Unit 2 took you through currency, VAT, charts, reading the story in the numbers, and fixing formula errors. Today you pull the strongest pieces into one polished workbook for your Something Real project — something you would actually hand to a supervisor or examiner.
In your head, name one spreadsheet from Unit 2 that already answers a real question about your project, and one that still feels messy. Which one would you hand to a supervisor or examiner first, and why?
A polished Unit 2 workbook is not "more formulas". It is a short, readable file a non-technical reader can trust. Use this standard for your workshop practice and, later, for {{code:sm3_unit2_polished}}.
| Concept | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Polished workbook — one multi-sheet file with clean data, working formulas, at least one chart, and a short written interpretation | Supervisors and examiners scan for clarity; a tidy workbook proves you can solve a real problem | Three sheets named {{code:data}}, {{code:summary}}, and {{code:charts}} |
| Currency and VAT columns — net, VAT amount, gross (and line totals) formatted as money | Irish enterprise and placement costs almost always quote prices with VAT; plain decimals look unfinished | Net €4.00, VAT 23% → €0.92, gross €4.92 on a product line |
| Chart plus interpretation — a chart suited to the data, plus 3–4 sentences a non-technical reader can follow | A chart without a decision is decoration; interpretation turns data into action for your project | "Custom name strips lead cash; phone decals lag — stock the volume sellers for Saturday." |
| Error-free formulas — no {{code:#DIV/0!}}, {{code:#REF!}}, {{code:#NAME!}}, or {{code:#VALUE!}} left visible | One unbroken error cell tells the reader the model is unfinished | — |
Sample enterprise workbook you will polish in the step-by-step. Your teacher shares a starter with the five product rows and net/qty already in. You add Irish VAT at 23%, euro formatting, one column chart of gross sales by product, and a short interpretation. Figures match the formulas you will type ({{formula:=B2*0.23}}, {{formula:=B2+C2}}, {{formula:=D2*E2}}).
| Item | Net (€) | VAT 23% (€) | Gross (€) | Qty sold | Gross total (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club crest pack | 4.00 | 0.92 | 4.92 | 30 | 147.60 |
| County colours set | 5.00 | 1.15 | 6.15 | 20 | 123.00 |
| Custom name strip | 10.00 | 2.30 | 12.30 | 15 | 184.50 |
| Phone case decal | 2.00 | 0.46 | 2.46 | 25 | 61.50 |
| Laptop skin mini | 8.00 | 1.84 | 9.84 | 12 | 118.08 |
Summary sheet uses {{formula:=SUM}} of gross totals (€634.68), {{formula:=AVERAGE}} of line totals, and {{formula:=COUNT}} of quantities (5 products). Custom name strip leads cash; phone case decal is lowest — that pattern should be obvious in under a minute.
Not every Something Real project is a stall. The checklist is the same; the columns change. Example for Work Experience hours: sheets {{code:data}} / {{code:summary}} / {{code:charts}}; columns Day, Start, End, Hours (formula); summary total hours and average day length; column chart of hours by day; interpretation that names which day runs long and one roster decision. Club, creator, and CV shapes appear in Independent Practice.
Open the Harbour Craft Stickers starter your teacher shared (product names, nets, and quantities are already filled). You will polish it into a clean three-sheet practice workbook: VAT and gross formulas, currency format, summary formulas, one chart, a short interpretation, and a final error sweep. Save it as {{code:sm3_unit2_workshop}} — not your portfolio filename. Your own Something Real version comes next as {{code:sm3_unit2_polished}}.
If your own Unit 2 files are messy, that is normal. Use this sample to rehearse the checklist, then rebuild only what you need on your project file.
Do not start from a blank workbook. If you cannot see the starter link or file, raise your hand before typing anything.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| My average shows {{code:#DIV/0!}} | The range is empty or the divisor cell is zero. Check the AVERAGE range points at real numeric cells, not blank rows. |
| {{code:=COUNT}} on product names returns 0 | COUNT only counts numbers. Point COUNT at the quantity column ({{range:E2:E6}}), not the item-name column. |
| Money columns look like plain decimals | Select the money range and apply Currency format with two decimal places. Re-check after autofill, because new cells can lose formatting. |
| My chart is blank or plots the wrong cells | Select the category labels and the numeric series together before inserting the chart. Avoid including empty totals rows in the selection. |
| Cross-sheet formula shows {{code:#REF!}} | A sheet or column was renamed or deleted after the formula was written. Re-point the formula at the live sheet name and range. |
| I saved over my portfolio name by mistake | Workshop practice must stay as {{code:sm3_unit2_workshop}}. Rename if needed, then create a fresh {{code:sm3_unit2_polished}} for your own project data. |
| I do not have the Harbour Craft starter | Stop and ask your teacher for the shared starter link or file. Do not type the five product rows from scratch in this lesson. |
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