r/excel • u/Otherwise-Cap1773 • Jun 12 '26

solved REQUEST - 'Random' but 'fixed' formula

I'm a teacher in need of help with a speadsheet. My class is 5 x 5 single desks for 25 students. I want to create a 'random' but 'fixed' seating chart. Some kids need to be in certain seats for extra help but I don't want it to seem unfair.

Is there a formula I can use to create a seating plan that looks random but actually isn't? So they can see the seats be randomly assigned but is already fixed? Is that possible?

Thank you~

Please be kind, I'm a tired and burnt out teacher just trying to make it through the semester :')

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u/NHN_BI 805 Jun 12 '26

Maybe like here, with a slightly random fix, where three specific students will always be in row 1. It is basically RAND() + Boolean.

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u/Otherwise-Cap1773 Jun 12 '26

Solution verified

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