Goldie

What you are describing sounds suspiciously like what happens in Excel..

Access is not a spreadsheet on steroids.  It doesn't work the same way.  A
different mindset is needed if you're to get the best use of Access'
relationally-oriented features/functions.

For instance, if you've already recorded a student ID and student name in
one table, there's no need to record both in another table.  It will be
sufficient to record only the studentID.  You'd use a query to join that ID
back to a name.

For another, it sounds like you are working directly in the table for data
entry.  That's the way folks usually do it in Excel, but Access table store
data, Access forms are used to display (add/edit) data.

Good luck!