How do I automate repetitive tasks in Excel 2021?

Use the Macro Recorder to record a sequence of actions, then run the macro whenever you need to repeat them.

Which Excel 2021 function returns unique values from a list or array?

Use the UNIQUE function to return a dynamic list of distinct values from a range or array.

What can XLOOKUP do that VLOOKUP cannot?

XLOOKUP can search in any direction, including looking to the left, without requiring the lookup column to be first.

Free online course Excel expert level

Duration of the online course: 1 hours and 6 minutes

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Become faster in Excel with expert skills in automation, modern formulas, and smarter lookups. Take this free online course and level up your career.

In this free course, learn about

Excel 2021 expert-level workflow, tools, and best practices
Use macros (VBA) to record actions and automate repetitive tasks
Use UNIQUE to return distinct values from an array or range
Use LET to define variables inside formulas for clarity and speed
Refactor complex formulas using LET to avoid repeated calculations
Use XLOOKUP for flexible lookups (any direction, exact match default)
Handle missing matches in XLOOKUP with built-in if_not_found output

About the free online course

Excel is more than spreadsheets and basic sums. At an expert level, it becomes a powerful tool for analysis, automation, and decision-making that can save hours every week. This free online course is designed to help you move beyond everyday usage and build the kind of Excel confidence that employers value in finance, operations, administration, marketing, and data-focused roles.

You will learn to work with features that transform how you build and maintain workbooks. Instead of repeating the same manual steps, you will understand how to automate workflows and standardize recurring tasks, reducing errors and freeing up time for higher-value work. You will also strengthen your ability to create solutions that are easier to update, reuse, and share across teams.

A key part of becoming an advanced Excel user is mastering modern functions that make models cleaner and faster. You will practice using formulas that return unique results from ranges, and you will discover how to simplify complex calculations by naming intermediate steps, making your spreadsheets easier to read and troubleshoot. These skills help you create scalable worksheets that remain understandable even as they grow.

You will also deepen your lookup skills with modern approaches that offer greater flexibility than traditional methods. This will help you match and retrieve the right information with fewer limitations, supporting more reliable reports and dashboards. By the end, you will be better equipped to analyze data, streamline repetitive work, and build professional spreadsheets with expert-level techniques you can apply immediately.

Course content

Video class: Excel 2021 Expert Tutorial 1h06m
Exercise: Which feature of Excel 2021 allows you to record a sequence of actions to automate repetitive tasks?
Exercise: Which of the following functions should you use in Excel 2021 when you want to return a list of unique values from an array?
Exercise: In Microsoft Excel 2021, what is the purpose of the LET function?
Exercise: What is the purpose of the 'Let' function in Excel?
Exercise: What unique capability does the XLOOKUP function have compared to VLOOKUP in Excel?

Learn aboutExcel

Explore free online Excel courses designed to help you master spreadsheets, formulas, functions, data analysis, charts, PivotTables, and more. Learn at your own pace with beginner to advanced lessons, build practical Microsoft Excel skills for work or study, and earn a certificate upon completion—all at no cost. Start learning today.