Computer Knowledge and Office Applications: Shortcuts, Formulas and Email Basics
What is tested
Hardware, software, memory, operating systems and the office suite - mainly Word, Excel and PowerPoint - plus internet, email and basic security. Items are one line: which shortcut, which menu, which extension, what a formula returns.
Core facts
- Memory ladder: bit, byte (8 bits), KB, MB, GB, TB. RAM is volatile; ROM is not.
- Extensions: .docx (Word), .xlsx (Excel), .pptx (PowerPoint), .pdf, .jpg, .mp3, .exe.
- Word: Ctrl+B/I/U for formatting, Ctrl+E to centre, mail merge, header and footer, track changes.
- Excel: every formula begins with =; $ freezes a reference ($B$2 absolute, B$2 row-fixed); SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MAX, MIN, IF and charts.
- PowerPoint: Slide Master controls overall design; transitions run between slides, animations within a slide; F5 starts the show.
- Email: To is the primary recipient, Cc a visible copy, Bcc a hidden copy; attachments carry files.
- Security: recognise phishing, use strong passwords, keep a firewall and antivirus, never share OTPs.
Worked example
What does Excel return for =2+34? Excel applies operator precedence: multiplication before addition, so 34 = 12 and 2 + 12 = 14. To add first you must bracket it: =(2+3)*4 returns 20.
Traps
- Save overwrites the open file; Save As creates a new name or format.
- Transitions versus animations, and Slide Master versus an individual slide layout.
- Pressing Delete clears a cell's contents but does not remove the row or column.
- Confusing Cc with Bcc when the question asks who can see a recipient.