Parts 12–13 — Computer Aptitude: Full Coverage
Hardware · Software · Networking · MS Office · Shortcuts · Internet · Cyber Security · Database · Programming Basics | 80 Original MCQs
IBPS Computer Strategy: Computer Aptitude in IBPS Clerk/PO covers basic computer knowledge, MS Office shortcuts, networking fundamentals, and internet security. Focus on keyboard shortcuts, generation of computers, memory units hierarchy, and network topologies — these are asked every year.
Section 1 — Computer Hardware & Generations (Q.1–10)
Computer Generations at a Glance
1st (1946–59): Vacuum tubes | 2nd (1959–65): Transistors | 3rd (1965–71): ICs | 4th (1971–present): Microprocessors | 5th (present+): AI/VLSI
Q.1 Easy
Which generation of computers used vacuum tubes as their main electronic component?
Answer: A — First generation computers (1946–1959) used vacuum tubes (e.g., ENIAC, UNIVAC). They were large, slow, and consumed enormous power.
Q.2 Easy
What does "CPU" stand for?
Answer: A/B — CPU stands for Central Processing Unit — the "brain" of the computer that performs arithmetic, logic, control, and input/output (I/O) operations.
Q.3 Moderate
Which component of the CPU performs arithmetic and logical operations?
Answer: B — ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) handles all arithmetic (+, −, ×, ÷) and logical (AND, OR, NOT, XOR) operations. The Control Unit manages instruction execution; registers are temporary storage within CPU.
Q.4 Moderate
Which of the following is NOT a secondary storage device?
Answer: C — RAM (Random Access Memory) is primary/volatile memory, not secondary storage. HDD, DVD, and USB drives are all secondary (non-volatile) storage devices.
Q.5 Moderate
What is the correct order of memory hierarchy from fastest to slowest?
Answer: A — Fastest to slowest: Register → Cache → RAM → HDD. As speed increases, cost increases and capacity decreases.
Q.6 Hard
A computer has 4 GB RAM. Which binary value best represents 4 GB?
Answer: C — 1 GB = 2^30 bytes. 4 GB = 4 × 2^30 = 2^2 × 2^30 = 2^32 bytes.
Q.7 Easy
What type of printer uses a laser beam to produce high-quality output?
Answer: C — A laser printer uses a laser beam and toner (powder) to produce sharp, high-quality output. Inkjet uses liquid ink; dot matrix uses a pin mechanism.
Q.8 Moderate
Which of the following is an example of an input device?
Answer: C — A scanner converts physical documents/images into digital data — it is an input device. Monitor, printer, and speaker are output devices.
Q.9 Hard
What does BIOS stand for and what is its primary function?
Answer: B — BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is firmware stored on a chip on the motherboard. It initialises and tests hardware (POST — Power On Self Test) during computer startup before handing control to the OS bootloader.
Q.10 Moderate
Which port is commonly used to connect a keyboard and mouse to older computers?
Answer: A — PS/2 ports (purple for keyboard, green for mouse) were the standard connectors before USB became universal. HDMI/VGA are video output; Ethernet is for networking.
Section 2 — Software: OS, Applications & Programming (Q.11–22)
Q.11 Easy
Which of the following is an example of system software?
Answer: C — Windows 11 is an operating system — a type of system software. MS Word, Chrome, and Photoshop are application software.
Q.12 Easy
What does GUI stand for?
Answer: A — GUI (Graphical User Interface) allows users to interact with computers using icons, windows, and menus instead of text commands. Windows, macOS, and Android use GUI.
Q.13 Moderate
Which of the following is a free and open-source operating system?
Answer: C — Ubuntu Linux is a free, open-source operating system based on Linux kernel. Windows, macOS, and iOS are proprietary (commercial) operating systems.
Q.14 Moderate
What is the function of a compiler?
Answer: B — A compiler translates the entire high-level language program (C, Java, etc.) into machine code before execution. An interpreter translates line-by-line during execution.
Q.15 Hard
Which type of software license allows modification and redistribution of source code?
Answer: C — Open Source licenses (GPL, MIT, Apache) allow anyone to view, modify, and redistribute source code. Freeware = free but closed source; Shareware = trial with paid upgrade; Proprietary = source code is private.
Q.16 Moderate
Which programming language is primarily used for web page structure?
Answer: A — HTML (HyperText Markup Language) defines the structure and content of web pages. CSS styles them; JavaScript adds interactivity; Python is general-purpose; SQL is for databases.
Q.17 Easy
What does OS stand for in computing?
Answer: A — OS = Operating System. It manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for programs (e.g., Windows, Linux, macOS).
Q.18 Hard
What is the difference between multitasking and multiprocessing?
Answer: B — Multitasking: single processor switches rapidly between multiple tasks (time-sharing). Multiprocessing: multiple physical processors executing tasks in true parallel, increasing throughput.
Q.19 Moderate
Which software translates assembly language to machine language?
Answer: C — An assembler converts assembly language (mnemonics like MOV, ADD) directly to machine code. A compiler handles high-level languages; an interpreter executes line-by-line.
Q.20 Hard
In OOP (Object-Oriented Programming), which concept restricts direct access to an object's data?
Answer: B — Encapsulation bundles data and methods and restricts direct access using access modifiers (private, public, protected). Inheritance = class hierarchy; Polymorphism = multiple forms; Abstraction = hiding implementation.
Q.21 Moderate
Which file extension is used for Python scripts?
Answer: C — Python scripts use .py extension. Java uses .java; C++ uses .cpp; C# uses .cs.
Q.22 Easy
What does "RAM" stand for?
Answer: A — RAM = Random Access Memory — volatile, temporary memory used to store data currently in use by the CPU. Data is lost when power is off.
Section 3 — MS Office: Word, Excel & PowerPoint (Q.23–38)
Key Shortcuts to Memorise: Ctrl+C=Copy | Ctrl+X=Cut | Ctrl+V=Paste | Ctrl+Z=Undo | Ctrl+Y=Redo | Ctrl+A=Select All | Ctrl+S=Save | Ctrl+P=Print | Ctrl+F=Find | Ctrl+H=Replace | Ctrl+B=Bold | Ctrl+I=Italic | Ctrl+U=Underline | F7=Spell Check | Alt+F4=Close
Q.23 Easy
What is the shortcut key for "Save" in MS Office applications?
Answer: C — Ctrl+S saves the current document. Ctrl+A = Select All; Ctrl+P = Print; Ctrl+D = Font dialog (Word) or Fill Down (Excel).
Q.24 Easy
Which key combination is used to undo the last action in MS Word?
Answer: A — Ctrl+Z undoes the last action. Ctrl+Y redoes; Ctrl+X cuts selected text.
Q.25 Moderate
In MS Excel, which function is used to find the average of a range of cells?
Answer: B — =AVERAGE(range) calculates the arithmetic mean of selected cells. =SUM adds them; =MEAN() and =AVG() do not exist as Excel functions.
Q.26 Moderate
What is the default file extension for MS Word documents (Office 2007 and later)?
Answer: B — .docx is the default format for Word 2007+ (XML-based). The older .doc format was used in Word 97–2003.
Q.27 Moderate
In MS Excel, what does the formula =MAX(A1:A10) do?
Answer: B — =MAX(A1:A10) returns the largest value in the range A1 to A10. Use =MIN() for smallest, =SUM() for total, =COUNT() for count.
Q.28 Hard
In MS Excel, which function checks a condition and returns different values based on the result?
Answer: B — =IF(condition, value_if_true, value_if_false) is the conditional function. Example: =IF(A1>60,"Pass","Fail"). VLOOKUP finds values in tables; CHOOSE selects from a list by index.
Q.29 Easy
What does pressing F7 do in MS Word?
Answer: C — F7 opens the Spelling and Grammar checker in MS Word. Ctrl+F opens Find; Ctrl+P opens Print; Ctrl+D opens Font dialog.
Q.30 Moderate
Which MS Excel feature is used to arrange data in a table from highest to lowest value?
Answer: A — Sort Descending (Z to A, or largest to smallest) arranges data from highest to lowest. Filter hides rows; Pivot Table summarises data; Conditional Formatting highlights cells by rules.
Q.31 Hard
In MS Excel, what is the result of =VLOOKUP(101, A1:D20, 3, FALSE)?
Answer: B — VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup]). It searches for 101 in the first column (A) of the range A1:D20 and returns the value from the 3rd column (C). FALSE = exact match.
Q.32 Moderate
What is the maximum number of slides allowed in a single MS PowerPoint presentation (practical limit)?
Answer: C — PowerPoint has no fixed maximum slide count; the actual limit depends on the available system memory and file size. Practically, very large decks slow down significantly.
Q.33 Easy
Which shortcut opens the "Find and Replace" dialog in MS Word?
Answer: B — Ctrl+H opens Find and Replace. Ctrl+F opens Find only; Ctrl+G goes to a specific page/line; Ctrl+R right-aligns selected text.
Q.34 Moderate
Which feature in MS Excel automatically applies formatting to cells based on their values?
Answer: C — Conditional Formatting applies colours, icons, or number formats to cells based on rules (e.g., highlight cells > 100 in red). AutoFill fills series; AutoFormat applies preset table styles.
Q.35 Hard
In MS Excel, what does an absolute cell reference like $A$1 mean?
Answer: A — $A$1 is an absolute reference — both column (A) and row (1) are locked with $ signs. When copied to another cell, the reference stays $A$1. $A1 = column fixed, row relative; A$1 = column relative, row fixed.
Q.36 Moderate
Which MS Office application is used for database management?
Answer: C — MS Access is a database management application. Word is word processing; Excel is spreadsheets; Publisher is desktop publishing.
Q.37 Easy
What is the shortcut to select all content in an MS Office document?
Answer: A — Ctrl+A selects all text/content. Ctrl+S = Save; Ctrl+E = Center align; Ctrl+L = Left align.
Q.38 Hard
In MS Excel, which function counts only cells that contain numbers in a range?
Answer: B — =COUNT(range) counts cells with numeric values only. =COUNTA counts all non-empty cells (including text); =COUNTBLANK counts empty cells; =COUNTIF counts cells meeting a condition.
Section 4 — Networking, Internet & Protocols (Q.39–55)
Network Types
LAN = Local Area Network (building) | WAN = Wide Area Network (cities/countries) | MAN = Metropolitan Area Network (city) | PAN = Personal Area Network (within 10m, e.g. Bluetooth)
Q.39 Easy
What does LAN stand for?
Answer: A — LAN = Local Area Network — connects computers in a limited area (home, office, school). It typically uses Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi.
Q.40 Easy
Which protocol is used for sending email?
Answer: A — SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used to send email. POP3/IMAP are used to receive email; FTP transfers files; HTTP is for web browsing.
Q.41 Moderate
Which network topology connects all devices to a single central hub or switch?
Answer: C — In Star topology, all devices connect to a central hub/switch. If one link fails, only that device is affected. Ring = circle; Bus = single cable; Mesh = every device connected to every other.
Q.42 Moderate
What is the full form of IP in IP address?
Answer: A — IP = Internet Protocol. An IP address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a network. IPv4 has 32 bits (e.g., 192.168.1.1); IPv6 has 128 bits.
Q.43 Hard
What is the purpose of DNS (Domain Name System)?
Answer: B — DNS (Domain Name System) acts as the "phone book" of the internet — translating human-readable domain names to machine-readable IP addresses. DHCP assigns IP addresses; SSL/TLS encrypts traffic; routers manage routing.
Q.44 Easy
Which protocol is used for secure web browsing?
Answer: B — HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts data between browser and server using SSL/TLS. HTTP is unsecured; FTP transfers files; SMTP sends email.
Q.45 Moderate
What is the default port number for HTTP?
Answer: C — HTTP uses port 80. HTTPS uses port 443; FTP uses port 21; SMTP uses port 25.
Q.46 Hard
What is the difference between a hub and a switch in networking?
Answer: A — A hub broadcasts incoming data to all connected devices (no intelligence). A switch uses MAC address tables to send data only to the specific destination device — more efficient and secure.
Q.47 Moderate
What does URL stand for?
Answer: A — URL = Uniform Resource Locator — a web address that specifies the location of a resource (e.g., https://www.google.com/search?q=ibps).
Q.48 Easy
What does WWW stand for?
Answer: A — WWW = World Wide Web — a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the internet, invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989.
Q.49 Hard
Which layer of the OSI model is responsible for routing packets between networks?
Answer: B — The Network Layer (Layer 3) handles logical addressing (IP addresses) and routing of packets between different networks. Routers operate at this layer. Layer 2 handles MAC addresses; Layer 4 handles end-to-end communication (TCP/UDP).
Q.50 Moderate
What is bandwidth in networking?
Answer: B — Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network in a given time, usually measured in Mbps or Gbps.
Q.51 Moderate
Which technology allows multiple devices to share a single internet connection wirelessly?
Answer: B — A Wi-Fi Router allows multiple devices to share a single broadband/internet connection wirelessly using IEEE 802.11 standards (Wi-Fi).
Q.52 Easy
What does FTP stand for?
Answer: A — FTP = File Transfer Protocol — used to transfer files between computers over a TCP/IP network. Port 21 is used for FTP control; port 20 for data transfer.
Q.53 Hard
What is the difference between TCP and UDP?
Answer: A — TCP (Transmission Control Protocol): connection-oriented, ensures data arrives in order, with error checking. UDP (User Datagram Protocol): connectionless, faster, no guarantee — used for streaming, gaming, VoIP where speed matters more than reliability.
Q.54 Moderate
What is a firewall?
Answer: B — A firewall is a network security device (hardware or software) that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic and blocks or allows it based on pre-defined security rules.
Q.55 Hard
In IPv4, how many bits are used for an IP address?
Answer: B — IPv4 uses 32 bits, giving approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses. IPv6 uses 128 bits to solve address exhaustion. An IPv4 address is written as four octets (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
Section 5 — Cyber Security, Internet & Database (Q.56–80)
Q.56 Easy
What type of malware disguises itself as legitimate software to trick users?
Answer: C — A Trojan Horse disguises itself as legitimate/useful software but carries malicious code. A virus attaches to files; a worm spreads automatically without user interaction; spyware secretly monitors activity.
Q.57 Easy
What is phishing?
Answer: B — Phishing is a social engineering attack where attackers impersonate banks, government agencies, or trusted companies via fake emails/websites to steal passwords, OTPs, and financial data. Ransomware = option D.
Q.58 Moderate
What does VPN stand for and what is it used for?
Answer: A — VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted "tunnel" over the internet, masking the user's IP address and securing data transmission — used by businesses for remote access and by individuals for privacy.
Q.59 Moderate
Which of the following is an example of two-factor authentication (2FA)?
Answer: B — Two-factor authentication (2FA) requires two different types of verification: something you know (password) + something you have (OTP/phone) or something you are (biometric). Password alone or username+password is single-factor.
Q.60 Hard
What is ransomware?
Answer: B — Ransomware encrypts the victim's files and demands a ransom (usually cryptocurrency) for the decryption key. Famous examples: WannaCry, Petya. DoS/DDoS = option C; Keylogger = option A; Credential stealer = option D.
Q.61 Moderate
What is the full form of SQL?
Answer: B — SQL = Structured Query Language — the standard language for managing and querying relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server).
Q.62 Easy
Which SQL command is used to retrieve data from a database table?
Answer: A — SELECT retrieves data from a table. INSERT adds new records; UPDATE modifies existing records; DELETE removes records.
Q.63 Moderate
What does DBMS stand for?
Answer: A — DBMS = Database Management System — software for creating, managing, and querying databases. Examples: MySQL, Oracle, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MS Access.
Q.64 Hard
In a relational database, what is a primary key?
Answer: B — A primary key uniquely identifies each record in a table (no duplicates, no NULLs). A foreign key references the primary key of another table to establish relationships.
Q.65 Moderate
Which type of search engine index is compiled by automated bots called "spiders" or "crawlers"?
Answer: A — Search engines like Google use automated web crawlers ("Googlebot") to discover and index web pages. Meta-search engines aggregate results from multiple search engines.
Q.66 Easy
What does the @ symbol in an email address separate?
Answer: A — In an email address (user@domain.com), @ separates the username from the domain name. Example: john@gmail.com — "john" is the username, "gmail.com" is the domain.
Q.67 Moderate
What is cloud computing?
Answer: B — Cloud computing delivers IT resources (compute, storage, databases, AI) over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis. Examples: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Dropbox, Google Drive.
Q.68 Hard
What is the difference between SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS in cloud computing?
Answer: B — SaaS (Gmail, Office 365): ready-to-use software. PaaS (Heroku, Google App Engine): platform for building/deploying apps. IaaS (AWS EC2, Azure VMs): raw infrastructure — virtual machines, storage, networking — most control.
Q.69 Easy
What does PDF stand for?
Answer: A — PDF = Portable Document Format — a file format developed by Adobe that preserves document formatting across different devices and operating systems.
Q.70 Moderate
What is the purpose of an antivirus program?
Answer: B — An antivirus program scans, detects, and removes malicious software (viruses, worms, trojans, spyware) from a computer. Examples: Windows Defender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast.
Q.71 Moderate
What is a cookie in web browsing?
Answer: B — A cookie is a small text file stored by a website on the user's browser to remember login status, preferences, shopping cart contents, and browsing activity.
Q.72 Hard
What is SQL injection?
Answer: B — SQL injection is a web security vulnerability where attackers insert malicious SQL commands into input fields (login forms, search boxes) to bypass authentication, steal data, or delete records from a database.
Q.73 Easy
What does USB stand for?
Answer: A — USB = Universal Serial Bus — a standard interface for connecting peripherals (keyboard, mouse, storage drives, phones) to computers. USB 3.0 transfers at up to 5 Gbps; USB 4 at up to 40 Gbps.
Q.74 Moderate
What is blockchain technology primarily known for?
Answer: B — Blockchain is a decentralised, distributed ledger where records (blocks) are linked cryptographically and cannot be altered. It underpins cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum) and is used in supply chain, banking, and smart contracts.
Q.75 Hard
In cybersecurity, what is a DDoS attack?
Answer: B — DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) floods a target server/network with traffic from many compromised systems (botnet), overwhelming its resources and making it unavailable to legitimate users.
Q.76 Moderate
What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
Answer: B — AI (Artificial Intelligence) enables machines to mimic human cognitive functions like learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. It includes machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics.
Q.77 Easy
What does HTML stand for?
Answer: A — HTML = HyperText Markup Language — the standard language for creating web pages. It uses tags (e.g., <html>, <body>, <p>) to structure content.
Q.78 Hard
What is the purpose of encryption?
Answer: B — Encryption converts plaintext data into ciphertext using an algorithm and key, so only authorised parties with the correct key can read it. Used in HTTPS, WhatsApp (end-to-end), and banking apps.
Q.79 Moderate
Which Indian government initiative aims to digitally empower citizens and transform India into a digital economy?
Answer: B — Digital India (launched July 2015) is a flagship programme of the Government of India to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy, covering e-governance, digital infrastructure, and digital literacy.
Q.80 Hard
What is the full form of CERT-In?
Answer: B — CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) is the national nodal agency under MeitY for cybersecurity incidents. It monitors threats, coordinates responses, and issues advisories for Indian cyberspace.