MS PowerPoint Notes for SSC Exams

MS PowerPoint is a presentation program and gives one question in many SSC papers. The questions come from slide views, transitions, animations and shortcut keys. These MS PowerPoint notes for SSC list all the important points in a short form. Read it along with the MS Word Notes and MS Excel Notes notes.

Basic Terms

• PowerPoint is a presentation software. A file is called a presentation and the extension is .pptx (older: .ppt).
• Each page of a presentation is a slide.
• A PowerPoint Show file has the extension .ppsx (.pps in older versions) and opens directly in the slide show mode.
• A box on a slide that holds text or a picture is a placeholder.
• The default slide size in new versions is widescreen (16:9).

Views in PowerPoint

Transitions and Animations

• A transition is the effect when one slide changes to the next slide. It is in the Transitions tab.
• An animation is the effect on an object (text or picture) within a slide. It is in the Animations tab.
• Remember: transition = between slides; animation = within a slide.
• The Slide Master controls the design, font and layout of all the slides and is in the View tab.

Ribbon Tabs of PowerPoint

Important Shortcut Keys

History and Versions of PowerPoint

• PowerPoint was developed by Robert Gaskins and Dennis Austin, and was first released in 1987 for the Apple Macintosh. Microsoft bought it in 1987.
• Windows versions started in 1990. PowerPoint 2007 introduced the Ribbon and the .pptx format.
• Other presentation software are Google Slides, LibreOffice Impress, Apple Keynote and Prezi.

Slide Layouts and Basic Elements

Ribbon Tabs of PowerPoint in Detail

Types of Animation Effects

Common transitions are Fade, Push, Wipe, Split and Reveal. Both transitions and animations can have a sound and a timing (duration).

Masters in PowerPoint

• Slide Master controls the fonts, colours and layout of all the slides. A change made in the master applies to all slides.
• Handout Master controls how the slides look in a handout.
• Notes Master controls the design of the notes pages.
• Master views are opened from the View tab.

Saving and Sharing a Presentation

• Package for CD (Export) collects the presentation and the linked files.
• Rehearse Timings records the time spent on each slide.
• Hide Slide keeps a slide in the file but skips it in the show.
• Presenter View shows the notes and the next slide to the speaker only.
• Hyperlink and Action Button move to another slide, file or website.
• Content in PowerPoint should be short: the 6 x 6 rule suggests six lines per slide and six words per line.

Important Questions Explained

Question 1: What is the extension of a PowerPoint 2016 file?
Answer: .pptx

Question 2: Which key starts the slide show from the first slide?
Answer: F5.

Question 3: Which view is best for rearranging the order of slides?
Answer: The Slide Sorter view.

Question 4: What is the effect between two slides called?
Answer: A transition.

Question 5: What is the extension of a file that opens directly in the show mode?
Answer: .ppsx (or .pps in older versions).

Question 6: Which shortcut inserts a new slide?
Answer: Ctrl + M.

Quick Tips to Remember

• Remember: transition between slides, animation within a slide.
• Link F5 with the first slide and Shift+F5 with the current slide.
• Learn the five views and one use of each.
• Remember .pptx for presentations and .ppsx for shows.
• Slide master is in the View tab.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing transitions and animations.
• Writing .ppt as the latest extension.
• Confusing F5 with Shift+F5.
• Putting the slide master in the Insert tab.
• Confusing the Slide Sorter and the Normal view.

Quick Revision Points

• PowerPoint = presentation; extension .pptx; show .ppsx.
• Transition = slide to slide; animation = object effects.
• F5 = from the start; Shift+F5 = from the current slide; Esc ends the show.
• Slide Sorter view arranges slides.
• Slide master controls the design of all slides.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. What is a page of a PowerPoint presentation called?
   Answer: Slide (Each page is a slide).
2. The extension of a PowerPoint 2016 file is?
   Answer: .pptx (Older: .ppt).
3. Which key starts the slide show from the beginning?
   Answer: F5 (Shift + F5 from the current).
4. Which view is used to rearrange the slides?
   Answer: Slide Sorter view (Thumbnails).
5. What is the effect between slides called?
   Answer: Transition (Transitions tab).
6. Which tab has the animation effects?
   Answer: Animations (Object effects).
7. Which key ends the slide show?
   Answer: Esc (Returns to the editing view).
8. Which shortcut inserts a new slide?
   Answer: Ctrl + M (Home tab also).
9. Where is the slide master option?
   Answer: View tab (Master views).
10. What is a box on a slide holding text called?
    Answer: Placeholder (Layout element).

More Practice Questions With Answers

1. Who developed PowerPoint?
   Answer: Robert Gaskins and Dennis Austin (1987).
2. Which master controls all slides?
   Answer: Slide Master (View tab).
3. Which animation makes an object appear?
   Answer: Entrance (Green star).
4. Which file opens directly in slide show mode?
   Answer: .ppsx (PowerPoint Show).
5. Which view shows the speaker notes and the next slide to the presenter?
   Answer: Presenter View (Slide Show).
6. Which feature skips a slide in the show?
   Answer: Hide Slide (Slide Show tab).
7. What is a ready-made design of colours and fonts called?
   Answer: Theme (Design tab).
8. Which key starts the show from the current slide?
   Answer: Shift + F5 (Slide Show).
9. What is the extension of a PowerPoint template?
   Answer: .potx (Template).
10. What is a box on a layout that holds content called?
    Answer: Placeholder (Layout).
11. Which tab sets the slide size?
    Answer: Design tab (Slide size).
12. Which effect highlights an object that is already on the slide?
    Answer: Emphasis animation (Yellow star).

How to Practise This Chapter

1. Read the tables once and learn the key facts by heart.
2. Revise the quick revision points the next day.
3. Attempt the practice questions above without looking at the answers.
4. Solve a full SSC CGL Tier 1 mini mock to test your general awareness.
5. Check the previous year papers to see how SSC asks computer questions.

Related Notes and Practice Papers

• MS Word Notes
• MS Excel Notes
• MS Office Notes
• Computer Shortcut Keys
• SSC CGL Tier 1 Mini Mock

Explore More SSC Subjects

SSC exams test many subjects, so connect this topic with the related subjects below:

• General Science Notes
• General Awareness Notes
• Quantitative Aptitude Notes
• Reasoning Notes
• Electrical Engineering (SSC JE) Notes
• All SSC subjects and notes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MS PowerPoint?

MS PowerPoint is presentation software used to create slides with text, pictures, charts and animations.

What is the extension of a PowerPoint file?

The extension is .pptx for newer versions and .ppt for older versions.

What is the difference between a transition and an animation?

A transition is the effect when moving from one slide to another, while an animation is the effect on an object within a slide.

Which key starts the slide show?

F5 starts the slide show from the first slide, and Shift + F5 starts it from the current slide.

What is a slide master?

The slide master controls the design, fonts and layout of all slides in a presentation.

What are the views of PowerPoint?

Normal, Slide Sorter, Notes Page, Reading and Slide Show views.

What is a .ppsx file?

It is a PowerPoint Show file that opens directly in the slide show mode.

How many questions come from PowerPoint in SSC exams?

Usually one question comes from PowerPoint in the MS Office section.

What is the 6 x 6 rule in PowerPoint?

The 6 x 6 rule suggests at most six lines on a slide and six words in each line, so that the slide is easy to read.

What is a theme in PowerPoint?

A theme is a set of colours, fonts and effects that is applied to all the slides for a uniform design.

What is Presenter View?

Presenter View shows the speaker notes, the next slide and a timer to the presenter, while the audience sees only the slide.