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KS3 Modelling

The following resources are worth exploring to give you some ideas on addressing Modelling at level 5 to level 7. The models might form part of a year 8 or 9 project – the amount of teacher guidance depending on the ability and knowledge of the students.

The models use a range of features and functions in Excel which are annotated in the spreadsheets below.

In these examples it is assumed that students are able to create a simple formula with a minimum of guidance.

Subject & Activities

Resources & Links

Web Query new
This example uses the web query feature of Excel to directly import tabular data from a web page.

Press F9 to calculate.

Single dice
This example illustrates the use the sum, randbetween and countif functions to model the possible outcomes for a single dice.

Press F9 to calculate.

Two dice
This example illustrates the use of sum, randbetween, countif and absolute referencing to model the possible outcomes for two dice. 

Press F9 to calculate.

How to create a simple Macro in Excel
This example explains how to record a macro and associate it with a button. Thus a button can be created that instantly produces a chart from a table.

This process is used in some of the other examples.

Macro chart
This example illustrates the use of a macro associated with a button to instantly create a chart.

Macro heads tails
This example illustrates the use of randbetween, countif and two macros to model the outcome of tossing a coin a number of times.

The model has the additional feature of two buttons. The ‘chart’ button creates the chart and then the calculate button triggers the F9 ‘calculate key’ function.

Slot Machine
This example models a slot machine.

It uses Vlookup, sum, randbetween, countif, if and iserror functions. The isserror function ensures that only WIN or LOSE are displayed and not an error message.

Invoice Lookup
This example models an invoice-simply type in the product and the total cost is calculated.

It uses Vlookup, if, sum and iserror functions