PPSC DEPUTY ACCOUNTANT (BS-16)

COMPLETE BASIC COMPUTER NOTES

Expected MCQs: 5-8 | Topics: Basics, MS Office, Internet, Shortcut Keys | Study: 3x per Week

Section Topics Covered Expected MCQs Priority

Computer Basics Definition, types, 1-2 HIGH
generations, hardware,
software
MS Office MS Word, MS Excel, 2-3 HIGH
MS PowerPoint features
Internet & Networking Internet basics, email, 1-2 HIGH
browsers, networking
Shortcut Keys Windows, MS Word, MS 1-2 HIGH
Excel, MS PowerPoint
shortcuts
Storage & Memory RAM, ROM, Hard disk, 1 MEDIUM
storage units

PART 1: COMPUTER BASICS

1.1 — What is a Computer?
• A computer is an electronic device that accepts data (INPUT), processes it, stores it, and produces
results (OUTPUT).
• Full form of COMPUTER: Commonly Operated Machine Particularly Used in Technical and Educational
Research.
• A computer works on the IPO cycle: Input → Process → Output.
• Father of Computer: Charles Babbage (invented Analytical Engine, 1837).
• Father of Modern Computer: Alan Turing (theoretical foundation, Turing Machine concept).
• First Programmer: Ada Lovelace (wrote first algorithm for Babbage's Analytical Engine).

1.2 — Generations of Computers

Generation Period Technology Used Key Feature /
Example
1st Generation 1940-1956 Vacuum Tubes Very large, slow, used
machine language.
Example: ENIAC,
UNIVAC.
2nd Generation 1956-1963 Transistors Smaller, faster, more
reliable. Used assembly
language. Example:
IBM 1401.
3rd Generation 1964-1971 Integrated Circuits (ICs) Even smaller, faster,
cheaper. High-level
languages (COBOL,
FORTRAN). Example:
 Generation Period Technology Used Key Feature /
Example
IBM 360.
4th Generation 1971-Present Microprocessors (VLSI Personal computers.
chips) GUI introduced.
Example: Intel
processors, Apple Mac,
IBM PC.
5th Generation Present-Future Artificial Intelligence (AI) Voice recognition,
machine learning,
natural language
processing. Example:
Siri, ChatGPT.

PPSC TIP: ENIAC (1945) is considered the first general-purpose electronic computer. It weighed 30
tonnes and used 18,000 vacuum tubes.

1.3 — Types of Computers

Type Description Examples
Supercomputer Fastest and most powerful. Used IBM Summit, Fugaku (Japan),
for complex scientific PARAM (India)
calculations.
Mainframe Computer Very large, powerful. Used by IBM Z-series. Used by banks,
large organisations for bulk data airlines, governments.
processing.
Minicomputer Medium-sized. Used by medium- IBM AS/400, VAX series
scale businesses. Also called
mid-range computers.
Microcomputer (PC) Small, personal use. Based on Desktop PC, Laptop, Tablet,
microprocessor chip. Smartphone
Workstation High-performance PC. Used for Sun Microsystems workstations,
engineering, graphics, and HP Z-series
scientific work.
Embedded Computer Built into other devices. Performs Microwave oven controller, car
specific dedicated tasks. engine control, ATM machine

1.4 — Hardware: Input Devices

Input Device Function / Key Facts
Keyboard Most common input device. Standard keyboard has
104 keys. Used to type text and commands.
Mouse Pointing device. Invented by Douglas Engelbart
(1964). Standard mouse has 2 buttons + scroll
wheel.
Scanner Converts physical documents/images into digital
format. Resolution measured in DPI (dots per inch).
Microphone Converts sound (voice) into digital signals for input
to computer.
 Input Device Function / Key Facts
Webcam Captures video/images in real-time for input.
Joystick Pointing device mainly used for gaming and
controlling aircraft simulators.
Touchscreen Display that also acts as input device. Used in
smartphones, tablets, ATMs, kiosks.
Barcode Reader Reads barcodes (series of parallel lines) printed on
products. Used in shops, libraries.
OMR (Optical Mark Reader) Detects marks made by pencil/pen on special
forms. Used for MCQ answer sheets, surveys.
OCR (Optical Character Reader) Reads printed text and converts to digital text. Used
to digitise books and documents.
Biometric Scanner Reads fingerprints, iris, face for
identification/authentication.
Light Pen Pen-shaped device used to draw on screen or
select options on display.

PPSC TIP: OMR is used for PPSC/NTS MCQ answer sheets — the machine reads your filled circles.
Make sure circles are properly filled!

1.5 — Hardware: Output Devices

Output Device Function / Key Facts
Monitor (VDU) Visual Display Unit. Most common output device.
Shows text and graphics on screen. Types: CRT
(old), LCD, LED, OLED.
Printer Produces hard copy (paper output). Types: Inkjet
(uses ink cartridges), Laser (uses toner powder,
fastest), Dot Matrix (uses impact — used for carbon
copies), 3D Printer (creates 3D objects).
Speakers Convert digital audio signals into sound. Output
device for audio.
Projector Displays computer output on a large screen. Used
in presentations and classrooms.
Plotter Draws vector graphics, charts, maps, and
engineering drawings. Used in CAD/architectural
work.
Headphones Personal audio output device. Worn on ears.

PPSC TIP: Printer speed measured in PPM (Pages Per Minute). Laser printers are fastest. Inkjet
printers produce better colour quality.

1.6 — Hardware: Storage Devices

Storage Device Type Capacity Range Key Facts
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Secondary (Magnetic) 500 GB to 10+ TB Main storage of
computer. Data stored
magnetically on
 Storage Device Type Capacity Range Key Facts
spinning platters.
Speed: 5400-7200
RPM.
Solid State Drive (SSD) Secondary (Flash) 128 GB to 4+ TB No moving parts. Much
faster than HDD. More
durable. Used in
modern laptops.
USB Flash Drive (Pen Secondary (Flash) 4 GB to 1 TB Portable. Plug into USB
Drive) port. Also called thumb
drive or memory stick.
CD (Compact Disc) Secondary (Optical) 700 MB Read by laser. CD-ROM
(read only), CD-R (write
once), CD-RW
(rewritable).
DVD (Digital Versatile Secondary (Optical) 4.7 GB (single layer) to Same size as CD but
Disc) 8.5 GB (dual layer) much higher capacity.
Used for movies,
software.
Blu-ray Disc Secondary (Optical) 25 GB to 128 GB Uses blue-violet laser
(shorter wavelength =
more data). Used for
HD movies.
Memory Card (SD Card) Secondary (Flash) 2 GB to 1 TB Used in cameras,
smartphones, tablets.
Stands for Secure
Digital.
RAM (Random Access Primary (Volatile) 4 GB to 64 GB (typical) Temporary memory.
Memory) Loses data when power
is off. Faster than
secondary storage.
ROM (Read Only Primary (Non-volatile) Small (KB to MB) Permanent memory.
Memory) Cannot be changed by
user. Contains
BIOS/firmware.

1.7 — Storage Units (Most Tested in PPSC)

Unit Symbol Equivalent Approx. Real Size
Bit b Smallest unit of data — Single binary value
0 or 1 (binary digit)
Byte B 8 bits = 1 Byte 1 character (e.g. letter
'A')
Kilobyte KB 1,024 Bytes = 1 KB A short text document
Megabyte MB 1,024 KB = 1 MB A 3-minute MP3 song
(~3-4 MB)
Gigabyte GB 1,024 MB = 1 GB A movie file (~1-2 GB)
Terabyte TB 1,024 GB = 1 TB A large hard disk drive
Petabyte PB 1,024 TB = 1 PB Large data centres
Exabyte EB 1,024 PB = 1 EB Global internet traffic
 Unit Symbol Equivalent Approx. Real Size
per month

PPSC TIP: Memory: 1 KB = 1,024 Bytes (NOT 1,000). This is because computers use binary (base 2)
and 2^10 = 1,024.
PPSC TIP: Bit vs Byte: Internet speed is measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). File size is
measured in Megabytes (MB). 1 MB = 8 Mb.

1.8 — CPU and Memory

Component Full Form Function
CPU Central Processing Unit Brain of the computer. Executes
all instructions and processes
data. Contains ALU and CU.
ALU Arithmetic and Logic Unit Part of CPU. Performs arithmetic
operations (+,-,x,/) and logical
comparisons (AND, OR, NOT).
CU Control Unit Part of CPU. Controls and
coordinates all computer
operations. Directs data flow.
RAM Random Access Memory Primary (main) memory.
Temporary storage. Volatile
(loses data when power off).
Faster than storage.
ROM Read Only Memory Permanent primary memory.
Non-volatile. Contains BIOS.
Cannot be modified by user.
Cache Memory — Ultra-fast memory inside/near
CPU. Stores frequently used
data for quick access. L1, L2, L3
levels.
BIOS Basic Input Output System Firmware stored in ROM. First
program that runs when
computer starts. Initialises
hardware.
Clock Speed — Speed of CPU measured in GHz
(Gigahertz). Higher GHz = faster
processing. Modern CPUs: 2-5
GHz.

PPSC TIP: CPU speed is measured in GHz (Gigahertz). 1 GHz = 1 billion cycles per second. Most
modern computers have multi-core CPUs (dual-core, quad-core, octa-core).

1.9 — Software
Type Definition Examples
System Software Manages computer hardware Operating System (Windows,
and provides platform for Linux, macOS), Device Drivers,
application software to run. BIOS
 Type Definition Examples
Application Software Programs designed for specific MS Word, Chrome, Photoshop,
user tasks. Excel, WhatsApp, Games
Utility Software Tools that maintain and optimise Antivirus, Disk Cleanup, Disk
computer performance. Defragmenter, WinZip, File
Manager
Programming Software Tools used by developers to Compilers, Interpreters,
write and test code. Debuggers, IDEs (Visual Studio,
Eclipse)

1.10 — Operating Systems

Operating System Developer Key Facts
Windows Microsoft Most widely used desktop OS.
Current version: Windows 11.
First released 1985. GUI-based.
macOS Apple Inc. Used on Apple Mac computers.
Unix-based. Known for stability
and design. Current: macOS
Sonoma.
Linux Linus Torvalds (1991) Open-source and free. Used on
servers, Android phones (based
on Linux kernel),
supercomputers.
Android Google (based on Linux) Most widely used mobile OS
globally. Used on smartphones
and tablets.
iOS Apple Inc. Mobile OS for iPhone and iPad.
Closed ecosystem.
MS-DOS Microsoft Disk Operating System. Text-
based (no GUI). Predecessor to
Windows. Commands typed
manually.
Unix Bell Labs (1969) Multi-user, multi-tasking OS.
Foundation for Linux and
macOS. Used on servers and
workstations.
Chrome OS Google Lightweight OS for
Chromebooks. Primarily web-
based. Low cost laptops.

PPSC TIP: GUI = Graphical User Interface (windows, icons, mouse). CLI = Command Line Interface
(text commands). Windows uses GUI; MS-DOS used CLI.

1.11 — Number Systems

Number System Base Digits Used Example PPSC Use
Binary Base 2 0 and 1 only 1010 in binary = Computers use
10 in decimal binary internally
for all operations
 Number System Base Digits Used Example PPSC Use
Decimal Base 10 0 to 9 10, 25, 100 Used by humans
(normal numbers) in everyday life
Octal Base 8 0 to 7 12 in octal = 10 in Sometimes used
decimal in programming
Hexadecimal Base 16 0-9 and A-F A in hex = 10, F = Used in memory
15, FF = 255 addresses, HTML
colour codes
(#FFFFFF = white)

Decimal Binary Hexadecimal Decimal Binary Hexadecimal

0 0000 0 8 1000 8
1 0001 1 9 1001 9
2 0010 2 10 1010 A
3 0011 3 11 1011 B
4 0100 4 12 1100 C
5 0101 5 13 1101 D
6 0110 6 14 1110 E
7 0111 7 15 1111 F

PPSC TIP: Binary to Decimal: 1010 = (1x8)+(0x4)+(1x2)+(0x1) = 8+0+2+0 = 10. PPSC often asks simple
binary-to-decimal conversions.

PART 2: MS OFFICE — Word, Excel, PowerPoint

2.1 — Microsoft Word
Feature / Term Description / Key Facts
File Extension .docx (Word 2007 and later). Old format: .doc
(Word 97-2003).
Default Font Calibri, Size 11 (in Word 2016+). Previously Times
New Roman, Size 12.
Default Page Size A4 (21 cm x 29.7 cm) in most countries. US uses
Letter (8.5 x 11 inches).
Default Margins 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides in Word 2010+.
Page Orientation Portrait (vertical, taller than wide) or Landscape
(horizontal, wider than tall).
Views Print Layout (default), Read Mode, Web Layout,
Outline, Draft.
Find and Replace Ctrl+H. Used to find text and replace with different
text throughout document.
Word Count Tools menu or bottom status bar. Shows words,
characters, pages, paragraphs.
Track Changes Records all edits made to document. Multiple
people can review changes. Ctrl+Shift+E.
 Feature / Term Description / Key Facts
Mail Merge Feature to create personalised letters/labels by
merging a document with a data source (e.g. Excel
list).
Table of Contents Auto-generated list of headings with page numbers.
Insert tab > Table of Contents.
Styles Pre-defined formatting sets (Heading 1, Heading 2,
Normal etc). Keep formatting consistent.
Header and Footer Text/content at top (header) or bottom (footer) of
every page. Insert > Header/Footer.
Watermark Faint background text or image (e.g.
CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT). Design tab >
Watermark.
Macros Recorded series of commands to automate
repetitive tasks. View tab > Macros.

2.2 — Microsoft Excel

Feature / Term Description / Key Facts
File Extension .xlsx (Excel 2007+). Old format: .xls (Excel 97-
2003). CSV = .csv (comma-separated values).
Workbook vs Worksheet Workbook = entire Excel file. Worksheet (Sheet) =
individual tab/page within workbook. Default: 3
sheets (Sheet1, Sheet2, Sheet3).
Cell Intersection of a row and column. Named by
Column letter + Row number. Example: A1, B5,
C10.
Rows and Columns Rows = horizontal (numbered 1, 2, 3...). Columns =
vertical (lettered A, B, C...). Max rows: 1,048,576.
Max columns: 16,384 (A to XFD).
Cell Reference Types Relative (A1 — changes when copied). Absolute
($A$1 — does not change). Mixed ($A1 or A$1).
Formula Starts with = sign. Example: =A1+B1,
=SUM(A1:A10), =AVERAGE(B1:B5).
SUM function =SUM(A1:A10) adds all values from A1 to A10.
AVERAGE function =AVERAGE(A1:A10) calculates mean of values.
MAX and MIN =MAX(A1:A10) finds largest value. =MIN(A1:A10)
finds smallest value.
COUNT function =COUNT(A1:A10) counts cells with numbers.
=COUNTA counts non-empty cells.
IF function =IF(condition, value_if_true, value_if_false).
Example: =IF(A1>50, PASS, FAIL)
VLOOKUP =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index,
range_lookup). Searches vertically in table.
Charts Bar, Column, Line, Pie, Scatter charts. Insert tab >
Charts. Used to visualise data.
Pivot Table Interactive table that summarises large data sets.
Insert tab > PivotTable.
 Feature / Term Description / Key Facts
Conditional Formatting Formats cells based on their values (e.g. highlight
cells > 100 in red). Home tab.
Freeze Panes Keeps rows/columns visible while scrolling. View
tab > Freeze Panes.
Filter Shows only rows that meet criteria. Data tab >
Filter. Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+L.
Sort Arranges data in ascending or descending order.
Data tab > Sort.

PPSC TIP: Excel formula must start with = sign. =SUM, =AVERAGE, =IF, =VLOOKUP are most tested
in PPSC computer MCQs.
PPSC TIP: Absolute reference ($A$1) is used when you do NOT want the cell reference to change
when copying formula to other cells.

2.3 — Microsoft PowerPoint

Feature / Term Description / Key Facts
File Extension .pptx (PowerPoint 2007+). Old format: .ppt. PDF
export also available.
Presentation Collection of slides shown in sequence. Used for
presenting information visually.
Slide Individual page in a presentation. Can contain text,
images, charts, videos, animations.
Slide Layout Pre-defined arrangement of placeholders on a
slide. Examples: Title Slide, Title and Content,
Blank.
Slide Master Controls the overall design, fonts, colours, and
layout of all slides. View tab > Slide Master.
Theme Pre-designed set of colours, fonts, and effects
applied to entire presentation.
Animation Visual effects applied to objects on a slide
(entrance, emphasis, exit, motion path).
Transition Effect when moving from one slide to the next.
Slide Show tab > Transitions.
Slide Show Views Normal (editing), Slide Sorter (overview), Reading
View, Presenter View (with notes).
Notes Pane Area below slide where speaker notes are typed.
Not visible to audience during presentation.
Rehearse Timings Records time spent on each slide. Slide Show tab >
Rehearse Timings.
Hyperlink Link to another slide, website, file, or email
address. Insert tab > Hyperlink (Ctrl+K).
SmartArt Visual diagram for lists, processes, hierarchies,
relationships. Insert tab > SmartArt.
Start Slide Show F5 = from beginning. Shift+F5 = from current slide.
Esc = end show.
 PPSC TIP: F5 starts PowerPoint slideshow from beginning. Shift+F5 starts from current slide. This is
frequently asked in PPSC.

2.4 — Microsoft Access and Outlook (Brief)

Software Purpose Key Terms
MS Access Database management system. Table (stores data), Query
Create and manage databases. (retrieves data), Form (data
File extension: .accdb entry), Report (formatted output)
MS Outlook Email client and personal Inbox, Sent Items, Drafts,
information manager. Contacts, Calendar, Tasks,
Spam/Junk folder
MS OneNote Digital note-taking application. Notebooks, Sections, Pages.
Organises notes in notebooks, Syncs across devices.
sections, and pages.
MS Teams Collaboration and communication Channels, Meetings, Chat, Files.
platform. Video meetings, chat, Integrated with MS Office 365.
file sharing.

PART 3: INTERNET AND NETWORKING

3.1 — Internet Basics
Term Definition / Key Facts
Internet Global network of interconnected computers and
networks. Short for Interconnected Network.
Started as ARPANET (1969) by US Department of
Defense.
WWW (World Wide Web) System of interlinked web pages and documents on
the internet. Invented by Tim Berners-Lee (1989).
Web is just ONE service on the internet.
Website Collection of related web pages accessible via
internet using a URL. Hosted on a web server.
Web Page Single document on the internet, displayed by a
web browser. Written in HTML.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) Web address used to access a web page.
Example: [Link]
HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol. Rules for transferring
web pages. HTTP = unsecure. HTTPS = secure
(encrypted).
HTML HyperText Markup Language. Language used to
create web pages.
Web Browser Software to access and view websites. Examples:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge,
Safari, Opera.
Search Engine Website that searches and indexes internet
content. Examples: Google (most popular), Bing,
Yahoo, DuckDuckGo.
ISP (Internet Service Provider) Company that provides internet access. Examples
 Term Definition / Key Facts
in Pakistan: PTCL, Zong, Jazz, Telenor.
IP Address Unique numerical address of every device on
internet. Example: [Link] (IPv4). Like a postal
address for computers.
Domain Name Human-readable name for IP address. Example:
[Link], [Link]
DNS (Domain Name System) Translates domain names ([Link]) to IP
addresses ([Link]). Like a phone book for
the internet.
Bandwidth Maximum data transfer rate of a network
connection. Measured in Mbps or Gbps. Higher
bandwidth = faster internet.
Wi-Fi Wireless networking technology. Allows devices to
connect to internet without cables. IEEE 802.11
standard.

PPSC TIP: WWW (World Wide Web) and Internet are NOT the same. Internet is the global network
infrastructure. WWW is one service that runs on the internet (along with email, FTP, etc).

3.2 — Email
Email Term Description
Email Electronic Mail. Method of sending digital
messages over the internet. Invented by Ray
Tomlinson (1971). First @ symbol used in email
addresses.
Email Address Format username@[Link]. Example:
ahmed@[Link]. The @ symbol separates
username from domain.
To Primary recipient(s) of the email.
CC (Carbon Copy) Sends a copy to additional recipients. All recipients
can see who is CC'd.
BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) Sends copy to additional recipients. Other
recipients CANNOT see who is BCC'd. Used for
privacy.
Subject Brief title/description of the email content. Should
be clear and specific.
Attachment File(s) sent along with email. Documents, images,
PDFs, etc. Limit usually 25 MB per email.
Inbox Folder where received emails arrive.
Sent Items Folder containing emails you have sent.
Drafts Folder for emails that are saved but not yet sent.
Spam / Junk Folder for unwanted or suspicious emails filtered
automatically.
Reply Respond to the sender only.
Reply All Respond to sender AND all other recipients in To
and CC fields.
 Email Term Description
Forward Send received email to a new recipient.
Popular Email Services Gmail (Google), Outlook/Hotmail (Microsoft), Yahoo
Mail, ProtonMail (encrypted).
SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Used to SEND
emails.
POP3 / IMAP Used to RECEIVE emails. IMAP keeps emails on
server (syncs); POP3 downloads to device.

PPSC TIP: BCC is commonly tested: recipients in BCC field are HIDDEN from other recipients. Use
BCC when emailing a large group and protecting privacy.

3.3 — Networking
Network Term Definition / Key Facts
Network Two or more computers connected to share data
and resources (printers, internet, files).
LAN (Local Area Network) Network within a small area — one building or
campus. Example: office network, school lab
network.
WAN (Wide Area Network) Network spanning large geographic areas — cities,
countries. Example: Internet is the world's largest
WAN.
MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) Network covering a city or large campus. Larger
than LAN, smaller than WAN.
PAN (Personal Area Network) Very small network around a person. Example:
Bluetooth connecting phone to headphones.
Network Topology Physical or logical arrangement of network. Types:
Bus, Star (most common), Ring, Mesh, Tree.
Star Topology All devices connect to a central hub/switch. Most
common in homes and offices. Failure of one
device does not affect others.
Router Device that connects different networks and routes
data packets between them. Connects home
network to internet.
Switch Device that connects multiple devices within a LAN.
Smarter than hub — sends data only to intended
device.
Hub Old device that connects LAN devices. Sends data
to ALL devices (less efficient than switch).
Modem Modulator-Demodulator. Converts digital signals to
analogue (and back) for transmission over phone
lines.
Firewall Security system that monitors and controls
incoming/outgoing network traffic. Blocks
unauthorised access.
VPN (Virtual Private Network) Creates encrypted private connection over public
internet. Used for security and privacy.
Bluetooth Short-range wireless technology. Range: ~10
 Network Term Definition / Key Facts
metres. Used for headphones, keyboards, file
transfer.
Ethernet Wired networking technology. Uses CAT5/CAT6
cables. Faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi.

PPSC TIP: Router vs Modem: Modem connects your home to the ISP (internet). Router connects your
devices to each other and to the modem. Many homes have a combined Modem-Router device.

3.4 — Computer Security

Security Term Definition / Key Facts
Virus Malicious program that attaches to files and
spreads by replicating itself. Can damage files and
slow computer.
Worm Self-replicating malware that spreads through
networks WITHOUT needing to attach to files. More
dangerous than virus.
Trojan Horse Malware disguised as legitimate software. Does not
self-replicate. Tricks users into installing it.
Ransomware Malware that encrypts user files and demands
payment (ransom) to restore access. Example:
WannaCry (2017).
Spyware Secretly monitors user activity and collects
information without knowledge.
Adware Displays unwanted advertisements. Often bundled
with free software.
Phishing Fraudulent attempt to steal sensitive information
(passwords, credit card numbers) by pretending to
be a trusted source via fake emails/websites.
Antivirus Software that detects, prevents, and removes
malware. Examples: Norton, Kaspersky, Avast,
Windows Defender.
Firewall Monitors and controls network traffic. Can be
hardware or software. Blocks unauthorised
connections.
Encryption Converting data into unreadable format using a
key. Only authorised parties with the key can
decrypt it.
Password Secret string used for authentication. Strong
password: 8+ characters, mix of letters, numbers,
symbols.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Security process requiring two forms of verification
(e.g. password + SMS code).
Backup Copy of data stored separately. Protects against
data loss from virus, hardware failure, or accidental
deletion.
Hacker Person who gains unauthorised access to
computer systems. White hat (ethical) vs Black hat
(criminal).
PART 4: SHORTCUT KEYS — Most Tested in PPSC
4.1 — Windows Shortcut Keys
Shortcut Function
Ctrl + C Copy selected text or file
Ctrl + X Cut selected text or file
Ctrl + V Paste copied or cut content
Ctrl + Z Undo last action
Ctrl + Y Redo (reverse the undo)
Ctrl + A Select All items/text
Ctrl + S Save current file
Ctrl + P Print current document or page
Ctrl + F Find — opens search bar
Ctrl + N New file or window
Ctrl + O Open an existing file
Ctrl + W Close current window or tab
Alt + F4 Close current application (or Shut Down if no app
open)
Alt + Tab Switch between open applications
Windows key + D Show/hide Desktop
Windows key + E Open File Explorer
Windows key + L Lock the computer screen
Windows key + R Open Run dialog box
Windows key + Tab Open Task View (all open windows)
Print Screen (PrtSc) Take screenshot of entire screen
Alt + Print Screen Take screenshot of active window only
Ctrl + Alt + Delete Open security options / Task Manager shortcut
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager directly
F1 Open Help in most applications
F2 Rename selected file or folder
F5 Refresh / Reload page or folder
Delete Move selected file to Recycle Bin
Shift + Delete Permanently delete file (bypasses Recycle Bin —
CANNOT undo)

4.2 — MS Word Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Function
Ctrl + B Bold selected text
 Shortcut Function
Ctrl + I Italic selected text
Ctrl + U Underline selected text
Ctrl + E Centre align text
Ctrl + L Left align text
Ctrl + R Right align text
Ctrl + J Justify text (both sides aligned)
Ctrl + T Create a hanging indent
Ctrl + M Indent paragraph
Ctrl + D Open Font dialog box
Ctrl + K Insert Hyperlink
Ctrl + H Find and Replace
Ctrl + G Go To (specific page, line, bookmark)
Ctrl + Home Move cursor to beginning of document
Ctrl + End Move cursor to end of document
Ctrl + Enter Insert page break
F7 Spelling and Grammar check
F12 Save As (opens Save As dialog)
Ctrl + Shift + C Copy formatting
Ctrl + Shift + V Paste formatting only
Shift + F3 Change case (toggle between UPPER, lower, Title
Case)

4.3 — MS Excel Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Function
Ctrl + Home Move to cell A1 (beginning of worksheet)
Ctrl + End Move to last used cell in worksheet
Ctrl + Arrow Key Jump to last filled cell in that direction
Ctrl + Shift + L Apply or remove AutoFilter
Ctrl + T Create a Table from selected data
Ctrl + Shift + + Insert new row or column
Ctrl + - Delete selected row or column
Alt + Enter Start new line within same cell
F2 Edit the currently selected cell
F4 Toggle absolute/relative cell reference ($A$1, A$1,
$A1, A1)
Ctrl + ` Toggle between showing formulas and values
Ctrl + Shift + $ Apply Currency format to selected cells
Ctrl + Shift + % Apply Percentage format to selected cells
Alt + = AutoSum — insert SUM formula for selected range
 Shortcut Function
Ctrl + 1 Open Format Cells dialog box

4.4 — MS PowerPoint Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Function
F5 Start slideshow from the FIRST slide (beginning)
Shift + F5 Start slideshow from the CURRENT slide
Esc End slideshow and return to editing mode
Ctrl + M Insert new slide
Ctrl + D Duplicate selected slide
Ctrl + Shift + C Copy slide formatting
Page Down / N / Enter Go to next slide during slideshow
Page Up / P / Backspace Go to previous slide during slideshow
B During slideshow: Black screen (pause). Press
again to resume.
W During slideshow: White screen. Press again to
resume.
Ctrl + Shift + G Group selected objects together

PART 5: IMPORTANT COMPUTER FACTS AND ABBREVIATIONS

5.1 — Must-Know Abbreviations
Abbreviation Full Form Category
CPU Central Processing Unit Hardware
RAM Random Access Memory Hardware
ROM Read Only Memory Hardware
HDD Hard Disk Drive Hardware
SSD Solid State Drive Hardware
USB Universal Serial Bus Hardware
VDU Visual Display Unit (Monitor) Hardware
GPU Graphics Processing Unit Hardware
UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply Hardware
OS Operating System Software
GUI Graphical User Interface Software
CLI Command Line Interface Software
BIOS Basic Input Output System Software
WWW World Wide Web Internet
URL Uniform Resource Locator Internet
HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol Internet
 Abbreviation Full Form Category
HTTPS HyperText Transfer Protocol Internet
Secure
HTML HyperText Markup Language Internet
IP Internet Protocol Internet
ISP Internet Service Provider Internet
DNS Domain Name System Internet
VPN Virtual Private Network Internet
LAN Local Area Network Networking
WAN Wide Area Network Networking
MAN Metropolitan Area Network Networking
PAN Personal Area Network Networking
Wi-Fi Wireless Fidelity Networking
SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol Email
POP3 Post Office Protocol version 3 Email
IMAP Internet Message Access Email
Protocol
PDF Portable Document Format Files
JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Files
Group
PNG Portable Network Graphics Files
MP3 MPEG Audio Layer 3 Files
MP4 MPEG-4 Part 14 Files
GIF Graphics Interchange Format Files
ZIP Zone Information Protocol Files
(compressed archive)
AI Artificial Intelligence Technology
ML Machine Learning Technology
IoT Internet of Things Technology
CAD Computer Aided Design Technology
OCR Optical Character Recognition Technology
OMR Optical Mark Recognition Technology
ATM Automated Teller Machine Technology
DVD Digital Versatile Disc Storage
CD Compact Disc Storage
GB Gigabyte Storage
TB Terabyte Storage

5.2 — Quick Computer Facts (Most Tested in PPSC)

 Question Answer
Father of Computer Charles Babbage
 Question Answer
Father of Modern Computer Alan Turing
First Programmer Ada Lovelace
Inventor of WWW Tim Berners-Lee (1989)
Inventor of Email Ray Tomlinson (1971)
Inventor of Mouse Douglas Engelbart (1964)
First Computer ENIAC (1945) — first general purpose electronic
computer
First Programming Language FORTRAN (1957), developed by IBM
Most used OS globally (desktop) Microsoft Windows
Most used mobile OS globally Android (by Google)
Creator of Linux Linus Torvalds (1991)
Creator of Windows Microsoft (Bill Gates and Paul Allen, 1975)
Creator of Mac OS Apple Inc. (Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak)
Founder of Microsoft Bill Gates and Paul Allen (1975)
Founder of Apple Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne (1976)
Founder of Google Larry Page and Sergey Brin (1998)
Founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg (2004)
CPU is called Brain of the computer
Primary memory type (fast, temporary) RAM (Random Access Memory)
Permanent memory type (read only) ROM (Read Only Memory)
Fastest storage type SSD (Solid State Drive) — faster than HDD
Smallest unit of data Bit (0 or 1)
8 bits equals 1 Byte
1024 Bytes equals 1 Kilobyte (KB)
1024 KB equals 1 Megabyte (MB)
1024 MB equals 1 Gigabyte (GB)
File extension for MS Word .docx
File extension for MS Excel .xlsx
File extension for MS PowerPoint .pptx
File extension for MS Access .accdb
Start PowerPoint slideshow from beginning F5
Start PowerPoint from current slide Shift + F5
Undo shortcut Ctrl + Z
Save shortcut Ctrl + S
Find shortcut Ctrl + F
Find and Replace shortcut Ctrl + H
Select All shortcut Ctrl + A
Close application shortcut Alt + F4
Open Task Manager Ctrl + Shift + Esc
 Question Answer
Lock computer screen Windows key + L
Open File Explorer Windows key + E
Number of function keys on standard keyboard 12 (F1 to F12)
Total keys on standard keyboard 104 keys
QWERTY keyboard named after First 6 letters on top row: Q-W-E-R-T-Y
Internet speed is measured in Mbps (Megabits per second) or Gbps
File size is measured in MB (Megabytes) or GB (Gigabytes)
@ symbol in email first used by Ray Tomlinson (1971)
ARPANET started in 1969 — predecessor to the internet
First website ever [Link] (created by Tim Berners-Lee, 1991)
Most popular search engine Google (handles ~92% of global searches)
Most popular web browser Google Chrome
Protocol for secure web browsing HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure)
SSL/TLS Security protocols that encrypt web traffic. Enables
HTTPS.
Default port for HTTP Port 80
Default port for HTTPS Port 443
Computer memory that holds BIOS ROM (Read Only Memory)
Volatile memory (loses data when powered off) RAM
Non-volatile memory (keeps data without power) ROM, HDD, SSD, Flash drives

EXAM STRATEGY FOR COMPUTER SECTION

• Computer = 5-8 MCQs out of 100. Most questions are direct factual recall — no calculations needed.
• Shortcut keys are almost always tested. Memorise Part 4 (all 4 tables) completely.
• MS Excel functions (SUM, AVERAGE, IF, VLOOKUP) and file extensions (.xlsx, .docx, .pptx) are very
commonly tested.
• Abbreviations table (Part 5.1) covers at least 2-3 MCQs in every PPSC paper. Learn all full forms.
• Quick Facts table (Part 5.2) is your revision sheet — read it daily for 5 minutes.
• Study Computer 3 times per week as your plan says — 45 minutes is enough per session.

CONSISTENCY + SMART REVISION = PPSC SUCCESS — IN SHA ALLAH!