Shortcuts Questions for SBI CLERK

Universal Windows Shortcuts

These shortcuts work across almost all Windows applications. They are the most commonly tested because every computer user is expected to know them. Think of these as the foundation layer — they work in Notepad, MS Word, browser, everything.

• 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
• Alt + F4 = Close current window, Alt + Tab = Switch between open windows
• Windows Key + D = Show Desktop, Windows Key + L = Lock Screen

MS Word Shortcuts

MS Word shortcuts are heavily tested in SBI Clerk. Focus on formatting shortcuts and navigation shortcuts. Questions often give you a scenario like 'which shortcut makes text bold' or 'which shortcut opens the Print Preview dialog'. Word-specific ones are most likely to appear as traps because they overlap slightly with Excel.

• Ctrl + B = Bold, Ctrl + I = Italic, Ctrl + U = Underline
• Ctrl + E = Center Align, Ctrl + L = Left Align, Ctrl + R = Right Align, Ctrl + J = Justify
• Ctrl + Home = Go to beginning of document, Ctrl + End = Go to end
• Ctrl + K = Insert Hyperlink, Ctrl + T = Hanging Indent
• F7 = Spelling and Grammar Check, F12 = Save As, Ctrl + F2 = Print Preview
• Ctrl + Enter = Insert Page Break, Ctrl + Shift + P = Change font size

MS Excel Shortcuts

Excel shortcuts tested in SBI Clerk often focus on cell navigation, formula bar actions, and file operations. Excel has a few unique shortcuts that differ from Word, and those differences are exactly what examiners love to test. Remember that F2 in Excel edits the active cell — this is a frequent question.

• F2 = Edit active cell, F4 = Repeat last action or toggle absolute reference
• Ctrl + ` (backtick) = Show all formulas in the sheet
• Ctrl + Shift + : = Insert current time, Ctrl + ; = Insert current date
• Ctrl + Page Up / Page Down = Move between worksheets
• Alt + Enter = Start new line within same cell
• Ctrl + D = Fill Down, Ctrl + R = Fill Right

MS PowerPoint Shortcuts

PowerPoint shortcuts are less frequently tested than Word and Excel, but they do appear in SBI Clerk occasionally. The most commonly asked ones relate to starting and stopping a slideshow. If you are short on time, learn just the slideshow shortcuts from this section.

• F5 = Start slideshow from beginning, Shift + F5 = Start from current slide
• Esc = End slideshow, B = Black screen during slideshow, W = White screen
• Ctrl + M = Insert new slide, Ctrl + D = Duplicate slide
• Ctrl + Shift + G = Ungroup objects, Ctrl + G = Group objects
• Tab = Select next object on slide, Ctrl + Enter = Move to next text placeholder

Internet Browser Shortcuts

Browser shortcuts represent a growing trend in SBI Clerk Computer Knowledge questions, especially since internet and banking go hand in hand. Focus on Chrome and Edge shortcuts as these are most relevant. The shortcut to open a new incognito window is a favourite question.

• Ctrl + T = New Tab, Ctrl + W = Close current tab, Ctrl + Shift + T = Reopen last closed tab
• Ctrl + N = New window, Ctrl + Shift + N = New Incognito window (Chrome)
• Ctrl + L or F6 = Jump to address bar, F5 = Refresh, Ctrl + F5 = Hard refresh
• Ctrl + H = History, Ctrl + J = Downloads, Ctrl + D = Bookmark current page
• Alt + Left Arrow = Go back, Alt + Right Arrow = Go forward

Function Keys (F1 to F12)

Function keys are standalone shortcuts that work without Ctrl or Alt. These are tested because many students ignore them. F1 is almost universally Help. F5 has different roles in different programs — that tricky dual role is a common question.

• F1 = Help (universal), F2 = Rename file in Windows Explorer or Edit cell in Excel
• F3 = Search in Windows Explorer, F4 = Repeat last action (Word) or Close with Alt
• F5 = Refresh in Windows and browsers, Start Slideshow in PowerPoint
• F7 = Spell check in MS Word, F8 = Safe Mode boot option during startup
• F11 = Full screen in browser, F12 = Save As in MS Office, Open Developer Tools in browser

• Confusing Ctrl + Z (Undo) with Ctrl + Y (Redo) — students often swap these two under exam pressure.
• Assuming F5 always means Refresh — in PowerPoint it starts the slideshow, not refresh. Context matters.
• Mixing up Ctrl + Shift + N (Incognito in Chrome) with Ctrl + N (New Window) — the Shift key is the differentiator.
• Thinking Ctrl + F2 and F12 both do Save — F12 is Save As, Ctrl + F2 is Print Preview in MS Word. Two very different actions.
• Forgetting that Ctrl + ; inserts date and Ctrl + Shift + : inserts time in Excel — students often reverse these or forget both.

• SCARF for basic shortcuts: S = Save (Ctrl+S), C = Copy (Ctrl+C), A = Select All (Ctrl+A), R = Redo (Ctrl+Y), F = Find (Ctrl+F). The Y in Redo is because You already did it once.
• For text alignment in Word remember LCRJ = Left Center Right Justify mapped to Ctrl + L, E, R, J. The odd one is E for cEnter — think E as the middle letter of cEntEr.
• Function key story: F1 is your first call when lost (Help). F5 refreshes your memory. F7 checks your spelling because 7 sounds like heaven where everything is correct. F12 saves the best for last (Save As).
• For Excel date and time: Semi-colon (;) looks like a clock with a dot — so Ctrl + ; is date (calmer, static). Colon (:) is the time symbol — so Ctrl + Shift + : is time (dynamic, moving).

• SBI Clerk typically asks 2 to 3 shortcut questions per paper in the Computer Knowledge section. They are usually straightforward — a shortcut is given and you pick the function, or a function is described and you pick the shortcut.
• MS Word shortcuts (especially formatting ones like Bold, Italic, Underline, Alignment) have appeared in multiple recent SBI and IBPS Clerk papers. Prioritise these above PowerPoint.
• Browser shortcuts are an emerging trend post-2021 in SBI and IBPS papers. Ctrl + Shift + T (reopen closed tab) and Ctrl + Shift + N (incognito) have been asked recently.
• Difficulty level is Low to Medium. These are straightforward recall questions. Spend no more than 20 to 30 seconds per shortcut question — do not overthink.
• In mock tests, students lose marks by second-guessing themselves on Ctrl + Y vs Ctrl + Z. Trust your first instinct — these are pure memory questions where hesitation hurts more than helps.