Question 1 of 10
=MATCH("Fiji", A:A, 0)
The final 0 in the formula just tells Excel that we're looking for an exact match. Enter the resulting position number into the field below to check your answer.
INDEX MATCH - Free Excel Practice Online
INDEX MATCH is two functions working as one: MATCH finds where a value sits in a row or column, and INDEX returns whatever is at that position. This exercise builds the pair in order. You MATCH a country in column A (Fiji), MATCH a crop label in row 1 (Banana), use INDEX on a grid with fixed numbers, and then put the MATCH formulas inside INDEX in place of the numbers.
The data is crop production in tonnes by country. Once the formula works for Angola and coffee beans, you only change the names to answer questions about Tonga, Spain, Nepal and Zambia, which is the real payoff of INDEX MATCH: one formula that adapts to any row and any column.
What you'll practice in this INDEX MATCH lesson
- The MATCH function finds the position of a value in a range of cells. To find the position of Fiji in column A, enter the following formula in the formula bar:=MATCH("Fiji", A:A, 0)The final 0 in the formula just tells Excel that we're looking for an exact match. Enter the resulting position number into the field below to check your answer.
- In the formula bar, enter =MATCH("Banana", 1:1, 0) to get the position of the label "Banana" in row 1. Enter the resulting number in the field below.
- The INDEX function returns the value from a cell in a grid, as specified first by the row number (counting down from the top), then the column number (counting across from the left). To return the number of tonnes of avocados produced by Angola, write the following formula in the formula bar:=INDEX(A:D, 3, 4)because we're looking in the 3rd row from the top, and the 4th column from the left. What does the formula return?
- Now take your formula from the last question, =INDEX(A:D, 3, 4), and replace the 3 with MATCH("Angola", A:A, 0) and the 4 with MATCH("Avocado", 1:1, 0). The whole formula is now: =INDEX(A:D, MATCH("Angola", A:A, 0), MATCH("Avocado", 1:1, 0)) What does the formula return?
- To find the number of tonnes of Coffee Beans produced by Tonga, simply replace "Angola" with "Tonga" and replace "Avocado" with "Coffee Bean". What does the formula return?
- How many tonnes of Bananas did Spain produce?
- How many tonnes of Coffee Beans did Nepal produce?
- How many tonnes of Bananas did Zambia produce?
- How many tonnes of Avocados did Panama produce?
- How many tonnes of Bananas did Australia produce?
INDEX MATCH practice - FAQ
How do I practice INDEX MATCH in Excel?
Open this free LogicExcel exercise and work through 10 interactive steps. You type the real formula into a live spreadsheet grid and get instant feedback on whether it is correct, plus an explanation - no Excel install and no signup needed.
Is the INDEX MATCH exercise free?
Yes. Every LogicExcel exercise is 100% free with no account required. Your progress saves automatically in your browser.
What will I learn in this INDEX MATCH lesson?
This lesson covers INDEX MATCH as part of the Index Match Lookup track. You practice the syntax step by step until it becomes muscle memory you can use at work.
Why use INDEX MATCH instead of VLOOKUP?
INDEX MATCH looks up by position, so the answer can sit to the left of the lookup column and inserting a column does not break the formula. With two MATCH functions, as in this lesson, it also finds a value by both row and column, which VLOOKUP cannot do on its own.