← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Turning an age into an age band with IF

A nested IF formula that replaces an exact age with an age band, so the sheet shows a group like 13-15 instead of the exact number. This keeps less personal data.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 47

Understanding Turning an age into an age band with IF in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: Copying the formula down adjusts the cell reference for each row, so every exact age is turned into a band. The formulas still depend on the exact ages. Pasting values keeps just the bands, so deleting column B removes the exact ages without breaking the bands. Data minimisation means keeping only what you need. A band like 13-15 is less precise, so it is less personal. This is a nested IF. When the first test is false, the second IF inside it runs and checks if the age is under 16. A nested IF puts one IF inside another, so it can sort an age into three bands and hide the exact number.

Common mistakes: A nested IF needs one closing bracket for each IF. The formula has two IFs, so the last line must end with two brackets: "16+")). The formula is in C2, and D2 is empty, so copying D2 copies nothing. It should say: Copy C2 down to C30.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 752–770) and word search (Modules 696–770).

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Learning
Duo
Which formula turns the age in B2 into an age band?
=IF(B2<13,"Under 13",IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+"))=B2
Matches
=IF(B2<13,"Under 13",IF(B2<16,"13-15"))
↓
The inner IF has no value for ages 16 and over, so the formula gives FALSE for those students. It needs a third part such as "16+".
Applying
Meanings
Term
=IF(B2<13,"Under 13",IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+"))
Meaning
A nested IF formula that replaces an exact age with an age band, so the sheet shows a group like 13-15 instead of the exact number. This keeps less personal data.
Practice
=IF(C2<13,"Under 13",IF(C2<16,"13-15","16+"))
Testing
Gaps
=IF(B2<13,"0-12",(B2<16,"13-15","16+"))
Check Answer
Spots
2IF(B2<16,"13-15",
3"16+")

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Quick Questions

1. Which formula turns the age in B2 into an age band?
A. =IF(B2<13,"Under 13",IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+")) ✓
B. =B2
A nested IF checks the age and returns a band like 13-15. =B2 just copies the exact age, so it keeps the same personal data.
2. Why do we swap an exact age for an age band?
A. A band shows less personal data than an exact age ✓
B. A band is more accurate than an exact age
Data minimisation means keeping only what you need. A band like 13-15 is less precise, so it is less personal.
3. In =IF(B2<13,"Under 13",IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+")), what is the second IF doing?
A. It runs a separate formula in another cell
B. It is placed inside the first IF to check the next age limit ✓
This is a nested IF. When the first test is false, the second IF inside it runs and checks if the age is under 16.
4. B2 holds the age 14. What does the nested IF formula return?
A. Under 13
B. 13-15 ✓
14 is not under 13, so the first test is false. It is under 16, so the second IF returns 13-15.
5. After typing the formula in C2, how do you get age bands for the whole column?
A. Copy the formula down the column ✓
B. Retype the age numbers into column C
Copying the formula down changes B2 to B3, B4 and so on, so each row gets its own age band.

Match the Pairs

=IF(B2<13,"Under 13",IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+")) → Checks the age in B2 and shows an age band (Under 13, 13-15 or 16+) instead of the exact age
IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+") → The inner IF, which only runs when the age is not under 13 and decides between 13-15 and 16+
Copy the age band formula down the column so every student gets a band, with B2 changing to B3, B4 and so on → Drag the fill handle from C2 down to C9
Paste the age bands as values only, then delete the exact age column, so the exact ages are really gone → Paste special > Values only, then delete column B
=IF(B2<13,"Under 13",IF(B2<16,"13-15")) → The inner IF has no value for ages 16 and over, so the formula gives FALSE for those students. It needs a third part such as "16+".
Delete column B while column C still holds the age band formulas → The formulas in column C still need the exact ages in column B, so deleting B breaks them with #REF! errors. Paste the bands as values first.

Key Term

=IF(B2<13,"Under 13",IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+"))
A nested IF formula that replaces an exact age with an age band, so the sheet shows a group like 13-15 instead of the exact number. This keeps less personal data.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =IF(B2<13,"0-12",IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+"))
Hint: Type the function name that goes inside the first one to test a second condition.
2. =IF(B2<13,"0-12",IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+"))
Hint: Type the comparison operator that means less than.
3. =IF(B2<13,"0-12",IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+"))
Hint: Type the cell reference that holds the exact age in the first row of data.
4. =IF(B3<13,"0-12",IF(B3<16,"13-15","16+"))
Hint: This is the formula copied down one row. Type the row number the cell references now use.
5. Copy C, Paste special: Values only Delete column B, the exact age
Hint: Type the paste option that keeps the results and removes the formulas, so the exact age column can be deleted safely.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A =IF(B2<13,"Under 13",
B IF(B2<16,"13-15",
C "16+")
Line C — A nested IF needs one closing bracket for each IF. The formula has two IFs, so the last line must end with two brackets: "16+")).
Question 2
A =IF(B2<13,"Under 13",
B IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+"))
C Copy D2 down to D30
D Paste C2:C30 as values only
E Delete column B (exact age)
Line C — The formula is in C2, and D2 is empty, so copying D2 copies nothing. It should say: Copy C2 down to C30.
Question 3
A =IF(B2>13,"Under 13",
B IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+"))
C Copy C2 down to C30
Line A — The test must be B2<13 so that only ages below 13 get "Under 13". With > 13, older students would be put in the Under 13 band.
Question 4
A =IF(B2<13,"Under 13",
B IF(B2<6,"13-15",
C "16+"))
Line B — The second test should be B2<16. With B2<6, almost nobody gets 13-15, so a 14 year old would be labelled 16+.
Question 5
A =IF(B2<13,Under 13,
B IF(B2<16,"13-15","16+"))
C Paste C2:C30 as values only
D Delete column B (exact age)
Line A — Text results in a formula must be inside quotes. It should be =IF(B2<13,"Under 13", so the sheet does not read Under 13 as a name.

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