SELECT clause in Google Sheets - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to select all columns from the range A1:C5.

Google Sheets

=QUERY(A1:C5, "SELECT [1]")

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A*

BA

C1

DALL

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using column letters like 'A' instead of '*' to select all columns.

Using numbers or words like 'ALL' which are not valid in QUERY SELECT.

The asterisk (*) in the SELECT clause means to select all columns.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to select only column B from the range A1:C10.

Google Sheets

=QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT [1]")

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AB

BA

CC

D*

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '*' which selects all columns instead of just column B.

Using column numbers or letters other than B.

To select only column B, use 'B' in the SELECT clause.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the SELECT clause to select columns A and C from A1:C10.

Google Sheets

=QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT [1]")

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AA&C

BA C

CA, C

DA;C

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using spaces, semicolons, or ampersands instead of commas to separate columns.

Columns must be separated by a comma in the SELECT clause.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to select columns A and B from range A1:D10 and order by column B.

Google Sheets

=QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT [1] ORDER BY [2]")

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AA, B

BB

CC

DD

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using wrong column letters in SELECT or ORDER BY.

Not separating columns with commas.

Select columns A and B separated by a comma, then order by column B.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to select columns A and C, filter where B > 10, and order by C.

Google Sheets

=QUERY(A1:D20, "SELECT [1] WHERE [2] > 10 ORDER BY [3]")

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AA, C

BB

CC

DD

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using wrong columns in SELECT, WHERE, or ORDER BY.

Forgetting commas between selected columns.

Select columns A and C, filter rows where column B is greater than 10, then order by column C.

Practice

1. What does the SELECT clause do inside the QUERY function in Google Sheets?

easy

A. It adds new columns to the data.

B. It sorts the data in ascending order.

C. It filters rows based on a condition.

D. It chooses which columns to show from the data.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of SELECT in QUERY

   The SELECT clause specifies which columns to display from the data range.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other clauses

   Sorting is done by ORDER BY, filtering by WHERE, and adding columns is not done by SELECT.

3. Final Answer:

   It chooses which columns to show from the data. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   SELECT = choose columns [OK]

Hint: SELECT picks columns to show, not rows or sorting [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing SELECT with WHERE clause
• Thinking SELECT sorts data
• Assuming SELECT adds new columns

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to select columns A and C using the QUERY function?

easy

A. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT B, D")

B. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT 1, 3")

C. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, C")

D. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A C")

Solution

1. Step 1: Check correct column letters in SELECT

   Columns are referenced by letters like A, B, C. To select columns A and C, use "SELECT A, C" with a comma.

2. Step 2: Verify syntax correctness

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, C") uses correct syntax with comma and column letters. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT 1, 3") uses numbers which is invalid. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT B, D") uses B and D which are wrong columns. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A C") misses comma between columns.

3. Final Answer:

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, C") -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use column letters with commas in SELECT [OK]

Hint: Use column letters with commas in SELECT clause [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using numbers instead of letters for columns
• Omitting commas between columns
• Selecting columns not in the data range

3. Given the data in A1:C4 as:

A | B | C
1 | 2 | 3
4 | 5 | 6
7 | 8 | 9

What will be the output of =QUERY(A1:C4, "SELECT B, C")?

medium

A. 2 3
5 6
8 9

B. B C
2 3
5 6
8 9

C. A B
1 2
4 5
7 8

D. 1 2
4 5
7 8

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify columns B and C data

   Column B values are 2, 5, 8 and column C values are 3, 6, 9 from rows 2 to 4.

2. Step 2: Understand QUERY output format

   QUERY includes headers by default, so output shows header row "B C" followed by data rows.

3. Final Answer:

   B C 2 3 5 6 8 9 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   QUERY shows headers and selected columns [OK]

Hint: QUERY outputs headers by default with selected columns [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring headers in output
• Selecting wrong columns
• Mixing up row and column data

4. The formula =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A B") returns an error. What is the fix?

medium

A. Add a comma between A and B: "SELECT A, B"

B. Change A and B to numbers: "SELECT 1 2"

C. Remove the SELECT keyword

D. Use lowercase letters: "select a b"

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify syntax error in SELECT clause

   The columns A and B must be separated by a comma in the SELECT clause.

2. Step 2: Correct the syntax

   Adding a comma between A and B fixes the syntax: "SELECT A, B".

3. Final Answer:

   Add a comma between A and B: "SELECT A, B" -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Columns must be comma-separated in SELECT [OK]

Hint: Separate columns with commas in SELECT clause [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting commas between columns
• Using numbers instead of letters
• Removing SELECT keyword

5. You have a table with columns Date (A), Product (B), and Sales (C). You want to use QUERY to show only the Product and Sales columns but sorted by Sales descending. Which formula correctly uses SELECT and ORDER BY?

hard

A. =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT B, C ORDER BY C DESC")

B. =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT A, B ORDER BY C DESC")

C. =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT B, C ORDER BY B DESC")

D. =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT B, C ORDER BY A DESC")

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify columns to select

   You want to show Product (B) and Sales (C), so SELECT B, C is correct.

2. Step 2: Sort by Sales descending

   ORDER BY C DESC sorts by Sales column descending.

3. Step 3: Verify full formula correctness

   =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT B, C ORDER BY C DESC") correctly combines SELECT and ORDER BY clauses. Other options select wrong columns or order by wrong columns.

4. Final Answer:

   =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT B, C ORDER BY C DESC") -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   SELECT columns + ORDER BY sales DESC = correct [OK]

Hint: Use SELECT for columns, ORDER BY for sorting in QUERY [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ordering by wrong column
• Selecting wrong columns
• Missing ORDER BY clause