Why QUERY is Google Sheets' most powerful function - Test Your Understanding

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to select all columns from the data range A1:C10 using QUERY.

Google Sheets

=QUERY(A1:C10, [1])

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

A"SELECT *"

B"SELECT A"

C"SELECT A, B"

D"SELECT C"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using column letters without quotes

Forgetting the quotes around the query string

Selecting only one column when all are needed

The query string "SELECT *" selects all columns from the range.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to select rows where column B is greater than 50.

Google Sheets

=QUERY(A1:C10, [1])

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

A"SELECT * WHERE B > 50"

B"SELECT * WHERE B < 50"

C"SELECT * WHERE A > 50"

D"SELECT B WHERE B > 50"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using < instead of >

Filtering on the wrong column

Selecting only column B instead of all columns

The query "SELECT * WHERE B > 50" selects all columns but only rows where column B is greater than 50.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the QUERY formula to correctly select column A and column C.

Google Sheets

=QUERY(A1:C10, [1])

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

A"SELECT A; C"

B"SELECT A C"

C"SELECT A, C"

D"SELECT A AND C"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using spaces instead of commas

Using semicolons or AND keyword

Missing commas between columns

The correct syntax to select multiple columns is to separate them with a comma, like "SELECT A, C".

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to select column B and order the results by column B descending.

Google Sheets

=QUERY(A1:C10, [1] & " ORDER BY B [2]")

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

A"SELECT B"

B"ASC"

C"DESC"

D"WHERE B > 0"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using ASC instead of DESC for descending order

Forgetting to select the correct column

Adding unnecessary WHERE clauses

The query selects column B with "SELECT B" and orders it descending with "DESC".

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to select column A, column C, and filter rows where column C is less than 100.

Google Sheets

=QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT [1], [2] WHERE [3] < 100")

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

AA

BB

CC

DD

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Selecting wrong columns

Filtering on the wrong column

Using incorrect comparison operators

The query selects columns A and C, and filters rows where column C is less than 100.

Practice

1. What is the main advantage of using the QUERY function in Google Sheets?

easy

A. It lets you filter and organize data without changing the original table.

B. It automatically formats your spreadsheet with colors.

C. It creates charts from your data instantly.

D. It deletes duplicate rows from your data.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand QUERY's purpose

   The QUERY function is designed to filter, sort, and summarize data without altering the original dataset.

2. Step 2: Compare options to QUERY's features

   Options B, C, and D describe other functions or manual actions, not QUERY's main use.

3. Final Answer:

   It lets you filter and organize data without changing the original table. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   QUERY filters and organizes data [OK]

Hint: QUERY filters data without changing original table [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking QUERY formats cells automatically
• Confusing QUERY with chart creation
• Assuming QUERY deletes data

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to select columns A and B from a range using QUERY?

easy

A. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT 1, 2")

B. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT Col1, Col2")

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

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

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall QUERY column naming

   In QUERY, columns are referenced by Col1, Col2, etc. in the SELECT clause.

2. Step 2: Check each option's syntax

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT Col1, Col2") uses correct syntax. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT 1, 2") uses invalid numbers, =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B") uses invalid letters, =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A:B") uses invalid range format.

3. Final Answer:

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT Col1, Col2") -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use Col1, Col2 in SELECT [OK]

Hint: Use Col1, Col2 in QUERY SELECT clause [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using numbers instead of Col1, Col2 for columns
• Trying to select a range like A:B inside SELECT
• Using column letters A, B instead of Col1, Col2

3. Given the data in A1:B5:

A    B
1    10
2    20
3    30
4    40
5    50

What will =QUERY(A1:B5, "SELECT Col1 WHERE Col2 > 25") return?

medium

A. [1, 2]

B. [30, 40, 50]

C. [3, 4, 5]

D. [10, 20, 30]

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the QUERY condition

   The query selects column A (Col1) where values in column B (Col2) are greater than 25.

2. Step 2: Identify rows where B > 25

   Rows with B=30, 40, 50 correspond to A=3, 4, 5.

3. Final Answer:

   [3, 4, 5] -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Filter B > 25, select A [OK]

Hint: Filter rows by condition, then select column [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting values from column B instead of A
• Including rows where B ≤ 25
• Confusing column letters with values

4. The formula =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT Col1, Col2, SUM(Col3) GROUP BY Col1") returns an error. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. All selected columns must be in GROUP BY or aggregated

B. SUM(Col3) cannot be used without aliasing

C. Column C must be included in SELECT when grouping

D. Missing a WHERE clause before GROUP BY

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand GROUP BY rules in QUERY

   When using GROUP BY, all selected columns must be either grouped or aggregated.

2. Step 2: Analyze the formula's SELECT clause

   Col1 is grouped, SUM(Col3) is aggregated, but Col2 is neither, causing the error.

3. Final Answer:

   All selected columns must be in GROUP BY or aggregated -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   GROUP BY requires all columns grouped or aggregated [OK]

Hint: Group or aggregate all selected columns [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking WHERE is required before GROUP BY
• Believing aliasing fixes aggregation errors
• Ignoring GROUP BY rules for selected columns

5. You have a sales table with columns Date (A), Product (B), and Sales (C). How would you write a QUERY to find total sales per product for sales greater than 100, sorted by total sales descending?

hard

A. =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT Col2, SUM(Col3) GROUP BY Col2 WHERE Col3 > 100 ORDER BY SUM(Col3) DESC")

B. =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT Col2, SUM(Col3) ORDER BY SUM(Col3) DESC WHERE Col3 > 100 GROUP BY Col2")

C. =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT Col2, SUM(Col3) WHERE Col3 > 100 ORDER BY SUM(Col3) DESC GROUP BY Col2")

D. =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT Col2, SUM(Col3) WHERE Col3 > 100 GROUP BY Col2 ORDER BY SUM(Col3) DESC")

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct QUERY clause order

   The correct order is SELECT, WHERE, GROUP BY, ORDER BY.

2. Step 2: Check each option's clause order and syntax

   =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT Col2, SUM(Col3) WHERE Col3 > 100 GROUP BY Col2 ORDER BY SUM(Col3) DESC") follows correct order and syntax. Options A, C, and D have clauses in wrong order causing errors.

3. Final Answer:

   =QUERY(A1:C100, "SELECT Col2, SUM(Col3) WHERE Col3 > 100 GROUP BY Col2 ORDER BY SUM(Col3) DESC") -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Clause order: SELECT, WHERE, GROUP BY, ORDER BY [OK]

Hint: Remember QUERY clause order: SELECT, WHERE, GROUP BY, ORDER BY [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Placing WHERE after GROUP BY or ORDER BY
• Forgetting to group by product when summing sales
• Incorrect clause order causing syntax errors