Office and Computer Skills
What this domain tests
Office and computer skills tests practical use of word processing, spreadsheets, email, file management, and information security, often through tasks or scenario questions on a computer-based platform.
Core rules and concepts
- Spreadsheets: relative references change when copied; absolute references are anchored with $. In =$B$2*C2, copying down keeps B2 fixed and moves C2 to C3.
- Know the difference between COUNT, which counts numbers, and COUNTA, which counts non-empty cells. SUM ignores text; AVERAGE divides by numeric cells.
- Sorting rearranges rows; filtering hides rows without changing order.
- Word processing: use heading styles to build a table of contents; use section breaks for different headers or page orientations; track changes records edits.
- Email: use BCC for large recipient lists to protect addresses; reply-all only when all recipients need the answer; verify attachments before sending.
- Security: use strong unique passwords and multi-factor authentication, lock your screen, classify data, and report suspected phishing rather than forwarding it.
- File management: meaningful names, dates in ISO format, version numbers, and backups.
Worked example
Cell D2 contains =$B$2*C2 and is copied to D3. What appears in D3?
The $ signs lock column B and row 2, so $B$2 is unchanged. C2 is relative, so it shifts one row down to C3. D3 contains =$B$2*C3.
Traps that cost marks
- Letting relative references drift unintentionally.
- Confusing clearing content with deleting a row.
- Sending confidential files to the wrong recipients.
- Opening unexpected attachments.
- Using one password across accounts.
- Saving over the only copy of a file.