Mastering the IF Function in Excel – A Beginner’s Guide

The IF function is one of the most useful tools in Excel. It helps you make decisions based on conditions — like whether a student passed, an amount is too high, or a deadline is missed.

🔹 Syntax:

=IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false)

🔹 Example:

Let’s say cell A2 has a score. You want to display “Pass” if the score is 40 or more, otherwise “Fail”:

=IF(A2>=40, "Pass", "Fail")

🔹 Real-Life Use Cases:

• ✅ Mark attendance: =IF(B2="Present", 1, 0)
• ✅ Grade logic: =IF(A2>=90, "A+", "Needs Improvement")
• ✅ Apply discounts: =IF(C2>1000, C2*0.1, 0)

🔹 Tips for Using IF:

• ✔ Combine with AND/OR for complex logic
• ✔ Nest IFs: =IF(A2>90, "A", IF(A2>75, "B", "C"))
• ✔ Avoid deep nesting — use IFS in newer Excel versions

🔚 Wrap-Up

The IF function is your first step into dynamic Excel logic. Once mastered, it becomes the base for smarter formulas like IFERROR, IFS, and conditional formatting.

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