Word Processing
What this domain tests
This domain tests practical document production: formatting text, controlling page layout, using tables and styles, and automating repetitive documents. Questions often ask which command or shortcut achieves a result, or the correct order of mail-merge steps.
Core rules
- Character formatting affects selected text (font, size, bold, italic, underline, colour). Paragraph formatting affects alignment, indentation, spacing, and line breaks.
- Styles store formatting under a name; applying a heading style updates the document outline and table of contents.
- Page setup controls margins, orientation, paper size, and columns. Headers and footers repeat on pages; page breaks start new pages, while section breaks allow different layouts.
- Tables organise data in rows and columns; merged cells combine adjacent cells.
- Find and Replace can change text, formatting, or special characters. Track Changes records edits for review.
- Mail merge combines a main document with a data source (table or spreadsheet) to produce personalised letters, labels, or envelopes.
- Common shortcuts: Ctrl+B bold, Ctrl+I italic, Ctrl+U underline, Ctrl+S save, Ctrl+P print, Ctrl+F find.
- Save As creates a new copy or changes format; Save updates the existing file.
Worked example
To create 40 personalised letters: (1) type the main letter with the fixed text; (2) prepare a data source with columns such as Name, Address, and City; (3) link the data source to the main document; (4) insert merge fields where names and addresses belong; (5) preview the merged letters; (6) complete the merge to a new document or printer. The reason for separating the main document from the data source is reuse: the same letter template works with a different list next year.
Traps
- Confusing page breaks with section breaks.
- Using Save when a new copy or different format is required.
- Editing the data source but forgetting to refresh or re-link it before merging.
- Assuming Track Changes deletes edits; it records them.