Basic Computer Skills Checklist for Students and Job Seekers

"Basic computer knowledge required" appears in thousands of Indian job adverts, but nobody defines it. In practice, it means you can do a short list of everyday tasks without asking for help. This page turns that vague phrase into 40 concrete skills, each with a quick test you can do yourself in a few minutes.

Go through the list with a computer in front of you. Do not tick an item because you have "seen it" — tick it only when you can do it alone, without searching for steps. Count your ticks at the end and use the scoring guide to plan what to learn next.

How to use this checklist

1. Print the page or copy the items into a notebook.
2. For each item, do the small test written next to it.
3. Mark it ✓ (done easily), ~ (did it, but slowly or with a hint) or ✗ (could not do it).
4. Practise all ✗ items first, then the ~ items. Retest after one week.

The instructions mention Windows 10 and Windows 11, which most Indian offices and training centres use. Where the two differ, both are given.

1. Operating the computer and Windows (items 1–5)

• Start, shut down, restart and lock the computer correctly. Test: lock the screen with Win+L, unlock it, then restart from the Start menu.
• Use the mouse confidently — single click, double click, right click, drag and drop, scroll. Test: drag a file from one folder window to another.
• Switch between open programs using the taskbar and Alt+Tab. Test: open Notepad, a browser and File Explorer, then switch between them with only the keyboard.
• Close a program that has stopped responding with Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc → select the program → End task).
• Check basic system information: Windows version, RAM and free disk space. Test: open Settings → System → About, and This PC in File Explorer.

2. Files and folders (items 6–12)

Poor file handling is the most common weakness employers notice in freshers. These items matter more than they look.

• Open File Explorer with Win+E and know where Desktop, Documents, Downloads and drives (C:, D:, pen drive) are.
• Create a folder structure. Test: create Documents\Job Applications\2026\Resumes in under a minute.
• Rename, copy, move and delete files. Test: rename with F2, copy with Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V, move with Ctrl+X/Ctrl+V.
• Restore a deleted file from the Recycle Bin.
• See file extensions (.docx, .pdf, .jpg, .xlsx). Windows 10: View tab → tick File name extensions. Windows 11: View → Show → File name extensions. Knowing the extension stops you sending the wrong file.
• Search for a file by name from the File Explorer search box, and sort a folder by Date modified.
• Zip and unzip. Windows 10: right-click → Send to → Compressed (zipped) folder. Windows 11: right-click → Compress to ZIP file. Extract with right-click → Extract All.

3. Keyboard and typing (items 13–17)

• Type at least 25 WPM with 95% accuracy. Test on any online typing test. Use our 30-day typing plan if you are below this.
• Use editing shortcuts: Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+Y, Ctrl+A, Ctrl+S, Ctrl+P, Ctrl+F.
• Type special characters: @, #, ₹ (in many Windows setups Ctrl+Alt+4 or right Alt+4 with the English (India) keyboard), %, &, /, and capitals with Shift rather than Caps Lock.
• Take a screenshot of part of the screen with Win+Shift+S and paste it into a document or chat.
• Use clipboard history with Win+V (turn it on the first time when Windows asks).

4. MS Word or Google Docs (items 18–22)

• Type and format a one-page letter on A4 with a bold subject line, justified body and consistent font.
• Insert a table with a header row and right-aligned amounts.
• Add page numbers, a header and a footer.
• Use Find and Replace (Ctrl+H) to change a word throughout a document.
• Save as PDF (File → Save As → PDF) and open the PDF to check it.

Detailed steps for each are in our MS Word professional documents guide.

5. MS Excel or Google Sheets (items 23–28)

• Enter data in rows and columns with a header row, and widen columns by double-clicking the border.
• Write a basic formula: =B2*C2 for amount, and copy it down with the fill handle.
• Use SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN and COUNT. Test: total a column of ten amounts.
• Sort and filter a list (Data → Sort; Data → Filter).
• Format numbers as currency or with two decimals, and dates as DD-MM-YYYY.
• Print a sheet on one page using Page Layout → Scale to Fit, or the print setting "Fit Sheet on One Page".

For formulas such as IF, SUMIF and VLOOKUP, follow the Excel formulas guide.

6. Internet, email and online forms (items 29–35)

• Use browser tabs: open a link in a new tab (Ctrl+click), reopen a closed tab (Ctrl+Shift+T), jump to the address bar (Ctrl+L).
• Recognise official websites: government portals usually end in .gov.in or .nic.in. Check the address bar, not just the logo.
• Download a file and find it in the Downloads folder, then move it to the correct folder.
• Send an email with an attachment, a clear subject line and a polite body; use CC correctly. See the email writing guide.
• Fill an online application form: dropdowns, date pickers, radio buttons, and saving a draft where available.
• Resize a photo or scan to a required size. Many forms ask for, say, a photo under 50 KB and a signature under 20 KB (check each form's actual limits). Test: in Paint, Home → Resize → by pixels, then save as JPEG and check the size in File Explorer.
• Scan a paper document to PDF with a scanner or a phone scanning app, and merge pages into one PDF if the form needs a single file.

7. Safety and privacy online (items 36–40)

• Create a strong password (12+ characters, mix of words, numbers and symbols) and never reuse your email password elsewhere.
• Turn on two-step verification for your email account.
• Identify a phishing message: urgent tone, unknown sender, link address not matching the organisation, request for OTP or PIN.
• Sign out of shared computers at cafés and labs, and avoid ticking "Remember password" on them.
• Know where to report cyber fraud: the national cybercrime helpline 1930 and the portal cybercrime.gov.in.

Scoring guide: where do you stand?

A 15-minute practical self-test

Many employers give a short task like this. Set a timer and try it without notes.

1. Create a folder on the Desktop named Test_YourName.
2. In Word, type a five-line leave application with a subject line and save it in the folder as a .docx and a .pdf.
3. In Excel, list five items with quantity and rate, calculate amounts and a total, and save it in the same folder.
4. Take a screenshot of the Excel sheet and paste it at the end of the Word document.
5. Zip the folder.
6. Email the zip file to yourself with a proper subject line and a two-line message.
7. Open the email on your phone and check that the attachment opens.

If you finish in 15 minutes with no errors, your basic skills are solid. If you get stuck, the step where you stopped shows exactly what to practise.

Gaps employers notice most — and quick fixes

Trainers and office managers see the same few problems again and again in new staff. Each one takes less than a week to fix with deliberate practice.

Which course covers these skills?

Most of this checklist is the first half of a typical Diploma in Computer Application (DCA) syllabus: computer fundamentals and operating system, MS Office, and internet and email. If you already know these, a longer course such as PGDCA adds programming and databases. Our DCA vs PGDCA comparison explains the difference using the subjects actually taught at Nipun India partner centers. Whatever course you choose, ask the centre how many hours of hands-on lab time you will get — practice, not theory, is what builds these 40 skills.

Frequently asked questions