ADRE Computer Skill Test Syllabus 2026: Category I, II & III – Complete MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint Guide
The most detailed breakdown of the ADRE Computer Skill Test — topic-wise syllabus for all three categories (HSSLC, Graduate & Degree+Diploma), typing speed standards, keyboard shortcuts, marks, duration & preparation strategy.
The ADRE Computer Skill Test 2026 is a mandatory practical examination for all candidates who have cleared the written examination for Grade III (Class III) posts under the Assam Direct Recruitment Examination conducted by the State Level Recruitment Commission (SLRC), Assam. It is a hands-on, real-time test conducted on computers provided at the examination centre.
The Computer Skill Test carries 25 marks and is structured into three categories based on the candidate’s educational qualification — Category I (HSSLC), Category II (Bachelor’s Degree), and Category III (Degree with Computer Diploma or Library Science). Each category tests proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint at progressively increasing difficulty levels — Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced respectively.
This guide covers the complete, topic-wise syllabus for every category, the typing speed requirements, must-know keyboard shortcuts, documents to carry, and a focused preparation strategy to help you score maximum marks in the Skill Test.
Computer Skill Test – Overview & Selection Stage
The ADRE Computer Skill Test is conducted after the written examination as part of the Grade III recruitment process. Only candidates who provisionally qualify in Paper III (HSSLC Level) and Paper IV (Bachelor’s Degree Level) of the ADRE written exam are called for this test. Understanding where this test fits in the overall selection process is critical for planning your preparation timeline.
ADRE Written Examination (Paper III & Paper IV)
HSSLC Level (Paper III) and Bachelor’s Degree Level (Paper IV) written exams. Candidates who provisionally qualify are shortlisted for the Skill Test.
Computer Skill Test – 25 Marks (Qualifying)
Practical hands-on test on computers provided at the exam center. Tests MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint. Duration: 45 minutes. Carries 25 marks and is qualifying in nature.
Document Verification
Original documents are verified for candidates who clear the Skill Test. Discrepancies at this stage lead to disqualification.
Final Merit List & Appointment
Final merit list is prepared based on Written Exam + Skill Test performance. Appointment letters are issued to selected candidates.
3 Categories – Who Appears in Which Category?
The Computer Skill Test is divided into three categories based on the candidate’s minimum educational qualification for the post they applied for. Each category has a different difficulty level — Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. Candidates must appear in the category corresponding to their post’s eligibility.
| Category | Minimum Qualification | Difficulty Level | MS Office Level | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category I | HSSLC / HSSLC in Science (Class 12) | Basic | Basic Operations | 25 Marks |
| Category II | Bachelor’s Degree (Any Stream) | Intermediate | Intermediate Functions | 25 Marks |
| Category III | Bachelor’s Degree + Computer Certificate/Diploma (min. 6 months) OR Bachelor’s in Library Science + Computer Certificate | Advanced | Advanced Operations | 25 Marks |
Category I Syllabus – HSSLC Level (Basic)
Category I is for candidates applying for posts with a minimum qualification of HSSLC or HSSLC in Science (Class 12). The test is at the Basic Level and focuses on fundamental document creation, spreadsheet basics, and simple presentation making. This is the most accessible category but still requires hands-on practice.
- Create a new document and save it in specified format
- Basic text formatting – Bold, Italic, Underline, Font size & color
- Paragraph alignment – Left, Center, Right, Justify
- Copy, Cut, Paste operations
- Find & Replace text in document
- Set page margins, paper size & orientation
- Insert page numbers and basic headers/footers
- Basic spell check and grammar check
- Print document with basic print settings
- Line spacing and paragraph spacing adjustments
- Create a new worksheet and enter data
- Basic cell formatting – font, size, bold, borders
- Simple formulas: SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX
- Basic arithmetic operations in cells (+, –, ×, ÷)
- Column width and row height adjustment
- Text alignment within cells (horizontal & vertical)
- Merge and center cells
- Insert and delete rows/columns
- Basic sorting of data (A–Z, Z–A)
- Print worksheet with basic settings
- Create a new presentation and add slides
- Add and edit text in slide placeholders
- Basic text formatting – font, size, color, bold/italic
- Apply a theme or slide design template
- Insert images and basic shapes into slides
- Change slide layout (title slide, content, blank)
- Basic text alignment on slides
- Slide numbering and basic slide transitions
- Run the presentation in slideshow mode (F5)
- Save and print presentation
Category II Syllabus – Bachelor’s Degree Level (Intermediate)
Category II is for candidates with a Bachelor’s Degree in any stream. The difficulty is at the Intermediate Level, meaning candidates are expected to perform more complex document formatting, use intermediate Excel formulas (IF, VLOOKUP/HLOOKUP), apply conditional formatting, create data validations, and build more sophisticated presentations with animations and transitions.
All Category I topics are included, PLUS the intermediate tasks below:
- Apply predefined paragraph and heading styles
- Insert and edit tables – merge cells, adjust column widths, apply table styles
- Advanced header/footer with page numbers and date
- Insert and align images with text wrapping options
- Set section breaks and configure multi-column layout
- Configure page numbering with section breaks
- Use Track Changes and add Comments
- Advanced print settings – duplex, specific page ranges
- Insert hyperlinks and bookmarks
- Use mail merge basics (if required)
- Cell styles, number formatting – currency, percentage, date formats
- Conditional formatting rules – highlight cells based on values
- Intermediate formulas: IF, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP
- Basic statistical functions: COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTIF, SUMIF
- Data Validation – dropdown lists, numeric restrictions
- Freeze panes for row/column headers
- Create basic charts – bar, column, pie charts
- Filter and sort data with AutoFilter
- Set print area, repeat row/column titles, scale to fit
- Name ranges and use in formulas
- Apply and customize slide transitions with timing
- Add entrance and exit animations to text/objects
- Insert and format SmartArt graphics
- Create and edit tables and charts in slides
- Insert and format media (images, icons, shapes)
- Slide Master – modify global slide design
- Duplicate, rearrange, and hide slides
- Add speaker notes to slides
- Set slide timings for automatic presentation
- Print presentation – handouts, notes pages
Category III Syllabus – Degree + Diploma Level (Advanced)
Category III is the most demanding level, applicable to candidates with a Bachelor’s Degree plus a Computer Certificate/Diploma of minimum 6 months from a recognized institute, or a Bachelor’s Degree in Library Science with a similar computer certification. This category tests Advanced MS Office skills, including Pivot Tables, cross-references, advanced animations, and complex formula-based functions.
All Category II topics are included, PLUS the advanced tasks below:
- Apply and modify multilevel heading styles for consistency
- Insert and update a Table of Contents automatically
- Insert cross-references (to headings, figures, tables)
- Work extensively with tables – merge/split cells, apply complex borders
- Create customized numbered and bulleted multilevel lists
- Modify character formatting in detail – text effects, spacing
- Configure advanced print options – print comments, print markup
- Insert footnotes, endnotes, and citations
- Use field codes and document properties
- Protect document with passwords or editing restrictions
- Create and customize Pivot Tables from data ranges
- Advanced lookup: VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH
- Nested IF formulas and complex logical functions
- Text functions: LEFT, RIGHT, MID, CONCATENATE, TRIM
- Date functions: TODAY, NOW, DATEDIF, EDATE
- Convert data range to Excel Table with styles
- Create advanced charts – combination, sparkline charts
- Protect worksheet and workbook with passwords
- Advanced conditional formatting with formulas
- Import and link data across multiple worksheets
- Professional slide design using Slide Master with multiple layouts
- Advanced SmartArt – convert text to diagram, customize hierarchy
- Complex animation sequences with trigger and motion paths
- Insert hyperlinks to external URLs and slides within the deck
- Embed and format video and audio clips in slides
- Insert and manage Excel charts linked to live data
- Export presentation as PDF or video
- Set up a custom slideshow with selected slides only
- Use Action Buttons for navigation between slides
- Rehearse timings and record narration
Category-Wise Syllabus Comparison Table
This quick-reference table shows which features are tested at which category level across all three MS Office applications:
| Feature / Topic | Category I (HSSLC) | Category II (Degree) | Category III (Degree+Diploma) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS WORD | |||
| Document Creation & Basic Formatting | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Page Setup (Margins, Orientation) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Headers, Footers & Page Numbers | Basic | Advanced | With field codes |
| Tables (Insert, Merge, Style) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (complex) |
| Image Insertion & Text Wrap | Basic insert | ✅ with wrap | ✅ with effects |
| Styles (Heading, Body) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (multilevel) |
| Table of Contents | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cross-References | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Track Changes / Comments | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Document Protection | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| MS EXCEL | |||
| Basic Formulas (SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cell Formatting & Borders | Basic | Advanced styles | ✅ (with conditions) |
| Conditional Formatting | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (formula-based) |
| IF / VLOOKUP / HLOOKUP | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (nested) |
| Data Validation | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Charts / Graphs | ❌ | Basic charts | Advanced / Combo |
| Pivot Tables | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| INDEX-MATCH / Text Functions | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Worksheet Protection | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| MS POWERPOINT | |||
| Slide Creation & Basic Formatting | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Apply Themes & Slide Layouts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Slide Transitions | Basic | With timing | Custom |
| Animations | ❌ | Entrance/Exit | Trigger + motion paths |
| SmartArt | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (advanced) |
| Slide Master | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (multi-layout) |
| Hyperlinks / Action Buttons | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Embedded Video / Audio | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Export as PDF / Video | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Typing Speed & Standards
While the primary focus of the ADRE Computer Skill Test is MS Office operations, typing speed and accuracy are an implicit requirement. Candidates who type slowly will struggle to complete all tasks within the 45-minute window. Understanding the expected typing benchmarks is important for time management.
⌨ ADRE Typing Speed Benchmarks
Important Keyboard Shortcuts for ADRE Skill Test
Knowing and using keyboard shortcuts dramatically increases your speed during the practical test. Memorize these shortcuts for MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint — they can save you 30–60 seconds per task:
Universal Shortcuts (All Applications)
MS Word Shortcuts
MS Excel Shortcuts
MS PowerPoint Shortcuts
Documents Required for ADRE Computer Skill Test
All candidates must carry the following documents to the Skill Test venue. The test is conducted at designated centres in Guwahati (as per previous editions). Failure to carry mandatory documents may result in disqualification.
- Printed Skill Test Admit Card (downloaded from ASSEB / SEBAONLINE official website)
- Original Photo ID Proof – Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, PAN Card, or Passport
- Original Written Exam Admit Card (ADRE Paper III / Paper IV)
- Original Educational Qualification Certificate (HSSLC / Degree as applicable)
- Computer Certificate / Diploma (Original) – mandatory for Category III candidates
- Library Science Degree Certificate (Original) – if applicable for Category III
- 2–4 Recent Passport Size Photographs
- Blue or Black Ballpoint Pen
Preparation Tips & Strategy for ADRE Computer Skill Test 2026
Know Your Category First
Confirm whether you are Category I, II, or III before you start preparing. Category III requires significantly more depth — preparing the wrong level wastes time and creates false confidence.
Practice on MS Office Daily
This is a practical test — theory alone won’t help. Open MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint every single day and complete at least one full task per application. Muscle memory is what gets you through within 45 minutes.
Time Yourself Strictly
Allocate roughly 8 minutes for Word, 8 minutes for Excel, and 9 minutes for PowerPoint during practice. Completing tasks within time is as important as completing them correctly in the actual test.
Master Keyboard Shortcuts
Shortcuts can save 30–60 seconds per task. Prioritize Ctrl+C/V/Z/S for all apps, Ctrl+B/I/U and Ctrl+H for Word, Alt+= and Ctrl+1 for Excel, and F5 and Ctrl+M for PowerPoint.
Practice VLOOKUP & Pivot Tables (Cat. II & III)
For Category II and III candidates, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, IF functions, and Pivot Tables are the most tested advanced Excel skills. Create practice datasets and run these functions daily.
Match the MS Office Version
Practice on MS Office 2010, 2013, or 2016 — the versions most likely available at government exam centres. Feature locations and menu structures differ across versions. Ensure the version you practice on matches the exam environment.
Improve Typing Speed in Parallel
Use free tools like 10FastFingers, TypingBaba (for Assamese), or Keybr to practice typing daily. A minimum of 30 WPM in English with 95%+ accuracy ensures you don’t lose time to typos during the practical test.
Take Full-Length Mock Tests
Simulate the 45-minute exam at least twice a week. Set a timer, complete all three applications in sequence, and review what you couldn’t finish. Repeat the weak areas the next day.