What is the function of the IF statement in Excel?

The IF statement in Excel is a powerful logical function that is designed to evaluate a specific condition. When the condition is tested, the function returns one value if the condition is true and another value if it is false. This allows users to create dynamic formulas that can respond differently based on varying criteria.

For instance, if you were to set up an IF statement to determine if a student's score is passing or failing, the function could be structured to return "Pass" if the score is 60 or above, and "Fail" if it is below 60. This conditional logic makes the IF statement essential for decision-making in spreadsheets, enabling data analysis and reporting based on defined criteria.

The other choices reference different functions: combining conditions pertains to functions such as AND or OR, counting cells relates to the COUNTIF function, and calculating averages corresponds to the AVERAGE function. Each serves a different purpose in Excel, focusing either on summing values under specific criteria or evaluating multiple conditions, but none fulfill the specific role of the IF statement as accurately as the correct choice.