IF Function in Excel: one result if true, another if not

IF asks a yes/no question about a cell and gives one answer for yes, another for no.

The formula

=IF(test, value_if_yes, value_if_no)

Steps: pass or fail

1. Scores in column A.
2. Click B1. Type =IF(A1>=40, "Pass", "Fail"). Enter.
3. Drag B1 down.

The tests you can write

Text goes in quotes: =IF(A1="Yes", 1, 0).

Two conditions: AND / OR

=IF(AND(A1>=40, B1="Present"), "Pass", "Fail")
=IF(OR(A1>=90, B1="Bonus"), "Star", "")

"" means leave the cell blank.

Three or more outcomes

Nested IF — each “no” opens another IF:

=IF(A1>=70, "A", IF(A1>=40, "B", "C"))

Excel 2019+ has IFS, which reads more easily:

=IFS(A1>=70, "A", A1>=40, "B", TRUE, "C")

Check it worked

Type a score exactly on the boundary — 40. It must say Pass. Then 39 — Fail.

Common mistakes

Missing quotes around text → #NAME?.

Brackets don’t match. Every nested IF needs its own closing bracket — Excel colours them so you can count.