ORDER BY clause in Google Sheets - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the ORDER BY clause do in Google Sheets QUERY function?

It sorts the rows of data returned by the QUERY function based on one or more columns, either in ascending or descending order.

beginner

How do you sort data in descending order using ORDER BY in Google Sheets QUERY?

Add the keyword DESC after the column name or column number in the ORDER BY clause. For example: ORDER BY Col2 DESC sorts by the second column from highest to lowest.

beginner

In the formula =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B ORDER BY B ASC"), what does ORDER BY B ASC do?

It sorts the results by column B in ascending order (from smallest to largest or A to Z).

intermediate

Can you order by multiple columns in Google Sheets QUERY? How?

Yes. You list columns separated by commas in the ORDER BY clause. For example: ORDER BY Col2 ASC, Col3 DESC sorts first by column 2 ascending, then by column 3 descending.

beginner

What happens if you omit ASC or DESC in the ORDER BY clause?

The data is sorted in ascending order by default.

Which keyword sorts data from largest to smallest in ORDER BY?

A DESC

B ASC

C SORT

D ORDER

DESC means descending order, which sorts data from largest to smallest.

In QUERY, how do you sort by the first column in ascending order?

A ORDER BY Col1 DESC

B ORDER BY A ASC

C ORDER BY Col1 ASC

D ORDER BY 1 DESC

Use ORDER BY Col1 ASC to sort by the first column ascending. 'Col1' refers to the first column.

What is the default sort order if you write ORDER BY Col3 without ASC or DESC?

A No sorting

B Random

C Descending

D Ascending

If ASC or DESC is omitted, ascending order is the default.

How do you sort by column 2 ascending and then column 3 descending?

A ORDER BY Col2 DESC, Col3 ASC

B ORDER BY Col2 ASC, Col3 DESC

C ORDER BY Col3 ASC, Col2 DESC

D ORDER BY Col3 DESC, Col2 ASC

List columns in order with ASC or DESC after each: ORDER BY Col2 ASC, Col3 DESC.

Which formula correctly sorts data in range A1:B10 by column B descending?

A =QUERY(A1:B10, "SELECT A, B ORDER BY B DESC")

B =QUERY(A1:B10, "SELECT A, B ORDER BY A DESC")

C =QUERY(A1:B10, "SELECT A, B ORDER BY B ASC")

D =QUERY(A1:B10, "SELECT A, B ORDER BY 1 DESC")

ORDER BY B DESC sorts by column B in descending order.

Explain how to use the ORDER BY clause in Google Sheets QUERY to sort data by one or more columns.

Think about sorting a list by one or two columns with directions.

Describe what happens if you omit ASC or DESC in the ORDER BY clause in a QUERY formula.

What is the usual default sorting order in lists?

Practice

1. What does the ORDER BY clause do inside a Google Sheets QUERY function?

easy

A. Filters rows based on a condition

B. Sorts the data by a specified column

C. Adds new columns to the data

D. Deletes duplicate rows

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of ORDER BY

   The ORDER BY clause is used to sort data in a query result.

2. Step 2: Identify what sorting means

   Sorting arranges rows based on values in a chosen column, either ascending or descending.

3. Final Answer:

   Sorts the data by a specified column -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   ORDER BY = Sort data [OK]

Hint: ORDER BY always sorts data by column [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking ORDER BY filters rows
• Confusing ORDER BY with adding columns
• Assuming ORDER BY removes duplicates

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to sort data by column B in ascending order using QUERY in Google Sheets?

easy

A. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT * ORDER BY B DESC")

B. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT * ORDER BY B DOWN")

C. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT * ORDER BY B ASC")

D. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT * ORDER BY B UP")

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall correct ORDER BY syntax

   In QUERY, ascending order is specified by ASC, descending by DESC.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT * ORDER BY B ASC") uses ORDER BY B ASC which is correct syntax for ascending order. Options B and C use invalid keywords DOWN and UP. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT * ORDER BY B DESC") sorts descending, not ascending.

3. Final Answer:

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT * ORDER BY B ASC") -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   ASC means ascending order [OK]

Hint: Use ASC for ascending, DESC for descending [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using DOWN or UP instead of ASC or DESC
• Mixing ascending and descending keywords
• Forgetting quotes around the query string

3. Given the data in A1:B4:

A    Score
John  85
Anna  92
Mike  78
Sara  90

What will be the result of =QUERY(A1:B4, "SELECT A, B ORDER BY B DESC")?

medium

A. John 85Sara 90Anna 92Mike 78

B. Sara 90Anna 92John 85Mike 78

C. Mike 78John 85Sara 90Anna 92

D. Anna 92Sara 90John 85Mike 78

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand ORDER BY B DESC

   The query sorts rows by column B (Score) in descending order, highest to lowest.

2. Step 2: Sort the scores

   Scores sorted descending: 92 (Anna), 90 (Sara), 85 (John), 78 (Mike).

3. Final Answer:

   Anna 92
   Sara 90
   John 85
   Mike 78 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   DESC sorts highest to lowest [OK]

Hint: DESC sorts from highest to lowest [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing ascending and descending order
• Not sorting by the correct column
• Ignoring the header row in output

4. You wrote this formula: =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B ORDER BY C DESCENDING") but it gives an error. What is the problem?

medium

A. The keyword should be DESC, not DESCENDING

B. You cannot order by column C

C. The SELECT clause must include column C

D. The query string must be lowercase

Solution

1. Step 1: Check ORDER BY syntax

   The correct keyword for descending order is DESC, not DESCENDING.

2. Step 2: Validate other parts

   Ordering by column C is allowed even if not selected. Query strings are case-insensitive, so lowercase is fine but not required.

3. Final Answer:

   The keyword should be DESC, not DESCENDING -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use DESC for descending order [OK]

Hint: Use DESC, not DESCENDING for descending order [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Typing DESCENDING instead of DESC
• Thinking ORDER BY column must be selected
• Assuming query strings must be lowercase

5. You have a table with columns: Name, Age, and Score. You want to list all names and scores sorted by Age ascending, then Score descending. Which QUERY formula is correct?

hard

A. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, C ORDER BY B ASC, C DESC")

B. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, C ORDER BY C DESC, B ASC")

C. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B ORDER BY B ASC, C DESC")

D. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, C ORDER BY B DESC, C ASC")

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify columns and order

   We want to select Name (A) and Score (C). Sort first by Age (B) ascending, then Score (C) descending.

2. Step 2: Match query syntax

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, C ORDER BY B ASC, C DESC") selects A and C, orders by B ASC (Age ascending), then C DESC (Score descending). Other options either select wrong columns or order incorrectly.

3. Final Answer:

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, C ORDER BY B ASC, C DESC") -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   ORDER BY multiple columns works left to right [OK]

Hint: Order by multiple columns separated by commas [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting wrong columns in SELECT clause
• Reversing order directions
• Ordering by columns not selected