ICDL Présentation (avancé) common mistakes
ICDL Presentation · Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
Editing text directly on the slide instead of on the master, then being surprised that new slides or other slides keep the old formatting.
The master/slide relationship is abstract; candidates see the visible slide and assume that is where global formatting lives. They also fear breaking the master.
What to do instead
Before making a change that should apply to all slides, ask 'is this a per-slide fix or a template rule?' If template rule, open View > Master (Slide Master), edit the layout/master, then close master view and verify the change propagated to existing and new slides.
Changing a slide's layout by dragging placeholders manually rather than applying the correct layout from the master.
Dragging feels faster and gives immediate visual control, so candidates skip the layout gallery.
What to do instead
Use Home > Layout (or Slide > Layout) to assign the intended layout first, then only nudge placeholders if the layout genuinely needs a local adjustment.
Applying animations to individual objects one by one and losing track of order, so the sequence plays wrong during the test.
Animation is added object-by-object with no overview; candidates do not check the animation pane ordering or trigger settings.
What to do instead
Open the Animation Pane, review the numbered sequence, and reorder entries there. Confirm effect options (on click / with previous / after previous) for each item before finishing.
Inserting audio or video by linking to a file on a local path instead of embedding, so the media does not play on another machine.
The insert dialog defaults or the file picker offers 'link' and candidates accept it without noticing the difference.
What to do instead
Use Insert > Audio/Video > This Device and, where offered, choose the embed option. Verify by checking the media's link/embed status in the media tools and testing on a second location.
Resizing images by dragging corner/corner handles freely, distorting aspect ratio, instead of scaling proportionally.
Candidates grab any handle and drag; they do not know the Shift key or the aspect-lock behaviour.
What to do instead
Hold Shift while dragging a corner handle to preserve proportions, or set exact height/width in the Size group with the aspect ratio locked.
Grouping objects after the fact but leaving them ungrouped for later edits, or failing to group at all and moving objects individually.
Candidates select objects with a loose marquee and accidentally include/exclude items, or forget grouping exists.
What to do instead
Select all intended objects (Ctrl+click or marquee), then Group. Use Ungroup when individual edits are needed and regroup afterwards; verify by moving the group as one unit.
Building a table by hand with text boxes and lines instead of using the table tool, so alignment and formatting break.
Visual approximation feels easier than learning table structure, and candidates confuse a drawn grid with a real table.
What to do instead
Insert > Table with the required rows/columns, then format via Table Design/Layout. Use real table cells so rows/columns resize and align correctly.
Creating a chart but leaving the data source linked to an external spreadsheet or pasting a picture of a chart, so it cannot be edited or updated.
Candidates paste from another app as an image or accept the default linked data, then cannot edit values in the presentation.
What to do instead
Insert the chart in the presentation and edit its data via Chart > Edit Data (embedded worksheet). Avoid pasting charts as pictures unless a static image is explicitly required.
Exporting to PDF or video with default settings that drop speaker notes, animations, or slide dimensions, or saving in a format that loses editability.
Candidates click the first export option and do not inspect options such as 'include notes', slide range, or resolution.
What to do instead
In the export/save dialog, explicitly set the format, slide range, and options (include notes/hidden slides, video quality and timings). Reopen the exported file to confirm content and layout.
Protecting or marking a file as final without setting a password, or setting a password and then being unable to reopen the file for the marker.
Candidates conflate 'Mark as Final' with real security and do not record the password they set.
What to do instead
Use File > Info > Protect Presentation and choose the correct control (password to open/modify, or restrict permissions). Record any password used and confirm the file opens with the intended access level.