MS Office and Productivity Software
MS Office and Productivity Software tests practical use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access: interface commands, formulas, references, mail merge, slide masters, database objects and file formats.
Core rules
- Word: styles apply consistent formatting; mail merge needs a main document and a data source; Track Changes records edits; .docx is the default format.
- Excel: formulas start with =. Relative references adjust when copied; absolute references such as $B$1 do not; mixed references lock only row or column. COUNT counts numbers, COUNTA counts non-empty cells, COUNTBLANK counts blanks. IF, VLOOKUP and SUMIF are common functions.
- PowerPoint: the Slide Master controls theme and layouts; transitions occur between slides, animations occur within a slide; .pptx is the default format.
- Access: a table stores data, a query retrieves data, a form enters data, a report prints data; a primary key uniquely identifies a row; relationships enforce referential integrity.
Worked example
Cell C1 contains =A1*$B$1. Copy it to C2. The A1 reference becomes A2 because it is relative; $B$1 stays fixed. If A1 = 4, A2 = 5 and B1 = 10, then C1 = 40 and C2 = 50. Reasoning: relative references shift with the destination, while absolute references remain locked.
Traps
Excel stores dates as serial numbers. Text-looking numbers align left and may not sum. In Access, a query does not store data; a table does. PowerPoint animation is not a slide transition. Mail merge does not require typing each letter manually.