question is about change over time.
Q4 (easy). A survey of 100 students finds 45 prefer cycling, 30 prefer walking and 25 prefer the bus. Which chart shows the shares, and what are the percentages?
Show answer
A pie chart with three slices. The percentages are 45%, 30% and 25%, which add to 100%.
Q5 (medium). B2 holds 0.125 and is formatted as a percentage with one decimal place. What is displayed, and what is stored?
Show answer
It displays 12.5% (0.125 × 100). The stored value is still 0.125.
Q6 (medium). B2:B4 holds 20, “15km” (typed as text) and 30. What does =SUM(B2:B4) give, and what is the correct total after fixing the cell?
Show answer
The text cell is skipped, so SUM gives 20 + 30 = 50. After retyping B3 as 15 and showing the unit in the heading, the total is 20 + 15 + 30 = 65.
Q7 (medium). The formula =IF(B2>=60,“Merit”,“Standard”) is meant to award “Merit” at 60 and above. List a test table that includes the boundary, with expected results.
Show answer
| Test value | Expected result |
|---|---|
| 59 | Standard |
| 60 | Merit |
| 61 | Merit |
Testing 60 itself is the important row, because it shows that >= includes the boundary.
Q8 (medium). A margin cell holds =B4/B5, where B5 is revenue. Write a safer version, then give its result for B4 = 90, B5 = 360 and for B4 = 90, B5 = 0.
Show answer
=IF(B5=0,0,B4/B5). For B5 = 360: 90 / 360 = 0.25 (25%). For B5 = 0: 0, with no error shown.
Q9 (harder). B2:B5 holds 8, 12, 20 and 40. Row 4 (value 20) is hidden. What does =SUM(B2:B5) give, what do the visible rows add up to, and why might a marker query the printout?
Show answer
SUM gives 8 + 12 + 20 + 40 = 80. The visible rows give 8 + 12 + 40 = 60. The printed total of 80 does not match the visible rows, so the marker may think there is an error. Unhide the row, or use a total that ignores hidden rows and label it.
Q10 (harder). A stall model has price RM4.00 (B3), items sold 75 (B4) and cost RM2.60 each (B5). Revenue is =B3*B4, cost is =B5*B4, profit is revenue minus cost, and margin is profit divided by revenue. Find all four values. Then change the price to RM3.50 and find profit and margin. Which chart would compare revenue, cost and profit?
Show answer
Original: revenue = 4.00 × 75 = 300.00, cost = 2.60 × 75 = 195.00, profit = 300 − 195 = 105.00, margin = 105 / 300 = 0.35 (35%).
At RM3.50: revenue = 3.50 × 75 = 262.50, cost is still 195.00, profit = 262.50 − 195 = 67.50, margin = 67.50 / 262.50 ≈ 0.257 (25.7%).
Revenue, cost and profit are separate categories, so a column chart compares them, with a title and a labelled “RM” axis.
If you got these wrong
| What went wrong | Go back to |
|---|---|
| Missed which cells are inputs, or a number was typed into a formula (Q1, Q2, Q10) | Separate inputs, calculations and outputs |
| Chart type did not match the relationship (Q3, Q4, Q10) | Create a chart suited to the data relationship |
| Percentages, text units or displayed versus stored values (Q5, Q6) | Format units without converting numbers to text |
| Boundary tests or division by zero (Q7, Q8) | Test a model with boundary inputs |
| Totals with hidden rows (Q9) | Check print areas and hidden rows |
Keep a note of each slip in the mistake log, and organise your own task evidence with the ICT practical task and evidence checker.
If the same type of error returns after revision, our online one-to-one ICT tuition can work through your own sheets and tasks with you.