What you will build

Complete “Enter dates and times correctly” using the visible Event, Date, Time sample so each action and the final state can be checked against the source data.

Learning objectives

Open the practice workbook

HANDS-ON PRACTICE

Practice in your own copy

Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.

Make a Google Sheets copy (access required) ↗View original

Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.

Hands-on practice

Step 1: Confirm A1:C4 contains Event, Date, Time with Kickoff | 2026-09-29 | 09:00, Review | 2026-09-30 | 14:30, and Launch | 2026-10-02 | 11:00.

Date/time evidence for step 1 — 00-initial.png

Step 2: Select B2:B4, then choose Format > Number > Date. Verify the three ISO dates display as recognizable dates.

Date/time evidence for step 2 — 01-date-range-selected.png
Date/time evidence for step 2 — 02-format-number-date.png
Date/time evidence for step 2 — 03-date-target.png
Date/time evidence for step 2 — 04-date-formatted.png

Step 3: Select C2:C4, then choose Format > Number > Time. Verify 09:00, 14:30, and 11:00 display as times.

Date/time evidence for step 3 — 05-time-target.png
Date/time evidence for step 3 — 06-time-formatted.png

Step 4: Change B2 from 2026-09-29 to 2026-09-30 and verify Sheets treats it as the next calendar day. Restore B2 to 2026-09-29 before finishing.

Date/time evidence for step 4 — 07-date-test-plus-one.png
Date/time evidence for step 4 — 08-restored-date.png

Checkpoint

EventDateTime
Kickoff2026-09-2909:00
Review2026-09-3014:30
Launch2026-10-0211:00

Checkpoint for “Enter dates and times correctly”: the Event, Date, Time columns and sample records must still match this table after the lesson action.

Common mistakes and fixes

Correction: return to the exact range and command named in the steps, then compare the live sheet with the Event, Date, Time source fields.

Independent practice

Add one row with the same schema, repeat the action, verify the new row behaves correctly, then remove it to restore the sample.

Key takeaways

  • ✓Enter values Sheets recognizes as dates and times.
  • ✓Use Format > Number > Date for the Date column.
  • ✓Use Format > Number > Time for the Time column.
  • ✓Check the visible result after formatting.
  • ✓Test B2 one day forward, then restore 2026-09-29.
QUICK CHECK

Check your understanding

Answer four questions about the practice sheet.

1. Which path formats the Date column?
2. Which path formats the Time column?
3. What is the sample time for Review?
4. After the test, which date should B2 return to?

Next lesson

Continue in recommended learning order with Use data validation for clean entry.