Try the CAFE sequence in Excel

1. Concept: answer a specific question

A small request log contains amounts for two teams. What is the total for North, and how can you check that the result includes only the right rows? Enter these headers and values in cells A1:B4.

2. Action: try a formula and inspect its inputs

In a separate cell, enter =SUMIF(A2:A4,"North",B2:B4). The first range holds the team names, the condition selects North, and the last range holds the amounts to add. The expected answer is 200.

Change the condition to South. The expected answer is 150. Check both answers directly from the three records before proceeding.

3. Follow-up: explain why the result is correct

Which cells are tested, and which cells are added? Why is the South amount excluded from the first calculation? North plus South equals 350, which should match =SUM(B2:B4). This reconciliation is useful, but it does not prove that every original amount was entered correctly.

4. Exercise: extend the log and catch a mistake

Add North and 50 in A5:B5. Before editing the formula, predict the new total. A formula still limited to row 4 returns the old result. Extend both ranges to row 5: =SUMIF(A2:A5,"North",B2:B5). North should now be 250, South 150 and the whole log 400.

Explain to a colleague how you detected the omitted row. For a growing log, explore an Excel Table so your references can grow with the data, then verify the same totals.

For the function syntax, see Microsoft’s SUMIF reference. The example uses English function names and comma separators; regional Excel settings can use different separators.

Apply the process to your next task

Write the question first, try the technique on a small example, explain the result and change the data to test it. Keep the expected answer visible while you practise.

Compare Excel course levels, read the formulas guide or return to the CAFE teaching approach.