As in all MOUS exams, Help is available, though you won't want to spend too much time trying to find your answers. You'll need to have a good understanding of Excel to pass this exam, but I didn't find any tricky or badly worded questions that would throw you off.

New in the 2000 versions of the MOUS exams is partial credit. Many of the questions are multi-step and even if you can't complete all of the tasks, you receive partial credit for what you do get done. Before you press "Next," go back and reread the question to ensure you've answered all the parts. It's not uncommon for a question to have three or four steps, and it's easy to skip one unintentionally.

The instructions emphasize that it doesn't matter which method you choose to complete a task (when more than one is available). You can use keyboard or mouse input, as well as shortcut keys. The final screen shot is what is used for the score. However, occasionally a particular method is detailed in the question, so it's important that you be familiar with all methods of completing a task.

One nice feature is the slightly more detailed breakout of your scores than for the Office 97 exams. While still not clear enough for you to understand exactly what you missed, it does give you a better understanding of areas to work on. It also gives you your final score so you know how well you did. To pass, you need 770 out of 1000 points.

I was surprised at the amount of duplication between questions on this exam. In only 30 questions, there were several subjects with two (sometimes three!) nearly identical questions. Overall, the exam covered Excel fairly broadly and included most of the 51 exam objectives listed at the mous.net Web site.

You should be familiar enough with the terminology to recognize exactly what you're required to do when asked to complete a task. If you aren't sure, note the way that the question is phrased. Often the questions include the exact options that must be modified--careful attention to these details will guide you in finding the correct menus and solutions.

The key skills covered in this exam are:

• Importing and Exporting Data
  Of particular significance with Office 2000 is compatibility with the Internet. Be familiar with saving your spreadsheets with interactivity features so they translate to the Web. Another key area: data transfer with other programs (i.e., Access, ASCII text files, etc.). Be certain you've experimented with the different options available for Save as HTML. You need to understand the process of exporting data as well as importing it into Excel.

• Using Macros
  It's critical that you be comfortable with at least a surface-level understanding of macros. You need to know how to record, run, and edit macros.

• Auditing a Worksheet
  With Excel's general focus on formulas, it's important to know how to use the auditing features. Know how to trace precedents and dependents, as well as use the Auditing Toolbar.

• Displaying and Formatting Data
  Be familiar with the different methods of displaying data in a worksheet. Key areas include: conditional formatting, data filters, sorting, grouping functions, and querying databases.

• Using Analysis Tools
  Be particularly comfortable with PivotTables and PivotCharts and with preparing these for the Web. Don't worry about dealing with particularly complicated charts and tables; but do know how to set them up and format them.

• Working with Toolbars
  You'll need to know how to accomplish things such as customizing the buttons, moving the toolbars, opening and closing, and docking them.

Preparation Tools

I used the Microsoft Press Excel 2000 Learning Kit while studying for this exam and found that it covered the test subjects well. Any good Excel reference book would also prepare you adequately. Some additional Web sites that can help you to prepare include:

http://www.lacher.com/toc.htm

http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/articlelist/o2kExcelarticles.htm

http://www.dent.ohio-state.edu/learn/excel.htm

Clear Questions, No Surprises

This exam had very clear questions and didn't throw in any surprises, but you must have a solid and broad understanding of Excel in order to pass. If you passed the Excel 97 Expert exam, you should have no trouble with this one. There wasn't a heavy emphasis on formulas or charts, which are covered more in the Core exam, but you should be generally familiar with how they work. (Tip: Know LOOKUP!) Instead, this Expert exam really focuses on data manipulation and extraction, auditing, analysis, and macros. A review of the exam objectives and preparation with a good overall Excel reference book should help you pass this test with flying colors.

Marie Herman is an information coordinator for whodoweknow.com, a valuation accelerator for dot coms. She lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and spends her free time learning nifty new Microsoft Office tricks. She can be reached at

More MOUS Exam Reviews:

• Excel 2000 Core: Back To Basics
• Access 2002: Beyond the Basics
• Excel 2002 Core
• Prove Your Word 2002 Expertise