What a pivot table does
A pivot table turns a long list into a short summary: one line and one total for each customer, product or month.
Task 1From a long list to a short summary4 questions
A pivot table takes a long list and makes a short summary of it. It groups the rows that share a value, such as the customer, and gives one total for each group.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Date | Customer | Category | Net |
| 2 | 6 Jan 2026 | Hollin School | Paper | 240.00 |
| 3 | 14 Jan 2026 | Moss Lane Vets | Pens | 90.00 |
| 4 | 27 Jan 2026 | Quay Dental | Paper | 160.00 |
| 5 | 3 Feb 2026 | Hollin School | Files | 110.00 |
| 6 | 12 Feb 2026 | Tarn Garage | Paper | 300.00 |
| 7 | 19 Feb 2026 | Moss Lane Vets | Paper | 210.00 |
| 8 | 2 Mar 2026 | Hollin School | Paper | 180.00 |
| 9 | 10 Mar 2026 | Quay Dental | Files | 140.00 |
| 10 | 18 Mar 2026 | Moss Lane Vets | Files | 150.00 |
| 11 | 25 Mar 2026 | Hollin School | Pens | 170.00 |
| Customer | Sum of Net |
|---|---|
| Hollin School | 700.00 |
| Moss Lane Vets | ? |
| Quay Dental | 300.00 |
| Tarn Garage | 300.00 |
| Grand Total | ? |
The pivot table does not change the list. It is a separate summary that reads from it.
Task 2Rows, Values, Columns and Filters4 questions