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Shortcut-key questions are among the easiest marks in the computer awareness section of IBPS, SBI, RRB and SSC exams. Here are 115 shortcuts from PrepZen's computer notes, grouped the way exams ask them: function keys, Ctrl shortcuts, toggle keys, and MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Tip: revise one table a day and try each shortcut on a computer — doing it once is easier to remember than reading it five times.
Keyboard — Function Keys
| Key | What It Does |
|---|---|
| F1 | Opens the Help section in almost any program |
| F2 | Renames a file or folder you have selected |
| F3 | Opens the Search box |
| F4 | Repeats the last action you performed (in MS Word) |
| F5 | Refreshes/Reloads the current page or window |
| F6 | In a web browser, it jumps your cursor to the address bar |
| F7 | Checks your spelling and grammar |
| Shift + F7 | Opens Thesaurus in MS Word (find similar words) |
| F8 | Starts Windows in Safe Mode |
| F9 | Refreshes a Word document / Sends & receives emails in Outlook |
| F10 | Activates the Menu Bar or Ribbon in MS Word |
| Shift + F10 | Same as Right-clicking on the desktop |
| F11 | Enters or exits full-screen mode in a browser |
| F12 | Opens the “Save As” dialog box |
Keyboard — Control Keys
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + A | Select All |
| Ctrl + B | Bold text |
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + D | Open Font window (MS Word) |
| Ctrl + E | Center Alignment |
| Ctrl + F | Find (opens search window) |
| Ctrl + G | Go To a specific page/location |
| Ctrl + H | Find and Replace |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize text |
| Ctrl + J | Justify alignment |
| Ctrl + K | Insert a Hyperlink |
| Ctrl + L | Left Alignment |
| Ctrl + M | Indent a paragraph (MS Word) |
| Ctrl + N | Create a New page/document |
| Ctrl + O | Open a file |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Ctrl + Q | Remove paragraph formatting |
| Ctrl + R | Right align text |
| Ctrl + S | Save document |
| Ctrl + T | Create a new tab (web browser) |
| Ctrl + U | Underline |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current tab (browser) |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Alt + Del | Opens Task Manager / Reboots computer (called the “3-Finger Key”) |
Keyboard — Num Lock, Modifier & Toggle Keys
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open programs |
| Shift + Del | Permanently delete (no trash/recycle bin) |
| Home | Moves cursor to beginning of the current line |
| End | Moves cursor to end of the line |
| Ctrl + Home | Goes to very beginning of the document |
| Ctrl + T | Open a new tab (Internet) |
| Ctrl + W | Close current tab (Internet) |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close current tab or window |
| Alt + F4 | Close the entire program/window |
Ms Word
| Extension | Meaning |
|---|---|
| .doc | Word document (before 2007) |
| .docx | Word document (2007 and later) |
| .docm | Macro-enabled document |
| .dot | Template (before 2007) |
| .dotx | Template (2007 and later) |
| .dotm | Macro-enabled template |
| Feature | Shortcut / Value |
| Thesaurus | Shift + F7 |
| Spell Check | F7 |
| Select a sentence | F8 (3 times) |
| Change Case | Shift + F3 |
| Print Preview | Ctrl + F2 |
| Repeat last action | F4 |
| Superscript | Ctrl + Shift + |
| Subscript | Ctrl + |
| Copyright symbol | Alt + Ctrl + C |
| Font Dialog Box | Ctrl + D |
| Center Align | Ctrl + E |
| Single Line Spacing | Ctrl + 1 |
| Double Line Spacing | Ctrl + 2 |
| 1.5 Line Spacing | Ctrl + 5 |
| Insert Today’s Date | Shift + Alt + D |
| Insert Current Time | Shift + Alt + T |
| Page Break | Ctrl + Enter |
| Line Break | Shift + Enter |
| Permanent Delete | Shift + Delete |
| Delete left (one character) | Backspace |
| Delete right (one character) | Delete |
| Minimum Zoom % | 10% |
| Maximum Zoom % | 500% |
| Word Count | Ctrl + Shift + G |
Ms Excel
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Workbook | The entire Excel file |
| Worksheet | A single sheet/tab inside the workbook |
| Cell | The smallest unit — one box in the grid |
| Active Cell | The currently selected cell |
| Name Box | Shows the address of the active cell (e.g., A1) |
| Formula Bar | Where you type formulas or see cell content |
| Range | A group of cells selected together |
| Feature | Key/Value |
| Create chart from selection | F11 |
| New workbook | Ctrl + N |
| Close workbook | Ctrl + W |
| Switch worksheets | Ctrl + Page Up / Page Down |
| Switch between open workbooks | Ctrl + Tab |
| Today’s date function | 2026-03-10 00:00:00 |
| Current date & time | 2026-03-10 23:25:12.576000 |
| VLOOKUP | Finds matching data vertically |
| Concatenation operator | & (ampersand) |
| Wildcard characters | * and? |
| Error when number too wide for cell | ##### |
| Red triangle in corner of cell | Indicates a comment is attached |
| Comment name in Excel | Cell Tip |
Ms Powerpoint
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Extension | .ppt (old) /.pptx (new) |
| Each page | Called a Slide |
| Dotted box | Called a Placeholder |
| Readymade design | Called a Template |
| Animation Pane location | Right side of the screen |
| Action | Shortcut |
| New presentation | Ctrl + N |
| Add new slide | Ctrl + M |
| Duplicate slide | Ctrl + D |
| Start slideshow (from beginning) | F5 |
| Start from current slide | Shift + F5 |
| Go to first slide during show | Press 1 then Enter |
| End slideshow | Esc |
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