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Computer & Office Skills

ADCA: advanced computer applications

A broader programme that brings computer basics, office software, the internet and other applications together in one course.

Suits: Beginners, school leavers and working adults

Ask about fees and batchesCall 011 2721 1512

Duration, fees and batch timings are quoted by the head office or your centre.

Students at computers in a classroom while a teacher helps one of them

6 study books in this course

  • Computer Fundamentals
  • Windows, Internet and Email
  • MS Word
  • MS Excel
  • MS PowerPoint
  • Typing
Lessons
42
Practice questions
195
Free ebooks
17

About the course

What the ADCA course is about

ADCA is the broadest of the computer and office courses. It brings together computer fundamentals, Windows and the internet, the three main MS Office programs and touch typing: the everyday computer work of most offices, schools and shops.

It suits someone who wants one course for the whole desk: writing and printing a letter in Word, keeping a marks list or a stock sheet in Excel, presenting it in PowerPoint, sending it by email, and typing all of it quickly and accurately.

All computer & office skills courses

What you will practise

Drawn from the lessons of the study books below.

  1. 01

    Know the parts of a computer, memory units and how files and folders are organised

  2. 02

    Use Windows, File Explorer, keyboard shortcuts, the web browser and email with confidence

  3. 03

    Write, format and print letters, tables and reports in Word, including mail merge

  4. 04

    Build Excel sheets with formulas, IF and lookups, sort and filter data, and make charts

  5. 05

    Make PowerPoint presentations with layouts, pictures, charts and animations

  6. 06

    Touch type with the correct posture and measure your speed and accuracy

What you will learn

6 subjects, 42 lessons

Every lesson of the study books that come with this course in the student portal, with the key points of each lesson and exercises to try. Your centre gives you the syllabus, the duration and the fee.

Subject 1 of 6

Computer Fundamentals

Learn how a computer works, from its parts and devices to memory units, number systems, software, operating systems and file management.

  • 7 lessons
  • About 21 min of reading
  • 35 practice questions
  • 25 key terms
  1. 1Introduction to Computers3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • A computer accepts input, processes it, produces output and stores results.
    • Data is raw facts; information is processed data with meaning.
    • GIGO means wrong input gives wrong output.
    • Hardware is the physical machine; software is the set of programs that run on it.

    Try this

    1. List ten machines at home or in your neighbourhood that contain a computer, such as an ATM, a washing machine or a smartphone, and write beside each one its type: desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone, server, supercomputer or embedded computer.
    2. Take one everyday job, such as preparing a mark sheet for five classmates, and write in your notebook exactly what happens at each of the four stages: input, processing, output and storage.
    3. Make a two-column table headed Hardware and Software and fill it with at least eight items you can see or use on the computer in front of you.
  2. 2Parts of a Computer3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • The CPU carries out instructions; its parts are the ALU, the Control Unit and registers.
    • The motherboard is the main circuit board that connects every part.
    • The SMPS converts AC mains power into low-voltage DC.
    • Peripherals connect through ports such as USB and HDMI.

    Try this

    1. Look at the back panel of a desktop cabinet or the sides of a laptop, draw a labelled sketch of every port you can find (USB, HDMI, VGA, Ethernet, audio jack), and write one device that plugs into each.
    2. On a Windows computer, open Settings, then System, then About, and note the processor name and the installed RAM; then open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc (click More details if it shows only a short list of apps), go to the Performance tab, click CPU and note its base speed in GHz and the number of cores.
    3. Write which part of the computer does each of these jobs: does arithmetic and comparisons, directs the flow of data, holds the programs in use, converts AC mains to DC, creates the picture on the monitor, and carries heat away.
  3. 3Input and Output Devices3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Input devices send data in; output devices show, print or play results.
    • OCR reads printed text, OMR reads marked bubbles, and MICR reads cheque characters.
    • Dot matrix printers are impact printers; inkjet and laser printers are not.
    • A touchscreen is both an input and an output device.

    Try this

    1. Go around your computer lab or home and make a table of every device you find, marking each one as input, output or both; for example, a multifunction printer is both.
    2. Use an OCR feature, such as Google Lens on an Android phone or Live Text on an iPhone, to copy the text from a printed page, paste it into a document, and correct any words it read wrongly.
    3. Open Settings, then System, then Display, note the screen resolution of your monitor, and compare it with Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels).
  4. 4Memory and Storage Devices3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • RAM is volatile working memory; ROM is non-volatile and holds start-up firmware.
    • Cache sits between the CPU and RAM to speed up access.
    • HDDs store data magnetically; SSDs and pen drives use flash memory.
    • Always keep a backup of important files in more than one place.

    Try this

    1. Open File Explorer with Windows key + E, click This PC, and write down the letter, total size and free space of every drive; then work out roughly what percentage of drive C: is still free.
    2. Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc (click More details if it shows only a short list of apps), go to the Performance tab and click Memory to see how much RAM is installed and how much is in use; open three or four apps and watch the in-use figure rise, then close them and watch it fall.
    3. Plan a 3-2-1 backup for your own important files: write which three copies you would keep, on which two kinds of storage, and where you would keep the copy that stays away from home.
  5. 5Bits, Bytes and Number Systems3 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • 8 bits make a byte and 4 bits make a nibble.
    • In the binary convention, each unit (KB, MB, GB, TB) is 1024 times the one before it.
    • Binary is base 2, octal base 8, decimal base 10 and hexadecimal base 16.
    • 1101 in binary is 13 in decimal; one hex digit equals 4 bits.
    • ASCII codes English characters; Unicode covers scripts such as Devanagari.

    Try this

    1. Convert the decimal numbers 9, 25, 47 and 100 into binary by repeated division by 2, then check each answer by converting it back to decimal using place values.
    2. Open the Windows Calculator, choose Programmer from its menu button (the three lines at the top-left), type a decimal number and read its HEX, OCT and BIN values; use it to check the conversions you did by hand.
    3. Write your first name in capital letters and work out the ASCII code of each letter, remembering that A is 65 and each following letter is one more (B is 66, C is 67 and so on).
  6. 6Software and Operating Systems3 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • System software runs the computer; application software does tasks for the user.
    • A compiler translates the whole program first; an interpreter works one statement at a time.
    • Open-source software shares its source code; proprietary software does not.
    • The OS manages processes, memory, files, devices, security and the user interface.
    • POST is the hardware check the firmware runs at start-up.

    Try this

    1. Open the Start menu, look through the full list of installed apps, and sort ten of them into system software (including utilities) and application software in a two-column table.
    2. Open Settings, then System, then About, and write down the edition and version of Windows installed; then name one open-source program you could use instead of a proprietary office suite and one open-source web browser.
    3. Hold the Shift key while you click Shut down in the Start menu, so that Windows shuts down fully instead of using Fast Startup; switch the computer on again (a cold boot) and note in order what appears until the sign-in screen, such as a maker's or Windows logo, spinning dots and the lock screen, then match each stage as best you can to POST, the boot loader and the operating system loading.
  7. 7File Management Concepts3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • A file holds data; a folder holds files and other folders.
    • The extension after the last full stop tells the file type.
    • A path is the full address of a file or folder, such as C:\Users\Aman\Documents.
    • Copy keeps the original; move takes it away from the old location.

    Try this

    1. In your Documents folder, create a folder for this course with a subfolder for each subject, such as Fundamentals, Word and Excel; open one subfolder, click an empty part of the address bar to see its full path, and copy that path into your notebook.
    2. Create a text file in Notepad and save it with a date-first name such as 2026-04-15 Practice Notes.txt; then rename it, copy it to a second folder, move that copy to a third folder, delete the moved copy, and restore it from the Recycle Bin.
    3. While renaming a practice file, try to type a question mark or a colon in its name and write down the message Windows shows; then list from memory the nine characters a Windows file name cannot contain.
Glossary: 25 key terms of Computer Fundamentals
ALU
The Arithmetic Logic Unit, the part of the CPU that does arithmetic such as addition and logical comparisons such as checking whether one number is greater than another.
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a character code that gives each English letter, digit and common symbol a number from 0 to 127, such as 65 for capital A and 97 for small a.
Binary
The base-2 number system, which uses only the digits 0 and 1 and is how computers store all data.
BIOS and UEFI
The Basic Input/Output System and its modern replacement, the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface: firmware kept on a chip on the motherboard that checks the hardware and starts loading the operating system when the computer is switched on.
Bit
The smallest unit of data, a single binary digit that is either 0 or 1.
Byte
A group of 8 bits, enough to store one English character in ASCII.
Cache memory
A small, very fast memory between the CPU and RAM that keeps copies of the data the CPU uses most often.
Compiler
A program that translates a whole program written in a high-level language such as C into machine code before it runs.
CPU
The Central Processing Unit, or processor, the chip that carries out the instructions of every program.
File extension
The letters after the last full stop in a file name, such as pdf or docx, which tell the operating system what type of file it is.
GIGO
Short for Garbage In, Garbage Out, the idea that wrong input data or wrong instructions give wrong results.
Hardware
All the physical parts of a computer that you can see and touch, such as the keyboard, monitor and motherboard.
Hexadecimal
The base-16 number system, which uses the digits 0 to 9 and the letters A to F, where one digit stands for exactly 4 bits.
Interpreter
A program that translates and runs a program one statement at a time instead of translating the whole program first.
Motherboard
The main circuit board of a computer, to which the CPU, memory, storage drives and expansion cards all connect.
OCR
Optical Character Recognition, software that reads printed text in a scanned image or photo and turns it into editable text.
Open-source software
Software whose source code is shared so that anyone can study, change and share it, such as Linux, LibreOffice and Mozilla Firefox.
Operating system
The main system software, such as Windows, macOS, Linux or Android, that manages the hardware and gives other programs a platform to run on.
Path
The complete address of a file or folder, listing every folder from the drive down to it, such as C:\Users\Aman\Documents.
POST
The Power-On Self-Test, a quick check of the hardware that the firmware runs every time the computer starts.
RAM
Random Access Memory, the volatile working memory that holds the programs and files in use and loses its contents when the power goes off.
ROM
Read Only Memory, non-volatile memory whose contents stay when the power is off and which holds the start-up firmware.
Software
The programs that tell the hardware what to do, such as Windows, Microsoft Word or a web browser.
SSD
A solid state drive, a storage device that keeps data on flash memory chips with no moving parts and works much faster than a hard disk drive.
Unicode
The international character-coding standard that covers the characters of almost every script in the world, including Devanagari.

Subject 2 of 6

Windows, Internet and Email

Use Windows confidently, manage files and folders, browse and search the web, write proper emails, stay safe from online and UPI fraud, and keep files in the cloud.

  • 7 lessons
  • About 21 min of reading
  • 35 practice questions
  • 25 key terms
  1. 1The Windows Desktop3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • The taskbar holds pinned and open apps; the notification area shows the clock and status icons.
    • Deleting a shortcut does not delete the original file.
    • Files deleted normally from the computer's own drive go to the Recycle Bin and can be restored.
    • Windows 11 centres the taskbar icons by default; Windows 10 places Start at the left.

    Try this

    1. Open an app that is not yet on the taskbar, such as Notepad or Calculator, right-click its taskbar icon and choose Pin to taskbar; close it, check that the icon stays, then right-click it and choose Unpin from taskbar. Also create a desktop shortcut to a folder (right-click the folder, choose Send to, then Desktop (create shortcut); in Windows 11, Send to is under Show more options), delete the shortcut, and check that the folder itself is still there.
    2. Open three apps and practise Minimise, Maximise and Restore on each; snap two of them side by side by dragging them to the left and right edges of the screen, and finally Close all three.
    3. Delete a practice file with the Delete key, open the Recycle Bin, choose Restore, and check that the file is back in its original folder; then lock the computer from the Start menu and sign in again.
  2. 2File Explorer, Files and Folders3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Windows key + E opens File Explorer; Ctrl + Shift + N creates a new folder; F2 renames.
    • Ctrl + click picks separate items; Shift + click picks a range.
    • Delete sends items to the Recycle Bin; Shift + Delete removes them permanently.
    • Turn on file name extensions to recognise file types and fake files.

    Try this

    1. Open File Explorer with Windows key + E, create a folder named Practice with Ctrl + Shift + N, add three subfolders inside it, and rename one of them with F2, using the mouse as little as possible.
    2. Select separate files with Ctrl + click and a range of files with Shift + click, copy them to a pen drive, then switch the view to Details and sort the files by size and then by date modified.
    3. Turn on file name extensions, copy three or four practice files into the Practice folder, compress the Practice folder into a zip file, check the zip file's size with Alt + Enter, and then use Extract All to unzip it into a new folder.
  3. 3Keyboard Shortcuts3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Ctrl + C, Ctrl + X and Ctrl + V copy, cut and paste; Ctrl + Z undoes.
    • Alt + Tab switches windows; Windows + L locks the computer.
    • Windows + Shift + S captures part of the screen.
    • Ctrl + Shift + Esc opens Task Manager to close a frozen program.

    Try this

    1. Open Notepad and type a short paragraph; then, without touching the mouse, select a word with Shift + arrow keys, cut it with Ctrl + X, paste it at the end with Ctrl + V, undo with Ctrl + Z and save with Ctrl + S.
    2. Open three apps and switch between them with Alt + Tab, show the desktop with Windows + D, capture part of the screen with Windows + Shift + S, and paste the screenshot into Paint or a Word document.
    3. Write a small card with three new shortcuts for this week, keep it beside the keyboard, and use each shortcut at least ten times a day until you no longer need to look at the card.
  4. 4Web Browsers and Searching3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • The internet is the network; the web is the collection of pages you open in a browser.
    • https means an encrypted connection, not an honest website.
    • Quotes find an exact phrase, a minus sign excludes a word, and site: searches one site.
    • Private windows do not hide your activity from websites or your network.

    Try this

    1. Search for the same topic three ways, as plain keywords, as an exact phrase in quotation marks, and with a minus sign before a word to exclude it, and note how the results change each time.
    2. Use the site: operator with the government domain ending from this lesson to find an official page about a scholarship or a certificate, read the page address carefully, and bookmark it with Ctrl + D.
    3. Open a private window (Ctrl + Shift + N in Chrome and Edge, Ctrl + Shift + P in Firefox), visit two pages, close the window, and then open your browser History with Ctrl + H to confirm that those pages were not recorded on the computer.
  5. 5Email: Etiquette and Attachments3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Bcc hides recipients' addresses from each other; Cc does not.
    • Reply all goes to everyone in To and Cc, so use it only when needed.
    • A clear subject, polite tone and checked attachment make a professional email.
    • Share files larger than the attachment limit as a cloud link.

    Try this

    1. Write a formal leave application email with a clear subject, a greeting, two short paragraphs and a signature, save it as a draft first, check it, and then send it to your own email address.
    2. Send yourself an email with one PDF and one zip file of three documents attached, mentioning both in the body; then forward it and also reply to it, and note which of the two keeps the attachments.
    3. With three classmates, send one test message with one classmate in To, one in Cc and one in Bcc, and compare each person's copy to see whose addresses every recipient can see.
  6. 6Online Safety and UPI/OTP Fraud Awareness3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Use long, unique passwords and turn on two-step verification.
    • Entering your UPI PIN approves a payment; you never need it to receive money.
    • Never share an OTP, PIN or CVV with anyone, including callers who claim to be from a bank.
    • Report cyber fraud quickly on 1930 or at cybercrime.gov.in.

    Try this

    1. Turn on two-step verification for your own email account, write down which method you chose, such as a code by SMS or an authenticator app, and save the backup codes the service offers in a safe place in case you lose your phone.
    2. Collect three suspicious SMS, email or WhatsApp messages, or examples given by your teacher, without clicking any link, opening any file or replying, and list the warning signs in each, such as urgency, a misspelt link, an APK file or a request for an OTP.
    3. Make a family safety card in English or Hindi with the six UPI and OTP rules from this lesson and the cybercrime helpline number 1930, and explain it to one family member.
  7. 7Cloud Storage and Sharing3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Cloud storage keeps files on internet servers that you reach by signing in.
    • DigiLocker is the Government of India's platform for official documents.
    • Sync copies deletions too, so it is not a full backup.
    • Share sensitive files only with named people and give view-only access.

    Try this

    1. Sign in to Google Drive or OneDrive, create a folder for this course, upload a document from your computer, and then download it again into a different folder on the computer.
    2. Share a practice document with a classmate as Viewer, then change their access to Editor, and finally remove their access, asking them after each step what they can and cannot do.
    3. Edit one Google Docs or Word for the web document together with a classmate at the same time, then open its version history and restore an earlier version.
Glossary: 25 key terms of Windows, Internet and Email
Attachment
A file, such as a PDF, photo or zip file, sent along with an email message.
Bcc
Blind carbon copy, an email field whose recipients are hidden from everyone else who receives the message.
Cc
Carbon copy, an email field for people who should be kept informed, whose addresses every recipient can see.
Cloud storage
A service that keeps your files on a provider's servers on the internet, so you can reach them from any device by signing in.
DigiLocker
The Government of India's platform where you can keep and fetch official documents such as Aadhaar, PAN and marksheets issued by government departments and boards.
File Explorer
The Windows app for browsing, opening, copying, moving and deleting files and folders, opened with Windows key + E.
HTTPS
HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure, the encrypted form of HTTP, the protocol browsers use to fetch web pages; it protects the connection between your browser and a website but does not prove that the site is honest.
Internet
The worldwide network of connected computer networks, which carries the web as well as email, video calls and UPI payments.
Keyboard shortcut
A combination of keys, such as Ctrl + C to copy, that does a job instantly without going through menus.
OTP
A one-time password, a short code sent to your phone or email to confirm a login or payment, which must never be shared with anyone.
Phishing
A trick in which a fake message pretends to come from a bank, company or government office in order to steal your details or money.
Private window
A browser window, such as Incognito in Chrome or InPrivate in Edge, that does not keep your history, cookies or form entries on that computer after you close it.
Recycle Bin
The Windows folder that holds files deleted normally from the computer's own drive until you restore them or empty it.
Search engine
A service such as Google or Bing that finds web pages matching the words you type.
Shortcut
An icon with a small arrow on its corner that links to a file, folder or app, so deleting it does not delete the original.
Snap
A Windows feature that resizes a window to fill half or another part of the screen when you drag it to a screen edge or choose a Snap layout.
Sync
Keeping a folder on your computer and its copy in cloud storage the same, so that every change, including a deletion, appears in both places.
Task Manager
The Windows tool, opened with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, that shows running programs and can end a program that has frozen.
Taskbar
The bar along the bottom of the Windows screen that holds the Start button, pinned apps, open apps and the notification area.
Two-step verification
A sign-in protection, also called two-factor authentication, that asks for a second proof such as a code on your phone as well as your password.
UPI PIN
The secret 4- or 6-digit number you enter in a UPI (Unified Payments Interface) app to approve money going out of your account or to check your balance; it is never needed to receive money.
URL
Uniform Resource Locator, the full address of a web page, made up of the protocol, the domain name and the path to the page.
Web browser
An app such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox or Safari that opens and displays web pages.
World Wide Web
The collection of billions of linked pages that runs on the internet and is opened in a web browser.
Zip file
A compressed file that packs one or more files and folders into a single, usually smaller, file that is easier to email or upload.

Subject 3 of 6

MS Word

Create, edit, format and print professional documents in Microsoft Word, from simple letters and tables to long reports with a table of contents and mail-merged letters.

  • 7 lessons
  • About 28 min of reading
  • 35 practice questions
  • 25 key terms
  1. 1Getting Started with MS Word4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Word is a word processor for letters, reports and other documents.
    • Commands sit in ribbon tabs and groups; the dialog box launcher opens more options.
    • Word wraps lines automatically, so press Enter only for a new paragraph.
    • Ctrl+S saves, F12 opens Save As, and Word files use the .docx extension.
    • Print Layout view shows the page as it will print.

    Try this

    1. Open Word, choose Blank document and type two short paragraphs introducing yourself, letting word wrap start each new line and pressing Enter only once, between the two paragraphs.
    2. Save the document as My Introduction with Ctrl+S, then press F12 (Save As) to save a second copy in PDF format, and open both files to compare them.
    3. Switch between Read Mode, Print Layout and Web Layout on the View tab (Read Mode hides the ribbon, so press Esc or use the view buttons on the status bar to leave it), click the + on the zoom slider until it shows 150% and set it back to 100%, and use Ctrl+Home and Ctrl+End to jump to the start and end of the document.
  2. 2Editing, Proofing and Reviewing Text4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Double-click selects a word, triple-click selects a paragraph and Ctrl+A selects everything.
    • Ctrl+X, Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V cut, copy and paste; Ctrl+Z undoes and Ctrl+Y redoes.
    • Ctrl+H opens Find and Replace; Replace All changes every match at once.
    • F7 checks spelling and grammar; a red wavy line marks a possible spelling mistake.
    • Track Changes (Ctrl+Shift+E) records edits so they can be accepted or rejected.

    Try this

    1. Type a paragraph that spells Delhi as Dehli in at least four places, then open Find and Replace with Ctrl+H, type Dehli in Find what and Delhi in Replace with, click Replace All, and note how many replacements Word reports.
    2. Type five sentences with a few deliberate spelling mistakes and a name such as Venkatesh, press F7 to check the document, correct the real mistakes and use Ignore All for the name.
    3. Turn on Track Changes with Ctrl+Shift+E, change three words, delete one sentence and add a comment with Ctrl+Alt+M, then accept two of the changes and reject the rest from the Review tab.
  3. 3Formatting Text and Paragraphs4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Character formatting changes letters; paragraph formatting changes whole paragraphs.
    • Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I and Ctrl+U apply bold, italic and underline.
    • Ctrl+L, Ctrl+E, Ctrl+R and Ctrl+J set left, center, right and justified alignment.
    • Bullets suit unordered items and numbering suits steps; Tab and Shift+Tab change list levels.
    • Format Painter copies formatting; double-click it to use it several times.

    Try this

    1. Type a one-page notice for a school annual day, make the heading bold, 20 points and centred with Ctrl+E, justify the body paragraphs with Ctrl+J, and set their line spacing to 1.5.
    2. Write a bulleted list of ten things to buy for a family function, then a numbered list of the steps for making tea, and press Tab at the start of a new item to add two sub-points under one step.
    3. Type H2O, CO2 and x2 + y2 with subscript (Ctrl+=) and superscript (Ctrl+Shift+=) on the right digits, select one heading and press Shift+F3 until it is in UPPERCASE, make it bold and coloured, and copy that formatting to two other headings with Format Painter. Notice that the other headings stay in their own case, because Change Case changes the letters themselves, not their formatting.
  4. 4Page Layout, Headers, Footers and Printing4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • The Layout tab controls margins, orientation, paper size and columns.
    • Ctrl+Enter inserts a page break; section breaks allow different layouts in one document.
    • Headers and footers repeat on every page; inserted page numbers update automatically.
    • Watermark, Page Color and Page Borders are on the Design tab.
    • Ctrl+P opens Print, with settings for copies, page ranges and a preview.

    Try this

    1. Create a project report with a cover page and three chapters, start each chapter on a new page with Ctrl+Enter, add a footer with an automatic page number, and tick Different First Page so the cover shows no footer.
    2. Design a certificate on A4 paper in Landscape orientation with Narrow margins, add a border from Design > Page Borders, and check it in the print preview (Ctrl+P) without printing.
    3. In a portrait document, insert a Next Page section break (Layout > Breaks) before and after one page, set only that page to Landscape, and click Show/Hide ¶ to see the section break marks.
  5. 5Working with Tables4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • A table is made of rows, columns and cells.
    • Tab moves to the next cell, and Tab in the last cell adds a new row.
    • Merge Cells joins cells into one; Split Cells divides one cell.
    • Layout > Formula with =SUM(ABOVE) totals a column, but the result is updated with F9.
    • Repeat Header Rows shows the heading row on every page of a long table.

    Try this

    1. Create a bill table with the columns Item, Qty, Rate and Amount for five stationery items, insert a row above the headings with Layout > Insert Above, merge its cells and type a shop name in it.
    2. Press Tab in the last cell of your bill to add a Total row, total the Amount column with Layout > Formula (=SUM(ABOVE)), then change one amount, select the total and press F9 to update it.
    3. Type ten lines, each with a friend's name, city and favourite subject separated by commas, select the lines and turn them into a table with Insert > Table > Convert Text to Table, choosing Commas under Separate text at, then sort it by name from A to Z with Layout > Sort and apply a Table Style.
  6. 6Pictures, Shapes and Other Objects4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Pictures, shapes, icons, SmartArt and charts are all on the Insert tab.
    • The Picture Format tab offers Crop, Picture Styles, corrections and Alt Text.
    • Wrap Text controls how text flows around a picture; In Line with Text is the default.
    • Hold Shift while drawing a shape to keep it perfectly round or square.
    • Ctrl+K inserts a hyperlink, and Symbol inserts characters such as ₹.

    Try this

    1. Make a one-page poster for a tree plantation drive: insert a picture from This Device, set Wrap Text to Square, resize it with a corner handle so it does not stretch, and add Alt Text describing it.
    2. Hold Shift to draw a perfect circle and a perfect square, right-click each and choose Add Text to type a word inside, then select both (click one, hold Shift and click the other), line up their centres with Align and Group them so they move together.
    3. Insert a SmartArt Process diagram with four steps of a college admission (fill the form, submit documents, pay the fee, attend the first class), pressing Enter after the last step in its Text pane if you need a fourth shape, then use Insert > Symbol > More Symbols to type the ₹, © and ° signs in a sentence.
  7. 7Styles, Table of Contents and Mail Merge4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • A style is named formatting; Normal, Heading 1 and Heading 2 are common styles.
    • Modifying a style updates every paragraph that uses it.
    • References > Table of Contents builds a contents list from heading styles; Update Table refreshes it.
    • Mail merge combines a main document with a data source through merge fields.
    • The mail merge commands are on the Mailings tab, ending with Finish & Merge.

    Try this

    1. Type a short report with three chapter titles and two sub-headings under each, apply Heading 1 and Heading 2 with Ctrl+Alt+1 and Ctrl+Alt+2, then modify the Heading 1 style to a new colour and watch every chapter title change.
    2. Insert an automatic table of contents from References > Table of Contents on a blank page after the cover, add one more Heading 2 sub-heading, click Update Table and choose Update entire table, then Ctrl+click an entry to jump to it.
    3. Make an Excel sheet with Name and City columns for six people and save and close it, then in Word use Mailings > Start Mail Merge > Letters and Select Recipients > Use an Existing List, insert the Name and City merge fields into a festival greeting letter, preview every letter, and finish with Edit Individual Documents.
Glossary: 25 key terms of MS Word
Alignment
How the lines of a paragraph line up with the margins: left, centred, right or justified, which means even along both margins.
Alt Text
A short description of a picture or other object that screen readers read aloud for people who cannot see it.
Cell
A single box in a table, where one row and one column meet.
Find and Replace
A tool, opened with Ctrl+H, that searches for a word or phrase and changes it to another, one match at a time or all at once with Replace All.
Footer
The area in the bottom margin of a page whose content, such as a page number, repeats on every page of the section.
Format Painter
A Home tab tool that copies the formatting of the selected text so you can give other text the same look.
Header
The area in the top margin of a page whose content, such as a report title, repeats on every page of the section.
Indent
Extra space between a paragraph and the margin, which can also be set for only the first line (first-line indent) or for every line except the first (hanging indent).
Insertion point
The blinking vertical line, also called the cursor, that shows where the next character you type will appear.
Mail merge
A Mailings tab feature that combines one main document with a list of recipients to produce many personalised letters, envelopes, labels or emails.
Margin
The blank space between the text and the edges of the page.
Merge field
A placeholder such as «Name» in a mail merge document that is replaced with each recipient's own details.
Navigation pane
A side pane, opened with Ctrl+F or from the View tab, for searching a document and jumping to any heading or page.
Orientation
The direction of the page: portrait is taller than it is wide, and landscape is wider than it is tall.
Page break
A mark, inserted with Ctrl+Enter, that makes the text after it start at the top of a new page.
Ribbon
The band of tabs across the top of the Word window, each divided into groups of commands.
Section break
A mark that divides a document into parts that can have different page settings, such as orientation, margins or headers.
SmartArt
A set of ready-made diagrams, such as lists, processes, cycles and organisation charts, into which you type your own text.
Style
A named set of formatting, such as Normal or Heading 1, that is applied in one click and, when modified, changes every paragraph that uses it.
Table of contents
A list of a document's headings with their page numbers, which Word builds from heading styles and refreshes with Update Table.
Text wrapping
The setting that decides how text flows around a picture or shape, such as In Line with Text, Square or Behind Text.
Track Changes
A Review tab feature that records every insertion and deletion so the author can accept or reject each change.
Watermark
Faint text or a picture, such as DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL, shown behind the content of each page.
Word processor
A program for typing, editing, formatting and printing documents such as letters, reports and resumes.
Word wrap
The automatic movement of text to the next line when the current line is full, so you press Enter only to start a new paragraph.

Subject 4 of 6

MS Excel

Work with cells, ranges and formulas in Microsoft Excel, use functions such as SUM, IF, VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP, and sort, filter, chart and print your data.

  • 7 lessons
  • About 27 min of reading
  • 35 practice questions
  • 25 key terms
  1. 1Getting Started with Excel4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • A workbook (.xlsx) contains worksheets made of columns, rows and cells.
    • A cell address is the column letter followed by the row number, such as B4.
    • A range such as A1:C5 uses a colon to mean "from A1 to C5".
    • Text aligns left and numbers align right by default; ##### means the column is too narrow.
    • The fill handle continues series such as Jan, Feb, Mar.

    Try this

    1. Create a workbook with the headings Roll No, Name and Class in A1:C1, enter details for eight students, click a few cells to read their addresses in the Name Box, and save the file as Class Register.
    2. On a new sheet, use the fill handle to fill Jan to Dec down column A starting at A2 and Mon to Sun across row 1 starting at B1, then type 1 and 2 in two cells, select both and drag to continue the series up to 20.
    3. Type ten full names in column A and the first name of the first person in column B, press Enter so the cell below is selected and press Ctrl+E to let Flash Fill complete the column, then enter today's date with Ctrl+; and fix any ##### by double-clicking the column border.
  2. 2Formatting Cells and Worksheets3 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Formatting changes how a value looks, not the value itself.
    • Ctrl+1 opens Format Cells, where you can choose formats such as Currency with the ₹ symbol.
    • Gridlines do not print by default; use Borders for tables you will print.
    • Wrap Text, Merge & Center and AutoFit help data fit neatly.
    • Conditional Formatting changes a cell's look automatically based on its value.

    Try this

    1. Before typing anything in a Code column, format it as Text so codes such as 00123 keep their zeros, then type a price list of ten items with their codes, format the price column as Currency with the ₹ symbol and two decimal places from Format Cells (Ctrl+1), and add All Borders to the table.
    2. Add a title above a marks table and use Merge & Center across the table's width, AutoFit every column by double-clicking the border between the column headings, then apply Wrap Text to a long column heading and drag that column narrower so the heading shows on two lines.
    3. In a stock sheet of 15 items, use Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cells Rules > Less Than to colour quantities below 10 in red, add Data Bars to a sales column, then change one quantity to 5 and watch its colour update.
  3. 3Formulas and Basic Functions4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Every formula starts with =; use cell references so results update automatically.
    • Excel calculates brackets first, then powers, then * and /, then + and -.
    • COUNT counts cells with numbers, while COUNTA counts cells that are not empty.
    • AVERAGE ignores empty cells but includes zeros.
    • Alt+= inserts AutoSum; errors such as #DIV/0!, #NAME? and #REF! point to the cause of a problem.

    Try this

    1. Create a marksheet for five students with marks in five subjects, add Total and Average columns using SUM and AVERAGE, and show the highest and lowest totals with MAX and MIN.
    2. Make a shopping bill with Item, Qty and Rate columns, calculate each Amount with a formula such as =B2*C2, copy it down with the fill handle, and get the grand total with AutoSum (Alt+=).
    3. Type =10+5*2 and =(10+5)*2 in two cells to see how brackets change the answer, compare COUNT and COUNTA on a column of names, and type =SUMM(B2:B5) to see the #NAME? error.
  4. 4Relative, Absolute and Mixed References4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Relative references (A1) change when a formula is copied; this is the default.
    • Absolute references ($A$1) stay fixed wherever the formula is copied.
    • Mixed references ($A1 or A$1) lock only the column or only the row.
    • F4 cycles through the reference types while you edit a formula.
    • Use an absolute reference or a named cell for one value, such as a rate, used by many formulas.

    Try this

    1. Type five bill amounts in B2:B6 and a discount rate of 10% in F1, enter =B2*$F$1 in C2 and copy it down to C6, then try =B2*F1 copied down instead and work out why the lower rows show 0.
    2. Build a multiplication table: type 1 to 9 in B1:J1 and in A2:A10, enter =$A2*B$1 in B2, and copy it to the whole block B2:J10.
    3. Give cell F1 the name Discount in the Name Box and rewrite the discount formula as =B2*Discount, then edit a formula such as =B2*$F$1, place the cursor in the B2 reference and press F4 four times, writing down each form it shows.
  5. 5Decisions and Lookups: IF, VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP4 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • IF(test, value_if_true, value_if_false) returns one of two results; text results go in double quotes.
    • VLOOKUP searches the first column of a table and returns a value from a column to its right.
    • Use FALSE as VLOOKUP's last argument for an exact match; a value that is not found gives #N/A.
    • XLOOKUP needs Microsoft 365 or Excel 2021 and later; it matches exactly by default and can return from any column.

    Try this

    1. In a marksheet with a Percentage column, add a Result column that uses IF to show Pass for 40 or more and Fail otherwise, and a Grade column with a nested IF that gives A for 75 and above, B for 50 and above, and C for the rest. If the percentages are shown with the % sign, write the limits as 40%, 75% and 50% in the formulas.
    2. Make a price list of ten item codes, names and prices in A2:C11, type a code in F2 and show its price with =VLOOKUP(F2,$A$2:$C$11,3,FALSE), then type a code that does not exist to see #N/A and wrap the formula in IFERROR to show Not found.
    3. In a sales list with City and Amount columns, count the sales from Delhi with COUNTIF and add their amounts with SUMIF; if your Excel is Microsoft 365 or Excel 2021 or later, also redo the price lookup with XLOOKUP and a "Not found" message.
  6. 6Sorting and Filtering Data4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Keep one heading row and no blank rows inside a list you want to sort or filter.
    • Sort A to Z or Z to A sorts whole rows; Data > Sort sorts by several columns.
    • Filter (Ctrl+Shift+L) hides rows that do not match, without deleting them.
    • Ctrl+T turns a list into an Excel Table with automatic filters and formatting.
    • Freeze Top Row keeps the headings visible while you scroll.

    Try this

    1. Make an employee list of 15 rows with Name, City, Department and Salary columns, then use Data > Sort with two levels to sort by City from A to Z and then by Salary from largest to smallest.
    2. Turn on filters with Ctrl+Shift+L, show only the Sales department employees from Pune, then use Number Filters > Greater Than to show salaries above 30000, and finally clear all the filters.
    3. Convert the list into an Excel Table with Ctrl+T and add a Total Row from the Table Design tab, freeze the heading row with View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row, and on a copy of the sheet (right-click the sheet tab, choose Move or Copy and tick Create a copy) enter one employee twice and remove the repeat with Data > Remove Duplicates.
  7. 7Charts and Printing4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Select the data with its headings and use Insert > Recommended Charts or a chart type.
    • Column charts compare categories, line charts show change over time and pie charts show parts of a whole.
    • The Chart Design and Format tabs add titles, labels and styles; charts update when the data changes.
    • Fit Sheet on One Page, Print Area and Print Titles control what prints and how.
    • Gridlines do not print unless you tick Gridlines > Print.

    Try this

    1. Enter sales figures for six months, select them with their headings, insert a column chart, and use Add Chart Element to add a chart title, axis titles and data labels.
    2. Make a household budget with five expense heads and show it as a pie chart, then switch your sales chart to a line chart with Change Chart Type and edit one sales figure to watch the chart update.
    3. Prepare a 60-row list for printing: set Landscape orientation, use Print Titles to repeat the heading row at the top of every page, choose Fit All Columns on One Page, and check the preview under File > Print.
Glossary: 25 key terms of MS Excel
Absolute reference
A cell reference with dollar signs, such as $F$1, that stays exactly the same when the formula is copied.
Argument
A value, cell or range given to a function inside its brackets, such as B2:B10 in =SUM(B2:B10).
AutoSum
A button, with the shortcut Alt+=, that inserts a SUM formula for the numbers above or to the left of the active cell and also offers Average, Count Numbers, Max and Min.
Cell
The box where a column and a row meet, which holds one value, piece of text or formula.
Cell reference
The address of a cell, written as its column letter followed by its row number, such as B4.
Chart
A picture of worksheet data, such as a column, line or pie chart, that updates when the data changes.
Conditional Formatting
A Home tab feature that changes a cell's look automatically, for example colouring it red, when its value meets a rule you set.
Excel Table
A list converted with Ctrl+T that gets filter arrows and banded rows and grows automatically when you type a new row just below it.
Fill handle
The small square at the bottom-right corner of the active cell, dragged to copy a value or formula or to continue a series such as Jan, Feb, Mar.
Filter
A Data tab tool, turned on with Ctrl+Shift+L, that hides the rows that do not match your choices without deleting them.
Formula
A calculation typed in a cell that starts with an equals sign, such as =B2*C2.
Formula Bar
The bar above the column headings that shows, and lets you edit, the content or formula of the active cell.
Freeze Panes
A View tab command that keeps chosen rows or columns, such as the heading row, visible while you scroll.
Function
A ready-made formula with a name, such as SUM, AVERAGE or MAX, that works on the arguments given in its brackets.
IF function
A function that tests a condition and returns one value when the condition is true and another when it is false.
Mixed reference
A cell reference that locks only the column or only the row, such as $A1 or A$1.
Number format
The way a number is displayed, such as Currency, Percentage or Date, which does not change the value stored in the cell.
Print Titles
A Page Layout setting that repeats chosen rows, such as the heading row, at the top of every printed page.
Range
A group of cells written with a colon between the first and last cell, such as A1:C5.
Relative reference
An ordinary cell reference, such as B2, that shifts to match its new position when the formula is copied.
Sort
To rearrange rows into an order, such as A to Z or largest to smallest, while keeping each row's data together.
VLOOKUP
A function that finds a value in the first column of a table and returns the value from a chosen column to its right in the same row.
Workbook
An Excel file, saved with the .xlsx extension, that contains one or more worksheets.
Worksheet
A single sheet in a workbook, made of a grid of columns and rows, with its name shown on a tab at the bottom of the window.
XLOOKUP
A lookup function in Microsoft 365 and Excel 2021 and later that searches one column or row and returns the matching value from another, matching exactly by default.

Subject 5 of 6

MS PowerPoint

Build clear, attractive presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint with layouts, themes, pictures, charts, transitions and animations, then deliver them confidently as a slide show.

  • 7 lessons
  • About 28 min of reading
  • 35 practice questions
  • 25 key terms
  1. 1Getting Started with PowerPoint4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • A presentation is a set of slides; PowerPoint files use the .pptx extension.
    • Normal view has the slide thumbnails pane, the slide pane and the Notes pane.
    • Slide Sorter view is best for rearranging slides.
    • Speaker notes are for the presenter and do not appear on the slide.
    • Plan the purpose, audience and outline first, and keep one main idea per slide.

    Try this

    1. Start a Blank Presentation, type the title My Favourite Hobby and your name on the title slide, save it with Ctrl+S, then press F12 and save a second copy under a new name.
    2. Switch between Normal, Outline View, Slide Sorter, Notes Page and Reading View on the View tab, and write one line about what each view is best used for.
    3. On paper, plan a five-minute talk on keeping your locality clean: write its purpose, its audience and an outline with a title slide, an agenda, three main points, a summary and a closing slide for questions.
  2. 2Slides, Layouts and Text4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Ctrl+M adds a new slide; a layout sets which placeholders a slide has.
    • Tab demotes a bullet to a sub-point and Shift+Tab promotes it.
    • Ctrl+D duplicates the selected slide, and Hide Slide skips a slide during the show.
    • If AutoFit is shrinking your text, split the content across more slides.
    • Speaker notes go in the Notes pane and can be printed as Notes Pages.

    Try this

    1. Add five slides from the New Slide arrow on the Home tab, choosing a different layout for each: Title and Content, Section Header, Two Content, Comparison and Title Only. Then add one more slide with Ctrl+M and use Home > Layout to change it to Blank.
    2. On a Title and Content slide, type five bullet points about your favourite festival, demote two of them to sub-points with Tab, promote one back with Shift+Tab, and type what you would say about the slide in the Notes pane.
    3. Select a slide in the thumbnails pane and duplicate it with Ctrl+D, hide one slide with Hide Slide, rearrange the slides by dragging in Slide Sorter view, and use Home > Section > Add Section to group them into sections named Introduction and Details.
  3. 3Themes, Backgrounds and the Slide Master4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • A theme applies matching colours, fonts and backgrounds; Variants offer other colour schemes.
    • Widescreen (16:9) is the default slide size; Standard (4:3) is also available.
    • Format Background with Apply to All changes the background of every slide.
    • The Slide Master (View > Slide Master) controls the look of all slides, such as a logo on every slide.
    • Insert > Header & Footer adds slide numbers, the date and footer text.

    Try this

    1. Apply a theme from the Design tab to a five-slide presentation, try three of its Variants, and then change only the theme fonts from the Variants drop-down.
    2. Open View > Slide Master, place a small picture or shape as a logo in a corner of the top master slide, close Master View to check that it appears on every slide, and add slide numbers and footer text from Insert > Header & Footer.
    3. Use Design > Format Background to give one slide a gradient fill and then a picture fill, click Apply to All, and check that the text on every slide still has good contrast.
  4. 4Pictures, Shapes, SmartArt and Charts4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Pictures, shapes, SmartArt, tables, charts, icons and media are added from the Insert tab.
    • Hold Shift to draw a perfect circle or square; Ctrl+D duplicates an object.
    • Ctrl+G groups objects, and Align and Distribute line them up evenly.
    • Convert to SmartArt turns a bulleted list into a diagram.
    • A chart in PowerPoint opens a small spreadsheet window for its data.

    Try this

    1. Insert a picture from This Device, crop away an unwanted edge, apply a Picture Style, add Alt Text, and try Remove Background on a photo with a plain backdrop.
    2. Draw three shapes while holding Shift so they stay in proportion and type a word inside each, then select all three (hold Shift and click each one), use Align to line them up and Distribute Horizontally to space them evenly in a row, and press Ctrl+G to group them.
    3. Type four bullet points listing the steps of opening a bank account and use Convert to SmartArt to turn them into a process diagram, then on the next slide insert a column chart and replace the sample numbers with marks in four subjects.
  5. 5Slide Transitions4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • A transition is the effect as one slide changes to the next, and it plays as its slide enters.
    • Transitions are set on the Transitions tab; Effect Options change the direction.
    • Apply To All gives every slide the same transition.
    • After moves to the next slide automatically after a set time; On Mouse Click waits for the presenter.
    • Morph (Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2019 and later) smoothly moves objects between two similar slides.

    Try this

    1. Apply the Fade transition to one slide, set its Duration to one second, click Apply To All so every slide uses it, and run the show to watch the effect.
    2. Make a six-slide photo show that moves on by itself: untick On Mouse Click, set After to 00:05.00 for every slide, and run the show from the beginning without touching the keyboard.
    3. On a slide with a small circle on the left, select that slide in the thumbnails pane and press Ctrl+D to duplicate it (with the circle selected, Ctrl+D would copy only the circle), move the circle to the right and make it bigger on the copy, and apply Morph to the second slide (Microsoft 365 or PowerPoint 2019 and later).
  6. 6Animations4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Animations move objects on a slide; transitions move between slides.
    • The four types are Entrance, Emphasis, Exit and Motion Paths.
    • Choosing a new effect from the gallery replaces the old one; Add Animation adds a second effect.
    • On Click, With Previous and After Previous control when an animation starts.
    • The Animation Pane lists and reorders every animation on a slide.

    Try this

    1. On a slide with five bullet points, apply the Fly In entrance effect to the text placeholder and set Effect Options to By Paragraph so the bullets appear one at a time on each click.
    2. Animate a title, a picture and a shape, open the Animation Pane and reorder them so the picture plays last, set it to start After Previous with a one-second Delay, and press Play to test the slide.
    3. Make a quiz slide with a question, a text box holding the answer and a shape labelled Show answer, give the answer an Appear entrance effect, and use Trigger so it appears only when the shape is clicked.
  7. 7Presenting the Slide Show4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • F5 starts the show from the beginning, Shift+F5 from the current slide, and Esc ends it.
    • During the show, B blanks the screen and a slide number followed by Enter jumps to that slide.
    • Presenter View shows your notes, the next slide and a timer while the audience sees only the slide.
    • Set Up Slide Show can run a looping kiosk show, and Hide Slide skips a slide.
    • Handouts with 3 slides per page include lines for notes; Export can create a PDF or a video.

    Try this

    1. Start your presentation with F5, move forward and back with the arrow keys, type 3 and press Enter to jump to slide 3, press B to blank the screen and B again to return, and end the show with Esc.
    2. Practise a talk with Rehearse Timings, try to finish within five minutes and click Yes to keep the slide timings, then use Set Up Slide Show to choose Browsed at a kiosk (full screen) so the show moves on and repeats by itself using those timings.
    3. Open File > Print and preview the Notes Pages and 3 Slides handout layouts, export a PDF copy with File > Export > Create PDF/XPS Document, and save another copy as a PowerPoint Show (.ppsx).
Glossary: 25 key terms of MS PowerPoint
Animation
An effect that makes an object on a slide, such as a title, picture or bullet point, appear, draw attention, move or leave during the slide show.
Animation Pane
A pane opened from the Animations tab that lists every animation on the slide in playing order, so you can reorder, time, test or delete them.
AutoFit
A setting that automatically shrinks text so it fits inside its placeholder when there is too much of it.
Designer
A Microsoft 365 feature on the Design tab that suggests professional slide layouts for your pictures and text, and needs an internet connection.
Effect Options
A button on the Transitions and Animations tabs that changes the direction or style of the chosen effect, such as By Paragraph for bullet points.
Emphasis effect
A type of animation, such as Pulse, Spin or Grow/Shrink, that draws attention to an object already on the slide.
Entrance effect
A type of animation, such as Appear, Fade or Fly In, that brings an object onto the slide.
Group
A command, with the shortcut Ctrl+G, that joins selected objects so they move and resize together as one.
Handout
A printout with several slides on each page for the audience, where the 3-slides layout adds lines for notes.
Layout
The arrangement of placeholders on a slide, such as Title Slide, Title and Content or Two Content.
Morph
A transition in Microsoft 365 and PowerPoint 2019 and later that smoothly moves, resizes or recolours objects that appear on two slides in a row.
Motion path
A type of animation that moves an object along a line, arc, turn or loop during the slide show.
Normal view
The main editing view, with the slide thumbnails on the left, the large slide in the middle and the Notes pane below it.
Placeholder
A box on a slide, shown with prompt text such as Click to add text, that holds a title, text, picture, table or chart.
Presentation
A set of slides shown one after another to support a talk, saved by PowerPoint with the .pptx extension.
Presenter View
A view on the presenter's screen that shows the current slide, the next slide, the speaker notes and a timer while the audience sees only the slide.
Rehearse Timings
A Slide Show tab tool that times you as you practise and can save the time spent on each slide.
Slide Master
The top slide in Slide Master view, which controls the fonts, colours, background and placeholder positions of every slide in the presentation.
Slide Show
The full-screen view the audience sees, started with F5 from the first slide or Shift+F5 from the current slide.
Slide Sorter
A view that shows all the slides as small thumbnails so you can rearrange them by dragging.
SmartArt
A set of ready-made diagrams, such as lists, processes, cycles and hierarchies, that you fill with your own text.
Speaker notes
Notes typed in the Notes pane below a slide that help the presenter speak and are not shown on the slide during the show.
Theme
A matching set of colours, fonts, effects and backgrounds, applied to the slides from the Design tab.
Transition
The visual effect, such as Fade or Push, shown as the slide show moves from one slide to the next.
Trigger
An animation setting that starts an effect only when a particular object on the slide is clicked.

Subject 6 of 6

Typing

Learn touch typing the right way: posture, the home row, which finger presses which key, accuracy before speed, measuring WPM, a daily practice plan and the basics of Hindi typing.

  • 7 lessons
  • About 22 min of reading
  • 20 practice questions
  • 25 key terms
  1. 1Touch Typing and Correct Posture3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Touch typing uses all ten fingers without looking at the keyboard.
    • Sit upright with feet flat, elbows at about 90 degrees and wrists straight.
    • Keep the monitor about an arm's length away, top of screen at or below eye level.
    • Press keys lightly and take short breaks to protect your hands and eyes.

    Try this

    1. Check your seat against the seven posture points in this lesson and adjust your chair, monitor and keyboard; then ask a classmate or family member to watch your feet, elbows and wrists while you type for five minutes.
    2. Write down your present typing habits honestly, such as how many fingers you use, how often you look down and whether your neck or wrists ache, so that you can compare them after one month of practice.
    3. During a 30-minute practice session, set a timer to remind you of the 20-20-20 rule every 20 minutes, and finish with one minute of finger, wrist and shoulder stretches.
  2. 2The Home Row3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • The home row keys are A S D F for the left hand and J K L ; for the right.
    • The bumps on F and J help you find the home row without looking.
    • Every finger reaches, presses and returns to its home key.
    • Use one thumb consistently for the space bar.

    Try this

    1. Close your eyes, place your fingers on the home row by feeling the bumps on F and J, then open your eyes and check that every finger is on the right key; repeat this ten times.
    2. Type each home row drill line from this lesson three times in Notepad without looking at the keyboard, then type each home row word line three times as well and count your mistakes in the last round.
    3. Make up five words or short phrases of your own that use only the letters a, s, d, f, g, h, j, k and l, and type each one five times at a steady rhythm.
  3. 3The Finger-to-Key Map3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Each finger covers a slanting column of keys above and below its home key.
    • The index fingers each cover two columns; the little fingers cover the edge keys.
    • Use the Shift key on the opposite side from the letter you are typing.
    • On the numeric keypad, rest on 4, 5 and 6; the 5 key has a bump.

    Try this

    1. Draw the three letter rows of the keyboard in your notebook and colour each key according to the finger that presses it, using one colour per finger, then check your drawing against the table in this lesson.
    2. Type the reach drill lines from this lesson three times each, saying the name of the finger in your mind as it leaves its home key and comes back.
    3. Type the names of ten Indian cities with a capital first letter, using the Shift key on the opposite side every time; then, if your keyboard has a numeric keypad, turn on Num Lock and type a list of ten invoice amounts on it.
  4. 4Accuracy Before Speed3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Accuracy comes first; speed grows when correct movements become automatic.
    • Never look at the keys; use the bumps on F and J to find your place.
    • Type to a steady, even rhythm instead of in bursts.
    • Practise your weak keys and letter pairs with short targeted drills.

    Try this

    1. Type a short passage for five minutes at a slow, even pace; count your mistakes and the characters you typed (in Word, the Review tab, then Word Count, shows Characters (with spaces)), and work out your accuracy as correct characters divided by characters typed, times 100, to see whether it is 95 percent or higher.
    2. From your last practice passage, list the keys or letter pairs you got wrong most often, make a two-line drill of them, and type it slowly for ten minutes.
    3. Practise for one week with a light cloth or a cardboard cover over your hands, and note each day how many times you felt like looking down at the keys.
  5. 5Measuring Speed and Accuracy3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • A standard word is 5 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
    • Gross WPM is total characters divided by 5, divided by the minutes.
    • Net WPM subtracts a penalty for uncorrected errors; accuracy is correct characters as a percentage.
    • Different tests use different rules, so read the official instructions for yours.

    Try this

    1. Work out on paper the gross WPM for 1,500 characters typed in 5 minutes, the net WPM if there were 10 uncorrected errors, and the accuracy if 1,440 of those characters were correct.
    2. Take a 5-minute test on a passage you have not practised, find the number of characters typed from the Characters (with spaces) figure in Word's Word Count box (Review tab, then Word Count), compare your text with the original to count the uncorrected errors, and calculate your gross WPM, net WPM and accuracy.
    3. Start a progress log in a notebook or an Excel sheet with columns for date, passage, gross WPM, net WPM and accuracy, and fill in one row after every practice session for two weeks.
  6. 6Building a Practice Plan3 min read · 4 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Practise 20 to 30 minutes every day rather than in long, occasional sessions.
    • Each session should include a warm-up, weak keys, word drills, passages and one timed test.
    • Practise with real material that includes capitals, numbers and punctuation.
    • Plateaus are normal; slow down, focus on accuracy and drill weak letter pairs.

    Try this

    1. Follow the 30-minute daily session from this lesson for seven days in a row, ticking off each of its five parts in a notebook every day.
    2. Write your own four-week plan with a fixed daily practice time and one small goal for each week, and keep it beside your computer.
    3. For one week, type one piece of real material each day, such as a leave application, an address with a PIN code or the details of a short invoice, to practise capitals, numbers and punctuation.
  7. 7Hindi Typing Basics4 min read · 5 key points · 3 exercises

    Key points

    • Unicode Hindi works everywhere; legacy-font text needs that exact font installed.
    • Inscript is the standard layout, with vowels mostly on the left and consonants on the right.
    • Remington comes from Hindi typewriters; skill on one layout does not transfer to the other.
    • Windows key + Space switches between English and Hindi keyboards.
    • In Unicode, matras follow the consonant, and the halant joins consonants into conjuncts.

    Try this

    1. Add Hindi and its keyboard in Windows Settings, switch to it with Windows key + Space, and type the words कमल, घर, नमक and सरल in Notepad, finding each letter with an Inscript key chart or the Windows On-Screen Keyboard (Windows key + Ctrl + O), which shows the Hindi letter on every key.
    2. Type the words पानी, किताब, दूध, मेला and गुलाब, remembering that every matra, including the short i matra, is typed after its consonant.
    3. Type the conjuncts क्ष, त्र and ज्ञ using the halant, then copy your Hindi words into an email or chat message to check that the Unicode text appears correctly on another device.
Glossary: 25 key terms of Typing
Accuracy
The share of characters typed correctly, written as a percentage of all the characters typed.
Backspace
The key, pressed with the right little finger, that deletes the character to the left of the cursor.
CPM
Characters per minute, a speed measure in which 5 CPM equals 1 WPM because a standard word is 5 characters.
Devanagari
The script in which Hindi is written, also used for Marathi, Sanskrit and Nepali, with its own letters, matras and conjuncts.
Gross WPM
Typing speed counting every character typed, right or wrong, divided by 5 and then by the number of minutes.
Halant
The Devanagari sign that removes a consonant's built-in vowel so it can join the next consonant, as in क्ष, त्र and ज्ञ.
Home row
The middle row of letter keys, A S D F for the left hand and J K L semicolon for the right, where the fingers rest and return after every key.
Hunt and peck
A slow way of typing in which you look down to find each key and press it with one or two fingers.
Inscript
The standard keyboard layout for Indian scripts, included in Windows, with vowels and matras mostly on the left and consonants mostly on the right.
Key depressions per hour
A speed measure used in some data-entry tests that counts how many keys are pressed in an hour instead of words per minute.
Keyboard layout
The computer setting that decides which character each physical key produces, such as English or Hindi Inscript.
Legacy font
An older Hindi font, such as Kruti Dev, that draws Hindi shapes over the codes of English letters, so the text turns into meaningless characters without that exact font.
Matra
A vowel sign joined to a Devanagari consonant, such as the sign that turns क into का, which in Unicode is typed after the consonant.
Net WPM
Typing speed after a penalty for uncorrected errors has been subtracted from the gross speed.
Numeric keypad
The block of number keys on the right of a full keyboard, with home keys 4, 5 and 6, used for typing figures quickly when Num Lock is on.
Phonetic typing
A way of typing Hindi by writing words in English letters, such as namaste, which the software turns into Devanagari.
Plateau
A stretch of days or weeks during learning when typing speed seems to stop rising, which is a normal stage of practice.
Posture
The way you sit while typing, ideally upright with feet flat on the floor, elbows at about 90 degrees and wrists straight.
Remington
A Hindi keyboard layout that comes from mechanical Hindi typewriters and was long used with legacy fonts such as Kruti Dev.
Shift key
A key held down with the little finger of the opposite hand to type a capital letter or the upper symbol on a key.
Space bar
The long key at the bottom of the keyboard, pressed with the side of a thumb, that types a space.
Standard word
A group of 5 characters, including spaces and punctuation, counted as one word when typing speed is measured.
Touch typing
Typing with all ten fingers without looking at the keyboard, each finger looking after a fixed group of keys.
Unicode
The international standard that gives every character of every major script its own code, so Hindi typed in it shows correctly on any modern device.
WPM
Words per minute, the usual measure of typing speed, in which one word is counted as 5 characters.

Practice and study material

Study books and timed practice tests in the student portal

Students sign in to read the study books lesson by lesson, print them, mark lessons as done and test themselves with timed practice tests, every answer explained.

  • 6study books
  • 42lessons
  • 195practice questions
  • 150glossary terms

How the practice tests work

  • Fresh questions each time

    Up to 20 questions are picked at random from the subject’s question bank.

  • One minute per question

    A timer counts down. When it reaches zero, your answers are sent automatically.

  • Move around freely

    Skip a question, flag it, and come back to change your answer before you submit.

  • Learn from every answer

    At the end you see the right answer and an explanation for each question.

  • Read, print and keep track

    Each study book has its lessons, key points, exercises and a glossary. Print a lesson, or mark it as done.

Try 3 practice questions

Real questions from this course’s question banks. Pick an answer to see the explanation.

  1. Computer Fundamentals · Question 1

    Why does a CPU use cache memory?

    Show the answer

    Answer: A. To keep frequently used data close to the CPU for faster access

    Cache is a small, very fast memory between the CPU and RAM. Keeping often-used data there saves the CPU from waiting for slower RAM.

  2. MS Word · Question 2

    Which view shows a Word document as it will look when printed and is used for normal editing?

    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Print Layout

    Print Layout shows the pages with their margins, headers and footers as they will print.

  3. Typing · Question 3

    Which wrist position is correct while typing?

    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Straight and slightly raised, not bent up or pressed on the desk edge

    Straight, slightly raised wrists reduce strain and let the fingers move freely. Bending them or pressing them on the desk edge can cause pain over time.

Typing speed test

The student portal has a typing test with live highlighting as you type. It works out your net words per minute and your accuracy, and saves each result so you can watch your speed improve.

  • 6 English passages
  • हिन्दी: 4 Hindi passages
  • Results saved to your account
Free typing test

Free ebooks

17 free ebooks for this course

Branded PDF books to read on your phone or print: the study books of this course and more. Free for anyone, no sign-in needed.

Browse all 100 free ebooks

Careers

Careers this course leads towards

The kind of work these skills are used for. Each guide explains what the job involves, the skills it asks for and how to get started.

  • Data entry and office assistant

    Typing records, letters and reports, keeping spreadsheets up to date, and handling email, files and printing in an office.

  • Computer teacher

    Teaching computer basics, MS Office and typing at a computer centre or in a school.

  • Accounts assistant (Tally)

    Entering sales, purchases and payments, keeping GST records and preparing the reports a business owner or accountant asks for.

Free calculators

Useful calculators

Free tools that go with this course. They work in your browser, on a phone or a computer.

How admission works

From your first question to your certificate.

The usual steps, at the head office in Delhi or at an authorised member centre.

Who can join
Students above 12 years of age.
Where
The Delhi head office and authorised member centres.
Fees and timings
On WhatsApp at +91 97116 99511, or by phone on 011 2721 1512.
Start with a question
  1. 1

    Ask about the course

    Call or WhatsApp the head office, or visit your nearest member centre. Ask for the duration, the fee and the batch timings in writing.

  2. 2

    Fill the admission form

    Admission forms are supplied by the head office to every centre.

  3. 3

    Learn in class

    Attend your batch at the centre, with the course material and study notes, and sign in to the student portal for the study books and practice tests.

  4. 4

    Take the exam

    The institute prefers written exams, taken in front of a teacher.

  5. 5

    Receive your certificate

    Students who pass get a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate and marksheet. Employers can verify it with the head office.

Questions

Questions about the ADCA course

Still have a question?

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Who can join the ADCA course?

Students above 12 years of age can take admission, at the Delhi head office or at an authorised member centre. The course suits beginners, school leavers and working adults. Tell the head office or your centre what you already know, and they will suggest where to start.

How is ADCA different from MS Office or basic computer?

ADCA is the widest of the three. Basic computer covers computer fundamentals, Windows, the internet and typing; MS Office covers Word, Excel and PowerPoint; ADCA brings all of these together in one course. The lessons of each subject are listed on this page.

How long is the course and what is the fee?

Duration, fees and batch timings depend on the course and the centre. Ask the head office or your nearest member centre, and get the details in writing before you pay.

Where are the classes?

At the head office in Delhi (A-10, Chief Commissioner Colony, opposite Rana Pratap Bagh) and at authorised member centres. Call or WhatsApp the head office to find the nearest centre.

What do I need to use the study books and practice tests?

A phone or a computer with an internet connection, and the login your centre gives you at enrolment. The student portal opens in an ordinary web browser, so there is nothing to install. Student login.

How do the practice tests work?

Sign in to the student portal and choose a subject. Each test picks up to 20 questions at random from that subject’s question bank and gives you one minute per question, with a timer that sends your answers automatically when it reaches zero. You can skip a question, flag it and come back before you submit, and at the end you see the right answer and an explanation for every question. This course has 195 practice questions across 6 subjects, and you can take the tests as often as you like.

Is there an exam and a certificate?

Yes. The institute prefers written exams, taken in front of a teacher. Students who pass receive a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate and marksheet.

How is a Gurukul Technicals Institute certificate verified?

On the verify certificate page, anyone can enter a certificate number and check it against the institute’s online register, which covers certificates issued through the portal. For older certificates, or if there is any doubt, send a copy to the head office by email or WhatsApp; the reply comes within 2 working days.

Are the ebooks on this page really free?

Yes. The 17 ebooks for this course are free PDF downloads for anyone, whether or not you join. The whole library has 100 free ebooks: browse them all.

Ready to start the ADCA course?

Ask the head office for the duration, the fee, the batch timings and your nearest member centre.

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