About This Syllabus
The Computer Proficiency Certification Test (CPCT) is run by MPSEDC for candidates seeking data entry, IT operator, Assistant Grade-3, steno, typist and similar posts in Madhya Pradesh government departments. The official syllabus is arranged in seven competency areas: six are tested through the MCQ section and the seventh is the keyboard (typing) skill test. The official PDF notes that it describes the broad areas of computer proficiency, and questions may not always fall directly within the listed topics.
1. Familiarity with Computer Systems
- Computer hardware: generations and types of computers, printers, input and output devices
- Hardware components: CPU (arithmetic logic unit, control unit, memory unit), USB, LCD, motherboard, sound card, graphics card
- Input devices: keyboard, mouse, light pen, touch screen, graphics tablet, joystick, microphone, OCR, MICR, scanner, digital/web camera, card reader, barcode reader, biometric sensor
- Output devices: monitor or visual display unit, impact and non-impact printers, speaker, plotter
- Secondary storage: USB pen drives, floppy disks, CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc, solid state drive
- Software categories: system, application, embedded, proprietary and open source software
- Computer languages: machine level, assembly level and high level languages; interpreter and compiler
- Operating systems such as Windows and Linux
- Memory units: bit, byte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte
2. Knowledge of Basic Computer Operations
- Setting up a computer, booting and shutting down, logging on and off a network
- Finding an IP address and checking physical network connectivity
- Installing, updating and uninstalling software; stopping applications from running at start-up
- Customising the desktop background, resizing windows, volume controls
- Setting up a new printer, webcam, scanner or other peripheral
- Protecting computers from power disturbances, power backups and basic troubleshooting
- System administration and security: operating system options and preferences, data encryption, keeping personal data private, creating and changing strong passwords, scanning for bugs, spyware and malware with virus scanners
- File management: copying files to memory disks, undoing mistakes, using built-in help, connecting to the internet, downloading and uploading files, document setup and printing, compressing files, choosing suitable file formats for data transfer
3. Proficiency in General IT Skills
- Word processing: creating documents, spell check, tables, headers and footers, mail merge, formatting and common keyboard commands
- Spreadsheets: working with numbers, formulas, references, macros, tables and graphs, and common spreadsheet keyboard commands
- Presentation skills: sharing and understanding data through charts and graphs
- Internet skills: using search engines effectively, uploading and downloading information, websites, browsers, blogs, email, video conferencing and online collaboration
4. Reading Comprehension
- Reading English passages and answering questions on locating information, relationships between ideas, interpretation, mood, characters, tone and the central theme
5. Mathematical & Reasoning Aptitude
- Number systems: fractions, surds and decimals, number series
- Arithmetic: percentages, profit and loss, discount, compound interest and annuities, ratio and proportion, time, work and distance, areas and volumes of 2D and 3D figures
- Reasoning: verbal and logical reasoning, drawing conclusions from logical premises and judging the validity of arguments based on given facts
6. General Awareness
- Indian history and Indian geography
- Indian economy and Indian Constitution
- Science and technology
- Trends in current affairs
7. Keyboard Skills
- Typing in English
- Typing in Hindi
Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
- The test lasts 120 minutes in total.
- MCQ section (Sections 1-6): 75 questions in 75 minutes.
- English typing test: 15 minutes; Hindi typing test: 15 minutes. Each test asks you to type a given passage.
- 15 minutes are set aside for reading instructions and switching between languages in the typing tests.
- Every MCQ has four options with one correct answer, and all questions are available in English and Hindi.
- Reading comprehension has one passage with 5 MCQs.
- The syllabus PDF does not give marks per question, negative marking or qualifying scores.
Preparation Pointers
- Three of the six MCQ areas are about computers (hardware and software, basic operations, and word processing, spreadsheet and internet skills), so practical computer knowledge carries a large share of the syllabus.
- Practise typing in both English and Hindi, because both typing tests are part of the same sitting.
- The MCQ section gives 75 minutes for 75 questions, so on average you have one minute per question, including the 5 questions on the English comprehension passage.