Is the Excel assignment checklist free?

Yes. All 23 checks, the weighted score, the next-fix list, local saving and the CSV export are free with no account or paywall.

Does the checklist upload my assignment?

No. The checklist only stores which boxes you tick, in your browser's local storage. It never asks for the workbook, formulas or student details, and nothing is sent to a server.

Does a 100% score guarantee a good grade?

No. The checklist is a quality-control aid, not a grading rubric. It catches the faults that most often cost marks, but your brief, marker and institution's policy still decide the grade.

How is this different from the Workbook Health Check?

The Workbook Health Check audits formula structure and risk patterns. The readiness check covers the wider submission: the brief, Excel version, data types, totals, charts, formatting, file names and broken links.

Can I use the checklist for work projects?

Yes. The same checks apply to client workbooks and models. You can export the completed checklist as a CSV and keep it with the project handover notes.

Excel Assignment Checklist — Pre-Submission Readiness Check

Brief & setup

0/4 done

I have read the brief and the marking rubric.Critical

List every required sheet, chart, formula and output before you build or edit.

I know which Excel version the file will be marked in.Critical

Check the lab or submission machine. Avoid XLOOKUP, VSTACK or FILTER if it runs Excel 2021.

Check function availability

Inputs, calculations and outputs are separated and labelled.

A marker should find assumptions and results without hunting through the workbook.

I saved a working copy and a backup.

Keep the original brief and a clean copy in case a late edit breaks the file.

Formulas & model

0/6 done

No typed rates, thresholds or totals are buried inside formulas.Critical

Move assumptions to labelled input cells, then reference them with absolute addresses.

Audit the formulas

The same formula pattern is used down each column.

A single unusual row is a common source of wrong totals and lost structure marks.

Fixed ranges and rates use absolute references ($).

Lock the lookup table, tax rate or total range before filling down or across.

See how references move

Lookups use exact match and a bounded range.Critical

VLOOKUP needs FALSE or 0; MATCH needs 0; XLOOKUP is exact by default.

Check a lookup

Errors are handled deliberately, not wrapped blindly.

IFERROR should cover an expected missing value, not hide a broken model.

Diagnose an error

I tested a normal row, a blank row and a missing lookup.Critical

Three tests catch most fill-down, divide-by-zero and lookup failures.

Data & outputs

0/4 done

Numbers and dates are stored as real numbers and dates, not text.Critical

Text-numbers break SUMIFS, COUNTIFS and every comparison operator.

Clean the data

Duplicate rows and trailing spaces are removed.

A single trailing space or duplicate can change a count, total or lookup result.

Remove duplicates

SUMIFS and COUNTIFS ranges are the same size and align with the data.Critical

Mismatched ranges return #VALUE! or a plausible wrong total.

Check the formula

Totals reconcile to an independent manual check.Critical

Calculate one category by hand or a second method before you trust the summary.

Presentation

0/4 done

Every chart is labelled and uses the right aggregation.

Check SUM vs COUNT, the source range and whether new rows are included.

Choose the right chart

Currency, percentages and dates use consistent formats.

Formatting is part of the mark scheme, not decoration.

The print area and page breaks show the required output.

Open Print Preview and confirm nothing important is cut off or split awkwardly.

No stray sheets, hidden rows or leftover scratch calculations.

Remove test data and working notes that are not part of the submission.

Submission

0/5 done

The filename and sheet names match the brief exactly.Critical

Auto-graders often look for a specific filename, sheet name and cell range.

There are no broken external links or #REF! errors.Critical

Move linked data into the workbook or update the reference before submitting.

Fix #REF!

The file opens and recalculates on a clean machine.Critical

Test on another computer or a fresh Excel profile, not just your working session.

A short notes section explains assumptions and sources.

Document the data source, any cleaned values and the method behind each output.

I submitted the correct file and kept a copy.

Confirm the upload finished and keep the submitted version until marks are released.

Excel Assignment Readiness Check

Your submission readiness

What to fix next

Brief & setup

Formulas & model

Data & outputs

Presentation

Submission

How to use it

Questions about the assignment readiness check

Checklist clear but the workbook still fails?

Related free tools

Keep reading

Excel Assignment Readiness Check

Your submission readiness

What to fix next

Brief & setup

Formulas & model

Data & outputs

Presentation

Submission

How to use it

Questions about the assignment readiness check

Checklist clear but the workbook still fails?

Related free tools

Keep reading