Microsoft MO-201 Exam Overview:
| Certification Vendor: | Microsoft |
| Exam Name: | Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) |
| Exam Number: | MO-201 |
| Exam Price: | USD 100 (region-dependent) |
| Exam Format: | Performance-based, Computer-based, Hands-on Excel tasks |
| Real Exam Qty: | 25-30 performance-based tasks |
| Related Certifications: | Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate (Excel and Excel 2019) Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert (Office 2019) |
| Available Languages: | English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional) |
| Certificate Validity Period: | No expiration |
| Exam Duration: | 50 minutes |
| Passing Score: | 700/1000 |
| Sample Questions: | Microsoft MO-201 Sample Questions |
| Exam Way: | Delivered through Certiport testing centers or online proctored testing where available. |
| Pre Condition: | No formal prerequisite. Microsoft recommends approximately 150 hours of instruction and hands-on experience with Excel. Excel Associate certification is recommended before pursuing Expert-level certification. |
| Official Syllabus URL: | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/mos-excel-expert-2019/ |
Breaking Down the Exam Content Outline
Exam MO-201 covers 4 major skill areas that are as follows:
- Creating Advanced Macros and Formulas
To succeed in this domain, candidates should understand how to handle data analysis, logical operations involving the use of formulas, troubleshoot the same formulas and create or modify macros. Thus, one has to be proficient in knowing and using a number of various functions, gathering data, performing necessary calculations, providing monitoring, and others.
- lManaging Workbook Options and Settings
From the name, this topic will confirm if a candidate can manage workbooks, prepare them for collaboration, and configure and use language options. Under this domain, one should master the following knowledge and skills: enabling and copying macros, administering different versions of workbooks, protecting cell ranges as well as worksheets and the whole workbook structure, and utilize the features that are language-specific.
- Managing and Formatting Data
This section checks if you are well-conversant with the key concepts of filling cells using the available data, formatting and validating data, and using advanced conditional filtering and formatting. To improve your chances of success, you must show a good grasp of the formatting rules along with their creation and management, removing identical records, and grouping and ungrouping data. Other concepts involved in this topic are the use of Fill Series and Flash Fill, the insertion of totals and subtotals, etc.
- Managing Advanced Charts and Tables
The main objectives of this section of the syllabus include creating and modifying advanced charts, PivotCharts, and PivotTables. Here, applicants should be knowledgeable enough in working with dual axis charts, designing slicers, grouping data as well as formatting it, and applying styles when it comes to PivorCharts.
About the Microsoft MO-201 Exam
The Microsoft MO-201 exam addresses a candidate's ability to modify Excel environments to satisfy business needs. Thus, the candidates should be familiar with a ton of workbook examples such as amortization tables, inventory schedules, and business templates, among the rest. Since this exam is a requirement for the expert-level certificates, you should have a solid understanding of the principal Excel features at an advanced level and the ability to complete the required tasks independently when applying for it.
The Microsoft MO-201 exam may be one of the most important tests that you will ever take and that is why it is important to learn some details about it. This is a qualifying exam that you need to pass if you are planning to earn the Microsoft Office Specialist: Microsoft Excel Expert (Excel and Excel 2019) certification.
Preparation Details
There is no denying the fact that the only way you can pass the Microsoft MO-201 exam is if you study for it properly. There are various resources that you can use for this purpose and many of them are the official materials.
- One last thing that you need to ensure is that you need to take as many practice tests as you possibly can. There are loads of mock exams that you can find online and that will help you prepare for Microsoft MO-201 in the best possible way. With each practice test, you will get more skillful, so you will perform better in the final exam. These tests will give you a good idea of what sort of questions you can expect in the actual exam and how you should answer them.
- The next thing that you should do is to enroll for the Microsoft instructor-led training program. The lectures are delivered by the certified individuals who have years of experience. These trainers will be able to help you understand each and every topic in detail and will also give you the opportunity to talk to them and ask your questions. In this way, all your misconceptions regarding a certain topic will be cleared and you will not have any problems whatsoever.
- One of the first things that you should do is get your hands on the official study guide for the exam. With its help, you will be able to learn a lot of important details that will help you along the way, so keep that in mind. Pay attention to the MOS Study Guide for Microsoft Excel Expert Exam MO-201 written by Paul McFedries.
With so many questions to answer, it is recommended that you plan your approach, because otherwise, you will find yourself in a lot of trouble. The best approach that you can use during the Microsoft MO-201 exam is to answer the easier questions first and then make your way towards the difficult ones. Lastly, don’t use up all your time on one item, instead, move to the next question and don’t waste your time.
Microsoft MO-201 Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Section | Weight | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Manage and Format Data | 30-35% | - Manage data
|
| Manage Workbook Options and Settings | 10-15% | - Configure language and accessibility options
|
| Manage Advanced Charts and Tables | 25-30% | - Create advanced charts
|
| Create Advanced Formulas and Macros | 25-30% | - Create and manage macros
|
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