Chart/Graph HELP!

I am trying to put together a graph from data I have in an excel file showing the progress of students reading score during the beginning, middle and end of the year, as well as a difference of what the benchmark score is compared to their scores.

I have attached a hand drawn image of what I need the graph to look like. Can someone PLEASE help me? I have no idea where to put the data on an excel file so that the graph will look like this?

Amanda

Hello Amanda
It's not easy to know what you require from your sketch as we're given no data to work with but take a look at the attached file with a sample of 5 student scores over the three periods. Would this represent your data in a meaningful way? It's not easy to do if you're new to Excel charting and I'm not sure how you calculate your 'Benchmark' line but it might give you a few ideas. It uses a two series Line chart with a column chart on the Secondary Axis for the banding and X Axis labels. The formatting is a matter of personal preference.

Hope this helps.
DBY

DBY,

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond with help! I am obviously a basic excel user, but pretty tech savvy everywhere else. I haven't had to use excel or charts in quite some time until this year at my temp AmeriCorps position at the local school district. I apparently wowed them back in November with some graphs I created showing homeless student data and I was asked to do this current data project with area schools reading scores throughout the year. I thought it was going to be easy busy work, but the excel file they had all their teachers filling out was a 30+ category excel spreadsheet and trying to combine it when each individual had un-formmated and changed categories around was actually a nightmare! What they showed me they wanted is what I drew and attached earlier.

By using your example, I typed my data in and tried to re-create a graph but mine did not turn out like yours? I have attached what I did. However, I now understand what format the spreadsheet needs to be in! The graph that I re-created does have the benchmark solid line (which is what I needed) but how do I make it so the scores are just dots and not connected with a line? Also, where do I go to make it a a column chart, and where is the secondary axis for the banding and X Axis labels?

Thanks again!
Amanda

Thanks once again! I was able to follow the instructions and get almost what I was looking for. The only problem I had/have is getting the columns (Begin, Middle, End) to expand (they are just small single columns in the beginning of the x-axis) I'm not sure if it's this i the instruction I didn't follow correctly?

11. With the columns selected got to the chart ribbon and select 'Layout'.
12. Axes > Seconadary Horizontal Axis > More Seconadary Horizontal Axis Options > Close.

I have attached my file again.

Again, I really appreciate all the help you have given me!

Thanks!
Amanda

Hello
You're getting there. You've got a little mixed up with the 'Band' series so take a look at the attached reply, hopefully it might clarify things.

DBY

I finally figured it out! Thanks! However, now my question is: Why does all the data points "Scores" and "Benchmark" disappear after the banding part is created?

Your post does not comply with Rule 1 of our Forum RULES. Your post title should accurately and concisely describe your problem, not your anticipated solution.

Use terms appropriate to a Google search. Poor thread titles, like Please Help, Urgent, Need Help, Formula Problem, Code Problem, and Need Advice will be addressed according to the OP's experience in the forum: If you have less than 10 posts, expect (and respond to) a request to change your thread title. If you have 10 or more posts, expect your post to be locked, so you can start a new thread with an appropriate title.

To change a Title on your post, click EDIT then Go Advanced and change your title, if 2 days have passed ask a moderator to do it for you.

Can't figure out how to edit the title?

Also, I am still looking for help? When I get the banding to work then all of my data points disappear except maybe 3?