IGCSE Information and Communication Technology 0417 · Topic 20

Spreadsheets: past paper questions

31 real questionsasked in 3 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Explain, Describe, Write, State, Suggest

Real questions on spreadsheets

The newest 20 of 31 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0417/13 · May/June 2025 · Q13a[3]
Explain the differences between a function and a formula.
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0417/13 · May/June 2025 · Q13b(i)[1]
Function
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0417/13 · May/June 2025 · Q13b(ii)[1]
Formula
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0417/13 · May/June 2025 · Q13c(i)[1]
Explain what is meant by relative cell referencing.
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0417/13 · May/June 2025 · Q13c(ii)[2]
Describe a problem that could occur when a relative cell reference is used.
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0417/12 · February/March 2025 · Q2a(i)[2]
Spreadsheet
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0417/13 · October/November 2023 · Q3a[4]
Fig. 3.1 shows a box containing 50 Choco Bars to sell in the shop. The information on the box will be entered into the spreadsheet. A Choco Bars Contains: 50 Special Price Only $1.20 D Sell by: 1/4/2025 B C Fig. 3.1 State the most appropriate display format in the spreadsheet for each piece of data shown on the box. Yo...
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0417/13 · October/November 2023 · Q3c[2]
The teacher has created a formula in the spreadsheet that calculates the cost of purchasing a number of different items. She has created a formula that: • • subtracts the discount per item from the price of the item to find the cost of the item then multiplies the cost of the item by the quantity. A 1 Product 2 Choco B...
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0417/12 · May/June 2022 · Q9a[4]
Explain, in detail, what the formula in G2 does.
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0417/12 · May/June 2022 · Q9c[6]
Explain, using examples, the differences between a function and a formula.
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0417/11 · October/November 2021 · Q10a[3]
Explain the differences between a VLOOKUP function and a LOOKUP function.
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0417/11 · October/November 2021 · Q10b(i)[3]
Explain, in detail, what the formula in cell E2 does.
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0417/11 · October/November 2021 · Q10b(ii)[2]
When certain room numbers are typed into cell D2 unexpected results appear in cell E2. Suggest improvements that could be made to ensure the correct result is displayed.
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0417/11 · October/November 2021 · Q11d[4]
Explain the advantages of using this formula compared to the original one.
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0417/13 · May/June 2021 · Q8[6]
Many teachers feel that monitoring student progress is an important part of the teaching and learning process. Describe how the features of a spreadsheet can be used by a teacher to help monitor student progress.
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0417/12 · February/March 2021 · Q8a[3]
Before the overall score is calculated the judges’ scores need to be sorted into ascending order. Describe the steps that would be carried out to sort the data into ascending order.
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0417/12 · February/March 2021 · Q8b[3]
Cell B12 contains the formula, ROUND((SUM(B5:B9)*D1),1). Explain what the formula in cell B12 does.
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0417/13 · October/November 2020 · Q8a[2]
Explain what the formula in cell H3 does. The formula in cell J3 is: =ROUND(I3,1)
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0417/13 · October/November 2020 · Q8b[2]
Explain what the formula in cell J3 does. At the end of the competition, the table must be sorted into ascending order of Total Time. The top athlete would be in the gold medal position, the second in silver medal position and the third in bronze medal position. The Medal and Rank columns must be added. This display sh...
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0417/13 · October/November 2020 · Q8c[6]
Explain the steps that must be taken to amend the spreadsheet and to display the data in this way. The heat times are measured by a computer system, but could be measured by officials with stopwatches.
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What examiners said

This question was very challenging for many of the candidates. A function is contained in a formula. A formula states with an equal sign and was written by the user.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0417/13 Q13(a) (Cambridge)

This was well answered by many of the candidates. The Examiners in this session ignored the brackets placed on the function but this may not be the case in future series.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0417/13 Q13(b)(i) (Cambridge)

This was well answered by the majority of the candidates but not as well answered as part (a). Some candidates understood the concept of a formula but missed out the = sign.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0417/13 Q13(b)(ii) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise spreadsheets

In the syllabus

1 0417.20.1.01 — Insert cell(s), row(s) and column(s), delete cell(s), row(s) and column(s), merge cells Create formulae using cell references Replicate form

Insert cell(s), row(s) and column(s), delete cell(s), row(s) and column(s), merge cells Create formulae using cell references Replicate formulae using absolute and relative cell references where appropriate Use arithmetic operators in formulae including add, subtract, multiply, divide, indices Use named cells and named ranges Use functions including sum, average, maximum, minimum, integer, rounding, counting, LOOKUP, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, IF Use external data sources within functions Use nested functions
The difference between a formula and a function
The order in which mathematical operations are performed including the use brackets to make sure that formulae work
Characteristics and use of absolute and relative cell referencing

2 0417.20.1.02 — The difference between a formula and a function

The difference between a formula and a function

3 0417.20.1.03 — The order in which mathematical operations are performed including the use brackets to make sure that formulae work

The order in which mathematical operations are performed including the use brackets to make sure that formulae work

4 0417.20.1.04 — Characteristics and use of absolute and relative cell referencing

Characteristics and use of absolute and relative cell referencing

5 0417.20.2.01 — Using a single criterion, or multiple criteria sort data into ascending or descending order

Using a single criterion, or multiple criteria sort data into ascending or descending order
Using a single criterion, or multiple criteria, select subsets of data Perform searches using a variety of operators including AND, OR, NOT, >, <, =, >=, <=, <> Perform searches using wildcards

6 0417.20.2.02 — Using a single criterion, or multiple criteria, select subsets of data Perform searches using a variety of operators including AND, OR, NOT,

Using a single criterion, or multiple criteria, select subsets of data Perform searches using a variety of operators including AND, OR, NOT, >, <, =, >=, <=, <> Perform searches using wildcards

7 0417.20.3.01 — Display either formulae or values Adjust row height, column width and cell sizes so that all data, labels, and formulae is fully visible Wra

Display either formulae or values Adjust row height, column width and cell sizes so that all data, labels, and formulae is fully visible Wrap text within cells so that all data is fully visible Hide and display rows and columns
Enhance a spreadsheet including text colour, cell colour, bold, underline, italic, shading Format numeric data appropriately including to display the number of decimal places, different currency symbols, percentages Use conditional formatting to change the display format depending on the contents of a cell
Set the orientation to portrait or landscape Control the page layout to print including specified number of pages, print area, display or hide gridlines, display or hide row and column headings

8 0417.20.3.02 — Enhance a spreadsheet including text colour, cell colour, bold, underline, italic, shading Format numeric data appropriately including to di

Enhance a spreadsheet including text colour, cell colour, bold, underline, italic, shading Format numeric data appropriately including to display the number of decimal places, different currency symbols, percentages Use conditional formatting to change the display format depending on the contents of a cell

9 0417.20.3.03 — Set the orientation to portrait or landscape Control the page layout to print including specified number of pages, print area, display or hi

Set the orientation to portrait or landscape Control the page layout to print including specified number of pages, print area, display or hide gridlines, display or hide row and column headings

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