Shortcutdrill / Analyst track

The Analyst track: Excel shortcuts in 20 days

A 20-day plan to work in Excel without the mouse: 3 to 5 new shortcut drills a day, spaced repeats, a timed task from day 8 and a scored test on day 20.

Your place: day 1, Moving and selecting. Finish one drill a day to start a streak.

Start day 1

How the track works

Each day unlocks three to five drills from one topic and repeats five from earlier days, spaced so the keys stick. From day 8 the day ends with one timed task: a start sheet, a target sheet, the mouse off and the clock running. Day 20 is the interview test: ten minutes, twenty-five drills weighted to what Excel assessments actually ask, and one task. The score and breakdown go on a result card you can share.

Fifteen minutes a day is enough. The point is not to know the shortcuts; it is to use them without thinking while someone watches.

Day 1 Moving and selecting
New: Jump to the bottom, Jump to the last column, Back to the top, Back up to the header (Pro), Start of the row (Pro), Find the end of the data (Pro)
Run day 1
Day 2 Moving and selecting
New: Where the data stops (Pro), Select a column of numbers, Select across a row (Pro), Select a whole row, Select a whole column (Pro), Select the whole table (Pro)
Repeats: Jump to the bottom, Back up to the header.
Run day 2
Day 3 Moving and selecting
New: Select to the last cell (Pro), Select back to A1 (Pro), Select to the start of the row (Pro), Jump across the gap, Next sheet, Back to the top left
Repeats: Find the end of the data, Back to the top, Select the whole table, Select across a row.
Run day 3
Day 4 Moving and selecting
New: Select the current region, Select to the end of the column, Extend across the row and down
Repeats: Select a whole column, Select a column of numbers, Start of the row, Jump to the last column, Next sheet.
Run day 4
Day 5 Formatting
New: Bold the header row, Italic for a note (Pro), Underline a heading (Pro), Format as currency (Pro)
Repeats: Select to the last cell, Select a whole row, Where the data stops, Back up to the header, Jump to the bottom.
Run day 5
Day 6 Formatting
New: Thousands separators (Pro), Format as percentages (Pro), Dates showing as numbers (Pro), Clear a number format (Pro)
Repeats: Jump across the gap, Select to the last cell, Select a whole row, Where the data stops, Back up to the header.
Run day 6
Day 7 Formatting
New: Autofit the column, Bottom border (Pro), Blue font for inputs (Pro), Hide the helper columns
Repeats: Select the current region, Jump across the gap, Select to the last cell, Select a whole row, Where the data stops.
Run day 7
Day 8 Formatting
New: Unhide them (Pro)
Repeats: Bold the header row, Select the current region, Jump across the gap, Select to the last cell, Select a whole row.
Closes with the timed task 1.
Run day 8
Day 9 Editing and paste special
New: Total in one key press, Total across a row (Pro), Undo a mistake, Copy a formula down (Pro), Copy a total across (Pro)
Repeats: Bold the header row, Select the current region, Jump across the gap, Select to the last cell, Select a whole row.
Closes with the timed task 2.
Run day 9
Day 10 Editing and paste special
New: Today's date (Pro), Clear a column of numbers (Pro), Delete a duplicate row (Pro), Insert a row (Pro), Move a note (Pro)
Repeats: Thousands separators, Italic for a note, Select to the end of the column, Next sheet, Select back to A1.
Closes with the timed task 3.
Run day 10
Day 11 Editing and paste special
New: Turn on filters (Pro), Copy the headers further down (Pro), Paste values only, Paste formats only (Pro), Paste transposed (Pro)
Repeats: Autofit the column, Format as percentages, Underline a heading, Extend across the row and down, Back to the top left.
Closes with the timed task 4.
Run day 11
Day 12 Editing and paste special
New: Lock the column only, Lock everything, Fill a block with one formula (Pro), Sum across a block (Pro), Repeat the last action
Repeats: Unhide them, Bottom border, Dates showing as numbers, Format as currency, Bold the header row.
Closes with the timed task 5.
Run day 12
Day 13 Formulas and tracing
New: Evaluate part of a formula (Pro), Show the formulas, Name the inputs (Pro)
Repeats: Copy a formula down, Total in one key press, Blue font for inputs, Clear a number format, Thousands separators.
Closes with the timed task 6.
Run day 13
Day 14 Formulas and tracing
New: Insert a function by name (Pro), Add a comment (Pro), Trace the precedent (Pro)
Repeats: Today's date, Undo a mistake, Unhide them, Bottom border, Dates showing as numbers.
Closes with the timed task 7.
Run day 14
Day 15 Formulas and tracing
New: And jump back (Pro), Trace the dependent (Pro), Next error (Pro)
Repeats: Delete a duplicate row, Copy a total across, Total across a row, Hide the helper columns, Autofit the column.
Closes with the timed task 8.
Run day 15
Day 16 Formulas and tracing
New: Totals for two columns (Pro), Tidy the report (Pro), Remove a row and total (Pro)
Repeats: Move a note, Clear a column of numbers, Copy a formula down, Total in one key press, Blue font for inputs.
Closes with the timed task 1.
Run day 16
Day 17 Structure
New: Group the detail rows (Pro), Ungroup (Pro), Collapse all groups (Pro), Insert a sheet
Repeats: Copy the headers further down, Insert a row, Today's date, Undo a mistake, Unhide them.
Closes with the timed task 2.
Run day 17
Day 18 Structure
New: Rename the sheet (Pro), Insert a column, Delete the blank row, Freeze the header (Pro)
Repeats: Paste transposed, Copy the headers further down, Insert a row, Today's date, Undo a mistake.
Closes with the timed task 3.
Run day 18
Day 19 Structure
New: Wrap text (Pro), Insert a pivot (Pro), Sort by this column (Pro)
Repeats: Fill a block with one formula, Paste transposed, Copy the headers further down, Insert a row, Today's date.
Closes with the timed task 4.
Run day 19
Day 20 Interview test
The interview test. What it covers and how it is scored.

What you will be able to do on day 20

Move around and select any block of a 10,000-row sheet in two or three key presses.
Format a header, a column of amounts or a percent column without opening a menu.
Fill formulas across a schedule with the right references locked, and paste values, formats or a transpose on demand.
Trace precedents and dependents, evaluate part of a formula, name the inputs, leave a note.
Group, hide, insert and delete rows and columns, freeze panes and manage sheets with the Alt key chains.

Questions

How long does each day take?

About fifteen minutes: three to five new drills, five repeats from earlier days, and from day 8 one timed task of one to two minutes.

Do I need Excel open?

No. The drills run on a simulated sheet in the browser that responds to Excel's keys. What you learn transfers directly, because the keys are the same.

What if I miss a day?

Pick up where you left off. The streak counter resets, the plan does not. The repeats are spaced so a gap of a few days still works.

Is it for Windows or Mac?

Both. Every drill has a Mac key set, and the few Windows-only ribbon sequences say so. Most banks run Windows, so the track teaches the Alt key chains as well.

Is the track free?

The free drills are spread across the track so you can try every phase. Pro unlocks all 80 drills, the timed tasks and the interview test for $9 a month, $29 a year, or $49 once.