MO-200 Excel exam (and MO-210): what's on it and how to prepare
MO-200 is the Microsoft Office Specialist Excel Associate exam for Excel 2019. MO-210 is the same certification for Microsoft 365 Apps. Both are hands-on exams taken inside Excel, through Certiport. Microsoft lists MO-210 at 50 minutes.
Which one should you take?
| Exam | Certification | Excel version |
|---|---|---|
| MO-200 | Excel Associate (Office 2019) | Excel 2019 |
| MO-210 | Excel Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps) | Microsoft 365 |
Take the one that matches the Excel you use. If you're not sure, most people now use Microsoft 365, so MO-210 is the safer pick. Microsoft's site lists no retirement date for either exam.
Format
- Hands-on. You work in Excel on project files and complete tasks, not just answer questions.
- Proctored, at a testing center or from home through Certiport.
- MO-210 is listed at 50 minutes.
- Scored from 1 to 1,000. Certiport says a scaled score of 700 is passing.
- No prerequisites.
What MO-200 covers
Microsoft's skill weights for MO-200:
| Skill area | Weight |
|---|---|
| Manage worksheets and workbooks | 10 to 15% |
| Manage data cells and ranges | 20 to 25% |
| Manage tables and table data | 15 to 20% |
| Perform operations by using formulas and functions | 20 to 25% |
| Manage charts | 20 to 25% |
MO-210 covers the same five areas.
The formulas part
Formulas are about a fifth of the exam. Know these without looking them up:
- SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX and COUNT
- IF
- Relative and absolute references
- Text functions: LEFT, RIGHT, MID, UPPER, LOWER, PROPER, LEN and CONCAT
- Sorting and filtering data
The rest
Most of the exam is about the Excel interface: formatting, tables, charts, printing and workbook settings. Practice those in Excel itself. Know where things live in the ribbon, because the clock is tight.
How to prepare
- Download Microsoft's skills outline for your exam and check off each task.
- Practice formulas until they're automatic, so you save time for the interface tasks.
- Take a timed practice exam in the same Excel version you'll be tested on.
Questions people ask
Is MO-200 being retired?
Microsoft's exam page listed no retirement date as of October 2026. Check the exam page before you book.
How much does the MO-200 or MO-210 exam cost?
Price varies by country and is shown when you schedule through Certiport. Some schools, colleges and workforce programs offer vouchers.
What's the passing score?
Certiport uses a scale of 1 to 1,000, and a scaled score of 700 is passing.
Practice on a real spreadsheet
CellReady grades your formula the moment you press Enter and tells you why a wrong answer is wrong. The first 7 lessons are free, with no sign-up to start.
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