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If you are comfortable with basic Excel formulas but are unsure whether to choose an Intermediate or Advanced course, the main question is how confidently you can already work across worksheets, workbooks and larger datasets. Excel Intermediate strengthens those everyday skills. Excel Advanced assumes they are already in place and moves into lookup and logical functions, PivotTables, data validation, auditing, protection and macros.
For most learners, the choice is not about how many years they have used Excel. It is about the tasks they can complete without help.
Excel Intermediate vs Advanced at a glance
Choose Excel Intermediate if you already understand basic formulas and functions but want to become more confident with multiple worksheets, multiple workbooks, Excel Tables, text functions, conditional formatting, subtotals and outlines.
Choose Excel Advanced if you can already work confidently across sheets and workbooks and want to learn functions such as IF and VLOOKUP, create PivotTables, use data validation and formula auditing, protect worksheets and record simple macros.
What does Excel Intermediate cover?
ExperTrain's Microsoft Excel Intermediate course is a one-day course for users who already understand the fundamentals of Excel.
It develops the skills needed to work more efficiently with larger and more detailed workbooks, including:
- creating formulas across multiple worksheets
- copying and linking data between workbooks
- working with grouped worksheets
- using Paste Special and transpose
- converting ranges into Excel Tables
- using outlines and grouping
- splitting data with Text to Columns
- using text functions such as UPPER, LOWER, PROPER, TRIM, LEFT and RIGHT
- applying and managing conditional formatting
- creating subtotals and summarising grouped data
The course is particularly useful for self-taught Excel users. Many people become comfortable entering data and writing simple formulas without ever learning the features that make larger workbooks easier to manage.
What does Excel Advanced cover?
ExperTrain's Microsoft Excel Advanced course is also one day, but it starts from a higher level.
It introduces:
- VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP
- IF, AND and OR
- IFERROR
- COUNTIF and SUMIF
- formula auditing tools
- range names
- data validation
- worksheet and workbook protection
- recording and running basic macros
- PivotTables and PivotCharts
- slicers and percentage analysis
The emphasis is less on organising worksheets and more on analysing data, building more sophisticated formulas and automating common tasks.
What knowledge do you need for Excel Intermediate?
You should already be able to create, edit and format a spreadsheet confidently. You should also understand basic arithmetic formulas and core functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN and COUNT.
A good test is whether you can create a simple worksheet from scratch, write a formula, copy it down a column and understand why some cell references change when the formula is copied.
If those tasks are still difficult, Excel Introduction is likely to be a better starting point.
What knowledge do you need for Excel Advanced?
Before attending Advanced, you should be comfortable with the skills taught at Intermediate level. In particular, you should be able to:
- write formulas using absolute references
- create formulas across multiple worksheets
- link information between workbooks
- use standard Excel functions confidently
- sort, filter and manage larger data lists
If formulas across different sheets or files still feel unfamiliar, Intermediate will usually provide a better foundation.
Do I need to know VLOOKUP before Excel Advanced?
No. VLOOKUP is taught on the Advanced course. You do not need to know it beforehand.
However, you should already understand how functions are structured and how cell references work. That allows the course to focus on what the lookup is doing rather than revisiting basic formula construction.
Do I need to know PivotTables before Excel Advanced?
No. Creating and modifying PivotTables and PivotCharts is part of the Advanced course.
If you already use PivotTables confidently and also use functions such as IF and VLOOKUP regularly, you may be ready to progress further to Excel Advanced Functions & Data Modelling.
What is the biggest difference between Intermediate and Advanced?
The simplest distinction is:
Intermediate helps you manage and structure workbooks more effectively.
Advanced helps you analyse data and automate more complex spreadsheet tasks.
There is some overlap in the sense that both courses improve efficiency, but the Advanced course assumes the organisational and workbook-management skills taught at Intermediate level.
Is Excel Intermediate too basic for an experienced user?
Not necessarily. Years of experience do not always equal breadth of knowledge.
A user may have worked with Excel every day for years but only use a small number of features. If you have never used grouped worksheets, workbook links, Tables, Text to Columns, text functions or subtotals, Intermediate can still add considerable value.
This is especially common among people who have learned Excel informally at work.
Is Excel Advanced difficult?
Advanced is a noticeable step up because the course combines formulas, analytical tools and automation. However, it is designed for workplace users rather than programmers or data scientists.
If you are already comfortable with Intermediate-level Excel, the progression is logical. The practical exercises are intended to build confidence with each feature rather than simply demonstrate it.
Should finance professionals choose Intermediate or Advanced?
Finance professionals who already use formulas regularly often progress quickly to Advanced. Functions, PivotTables and auditing tools can be particularly useful for reporting and analysis.
However, if you still find multi-sheet formulas, workbook links or larger tables difficult to manage, Intermediate can prevent gaps that would otherwise make Advanced harder.
Should administrators choose Intermediate or Advanced?
Intermediate is often especially valuable for administrative roles because the course focuses on practical workbook management, text manipulation, conditional formatting and larger data lists.
Advanced becomes more appropriate when the role involves regular reporting, analysis, lookup formulas or PivotTables.
Should managers choose Intermediate or Advanced?
If you mainly review and update existing spreadsheets, Intermediate may provide everything you need.
If you create management reports, analyse performance data, consolidate information or build PivotTables, Advanced is more likely to be useful.
Can I take Intermediate and Advanced on consecutive days?
Yes, particularly if you already have reasonable Excel experience and want an intensive two-day progression.
For users with less experience, leaving some time between courses can be helpful because it allows you to practise the Intermediate skills before adding more advanced formulas and analytical tools.
What comes after Excel Advanced?
After Advanced, there are several specialist routes rather than one mandatory next step.
You might progress to:
- Excel Advanced Functions & Data Modelling for XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, dynamic arrays, advanced PivotTables and Power Pivot
- Excel Power Query for importing, cleaning and combining data
- Introduction to Excel Macros and VBA for more powerful automation
Our PivotTables vs Power Pivot and XLOOKUP vs VLOOKUP articles explain some of the skills that appear later in the Excel pathway.
A simple decision checklist
Choose Intermediate if:
- you know basic formulas and functions
- you want to work across multiple sheets and files
- you need stronger data-list and formatting skills
- you have not used Tables, text functions or subtotals confidently
Choose Advanced if:
- you already work confidently across worksheets and workbooks
- you want IF and lookup functions
- you want PivotTables and PivotCharts
- you need data validation, auditing and protection
- you want an introduction to macros
Frequently asked questions
Is Excel Intermediate a prerequisite for Advanced?
You do not have to attend the Intermediate course specifically, but you should already have equivalent knowledge before attending Advanced.
Which course teaches VLOOKUP?
Excel Advanced covers VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP together with logical, statistical and error-handling functions.
Which course teaches PivotTables?
Excel Advanced introduces PivotTables and PivotCharts. More advanced PivotTable and Power Pivot techniques are covered later in Advanced Functions & Data Modelling.
Which course teaches conditional formatting?
Intermediate covers applying, editing and managing conditional formatting. Advanced focuses on other analytical and formula-based skills.
Which course teaches macros?
Excel Advanced includes an introduction to recording and running simple macros. For deeper automation and VBA code, choose Introduction to Excel Macros and VBA.
Still unsure which Excel course to choose?
Take the free Excel Skills Assessment. It asks practical questions about the tasks you can perform and recommends a suitable starting point.
For a broader overview of the full pathway, see Which Excel Course Is Right for Me? or browse the Excel Glossary.
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