Information and Communication Technology Skills
What the exam tests
ICT items cover hardware and software identification, file and folder operations, keyboard shortcuts, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, internet and email, and safe digital behaviour including password hygiene, phishing and the IT Act, 2000.
Core rules
- Hardware is physical (CPU, RAM, storage, input and output devices). Software is instructions: system software such as the operating system, and application software such as Word, Excel or Tally.
- A file name carries an extension that decides which application opens it, and a folder tree is addressed by a path.
- Shortcuts: Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+X for copy, paste, cut; Ctrl+Z undo; Ctrl+S save; Ctrl+P print; Alt+Tab switch between windows; F2 rename; Ctrl+Shift+N new folder.
- Spreadsheet formulas begin with '='. A reference such as B2 is relative; $B$2 is absolute. Functions: =SUM(B2:B6), =AVERAGE(B2:B6), =MAX, =MIN, =IF(B2>=40,'Pass','Fail').
- Presentation rule: one idea per slide, about six lines of six words, readable font, no walls of text.
- Safety: a long unique passphrase plus two-factor authentication; never share an OTP; check the sender's domain before clicking; the padlock and https mean the traffic is encrypted, not that the site is honest.
- The IT Act, 2000 covers unauthorised access, identity theft and publishing obscene material online.
Worked example
Cells B2:B6 hold five scores: 42, 38, 55, 60, 45. =SUM(B2:B6) returns 240; =AVERAGE(B2:B6) returns 48; =IF(B2>=40,'Pass','Fail') returns Pass for 42 and Fail for 38. Reasoning: functions act on ranges, conditions act on single cells. If the formula is copied down a column, write $B$2 only where the reference must stay fixed.
Marks-losing traps
- Typing 42 after an apostrophe, which makes it text and excludes it from SUM.
- Confusing Save, which overwrites, with Save As, which creates a new copy.
- Calling a phishing mail spam. Phishing impersonates a trusted sender to steal credentials.
- Believing a padlock proves the website is genuine.