How to Rank Items by Multiple Columns in Google Sheets

To rank items by multiple columns in Google Sheets, you can use the SORT function to sort the data based on multiple columns. The SORT function allows you to sort a range or an array based on the specified columns and sort orders.

Here's how you can use the SORT function to rank items by multiple columns:

1. Open your Google Sheet containing the data you want to sort.
2. Click on an empty cell where you want to display the sorted data.
3. Enter the SORT function using the following syntax: =SORT(range, sort_column1, is_ascending1, [sort_column2, is_ascending2, ...])
   • range: This is the range of cells you want to sort.
   • sort_column1: This is the first column you want to sort by, represented as a number (e.g., 1 for column A, 2 for column B).
   • is_ascending1: This is a boolean value (TRUE or FALSE) that determines if the first column should be sorted in ascending order (TRUE) or descending order (FALSE).
   • sort_column2, is_ascending2, ...: These are optional arguments for additional columns you want to sort by, along with their respective sort orders.
4. Press Enter to apply the SORT function and display the sorted data in your Google Sheet.

Example

Let's say you have a list of students with their Math and English scores, and you want to rank them by their Math score in descending order and then by their English score in ascending order. Your data is in the range A1:C10.

1. Click on an empty cell where you want to display the sorted data, for example, cell E1.
2. Enter the SORT function as follows: =SORT(A1:C10, 2, FALSE, 3, TRUE)
   • This will sort the range A1:C10 by the 2nd column (Math score) in descending order and then by the 3rd column (English score) in ascending order.
3. Press Enter to apply the SORT function and display the sorted data in your Google Sheet.

The sorted data will now be displayed in the range E1:G10, ranked by the Math score in descending order and then by the English score in ascending order.