The IF Function in 30 Seconds
=IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false)
Example: =IF(B2>=50, "Pass", "Fail"). Everything else — IFS, nested IFs, AND/OR — is just scaling this idea to more conditions.
7 Patterns You'll Reuse All Semester
1. Pass / Fail with a threshold
=IF(B2>=50, "Pass", "Fail")
2. Grade bands (the clean way with IFS)
=IFS(B2>=85,"A", B2>=75,"B", B2>=65,"C", B2>=50,"D", TRUE,"F")
IFS checks top to bottom and stops at the first TRUE — no nesting required. The final TRUE acts as your else.
3. Two conditions with AND
=IF(AND(B2>=50, C2>=50), "Pass", "Fail")
4. Either condition with OR (scholarship check)
=IF(OR(B2>=90, C2="Captain"), "Scholarship", "—")
5. Tiered commission without nesting hell
=IFS(B2>=50000, B2*0.15, B2>=20000, B2*0.10, B2>=5000, B2*0.05, TRUE, 0)
6. Blank-safe calculations
=IF(B2="", "", B2*C2)
Keeps total columns clean until inputs arrive — a small touch markers notice.
7. Replacing a 5-level nested IF with a lookup
If your IF nests deeper than 3 levels, switch to a small mapping table + XLOOKUP or VLOOKUP(TRUE). Write one sentence in your report explaining why — it reads as professional judgment.
Mistakes That Cost Marks
- Text without quotes:
=IF(A1=Pass,...)fails — write"Pass". - Backward thresholds: in IFS, test the highest band first, or everything collapses into the first match.
- Numbers as text:
"50"with quotes won't compare numerically — keep thresholds unquoted. - Missing else: end IFS with
TRUE, fallbackso no case returns#N/A.
Logic-heavy sheet due soon? Our tutors build nested-logic models with documented, auditable formulas.
