Basics of Computer Knowledge and Office Procedures
What this domain tests
This section checks everyday computer literacy plus office routine. On the computer side: parts of a system, input and output devices, memory, Windows basics, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet and email. On the office side: receiving and despatching dak, filing, maintaining registers, drafting, and moving files through the proper channel.
Core facts to hold
- Hardware is physical; software is the instruction set. RAM is volatile and loses data on power-off; ROM is non-volatile.
- Memory units are binary: 1 KB = 1024 bytes, 1 MB = 1024 KB, 1 GB = 1024 MB, 1 TB = 1024 GB.
- Shortcuts: Ctrl+C copy, Ctrl+V paste, Ctrl+X cut, Ctrl+S save, Ctrl+P print, Ctrl+Z undo, Ctrl+F find, F7 spelling check in Word.
- In Excel a formula begins with '='; =SUM(A1:A10) adds the range; $A$1 is an absolute reference that does not shift when copied.
- Email fields: To for the main recipient, Cc for visible copies, Bcc for hidden copies. 'Reply All' goes to sender plus all copied recipients.
- Office procedure: incoming dak is entered in the receipt register with serial number and date, then marked to the dealing hand; outward dak goes through the despatch register.
Worked example
Marks for ten students sit in B2:B11. What does =AVERAGE(B2:B11) return, and what changes if the formula is copied one column right? The range covers exactly ten cells, so the formula returns their mean. Copied to column C, the relative range shifts to C2:C11, so the answer changes. Writing =AVERAGE($B$2:$B$11) would keep the original range fixed.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing Save with Save As, treating RAM as permanent storage, using Cc where Bcc is required, and assuming 1 GB equals 1000 MB in the answer options.