20 Pivot Tables Interview Questions and Answers

Pivot tables are a powerful tool for data analysis. They can help you summarize and reorganize large data sets to better understand trends and relationships. If you’re interviewing for a position that involves data analysis, it’s likely that you’ll be asked questions about pivot tables. In this article, we review some of the most common pivot table questions and provide tips on how to answer them.

Pivot Tables Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Pivot Tables interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is a pivot table?

A pivot table is a tool that allows you to summarize and analyze data in a spreadsheet or database. You can use pivot tables to group data, calculate averages or totals, and create charts and graphs.

2. Can you explain how to create a simple pivot table in Excel?

To create a pivot table in Excel, you will need to first select the data that you want to include in the table. Then, you will need to go to the Insert tab and click on PivotTable. From there, you will be able to choose where you want to place the pivot table and what data you want to include. Finally, you can format the pivot table to your liking.

3. How do you prevent subtotals and grand totals from being displayed in a pivot table?

To prevent subtotals and grand totals from being displayed in a pivot table, you need to go to the “Options” tab and uncheck the “Show subtotals” and “Show grand totals” options.

4. What are some ways to rearrange data within a pivot table?

There are a few ways that you can rearrange data within a pivot table. One way is to change the order of the fields that you are using. Another way is to change the way that the data is being summarized. And finally, you can also change the way that the data is being filtered.

5. Can you explain the difference between an aggregate function and a calculated field?

An aggregate function is a function that is used to summarize data, such as finding the sum or average of a set of values. A calculated field is a field that is created by the user in order to perform a specific calculation, such as multiplying two other fields together.

6. If a pivot table has been created using multiple sources, then can we add additional columns to it? If yes, then how?

Yes, you can add additional columns to a pivot table that has been created using multiple sources. To do this, you will need to select the pivot table, and then go to the “PivotTable Fields” menu. From here, you will be able to select the additional fields that you want to add to the pivot table.

7. What is the best way to find out what fields have been used in a pivot table?

The best way to find out what fields have been used in a pivot table is to look at the PivotTable Field List. This will show you all of the fields that have been used in the pivot table, as well as the data that is associated with each field.

8. How do you sort and filter data stored in a pivot table?

To sort data in a pivot table, you can click on the column header and then choose the sort option you want from the drop-down menu. To filter data, you can click on the filter icon in the column header and then select the criteria you want to use to filter the data.

9. Is there any way to automatically refresh a pivot table after making changes to its source data?

Yes, there is a way to automatically refresh a pivot table after making changes to its source data. To do this, you will need to go into the pivot table’s options and select the “refresh data when opening the file” option.

10. How do you determine if a cell belongs to a pivot table or not?

You can use the PivotTable.PivotCell property to determine if a cell belongs to a pivot table. This property returns a PivotCell object that represents the cell. If the cell does not belong to a pivot table, this property returns Nothing.

11. Why is it important to name ranges when creating pivot tables?

Naming ranges is important when creating pivot tables because it allows you to more easily reference the data that you want to include in your pivot table. Without named ranges, you would have to manually select the cells that you want to include each time you create a pivot table, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.

12. What are some key differences between using Slicers vs Report Filters in a Pivot Table?

The key difference between using Slicers vs Report Filters in a Pivot Table is that Slicers are interactive, while Report Filters are not. This means that when you use a Slicer, your audience can change the filter criteria themselves to see different results. With Report Filters, you as the creator of the Pivot Table are the only one who can change the filter criteria.

13. What happens if a pivot table contains data that’s hidden by a filter or slicer? Will the hidden data still be included in calculations in the pivot table?

The hidden data will still be included in the calculations in the pivot table. However, if the data is filtered out completely, then it will not be included in the calculations.

14. What are the various types of filters available for use in a pivot table?

The various types of filters available for use in a pivot table include value filters, label filters, and date filters. Value filters allow you to filter based on the values in the pivot table, label filters allow you to filter based on the labels in the pivot table, and date filters allow you to filter based on the dates in the pivot table.

15. What are some ways to group data in a pivot table?

There are a few different ways to group data in a pivot table. One way is to use the “group by” function to group data by a certain criteria. Another way is to use the “outline” function to create a hierarchical structure. Finally, you can use the “subtotal” function to calculate subtotals for each group.

16. What is a page field in context with pivot tables?

A page field is a field in a pivot table that you can use to filter the data in the table. For example, if you have a pivot table that contains data on different countries, you could use a page field to filter the table so that only data on one particular country is shown.

17. Why is it important to enable macros when working with pivot tables?

Macros can be used to automate various tasks in Excel, and this includes tasks related to pivot tables. For example, macros can be used to automatically refresh pivot table data, to change the layout or structure of a pivot table, or to perform other common tasks. By enabling macros, you can make working with pivot tables much easier and more efficient.

18. What are the advantages of using a pivot chart over a regular chart?

Pivot charts offer a number of advantages over regular charts, chief among them being that they are far more flexible and customizable. With a regular chart, you are limited to the data that is already present in the chart. With a pivot chart, you can easily change the data that is being used to generate the chart, without having to recreate the entire chart from scratch. This makes pivot charts much more versatile and useful for data analysis.

19. How is a pivot table different from a summary table?

A pivot table is a type of summary table that allows you to reorganize and summarize data in a flexible way. With a pivot table, you can choose which columns and rows to include in your summary, and you can also choose how to summarize the data. For example, you could use a pivot table to sum data by month, or you could use a pivot table to calculate the average price of a product by category. A summary table, on the other hand, is a static table that shows a summary of data from a larger data set. Summary tables are typically used to show things like totals and averages, and they cannot be customized the way pivot tables can.

20. What are some common mistakes people make while using pivot tables?

One common mistake is forgetting to include a filter on the data, which can lead to incorrect results. Another mistake is not properly grouping data, which can also lead to incorrect results. Finally, people sometimes forget to properly format the pivot table, which can make the data difficult to read and understand.