The MS Word computer efficiency test is a qualifying round in RSMSSB LDC and HCRAJ LDC — you must pass it to proceed to document verification, even if you scored well in the written GK exam. Most candidates underestimate this component until they sit in front of the exam computer and realise they never practiced under time pressure.
This article covers every task type that appears, how the test is structured, the mistakes candidates most commonly make, and how to practice effectively.
What Is the Computer Efficiency Test?
In RSMSSB LDC, the computer efficiency test is a timed practical test conducted in MS Word (usually Word 2010 or 2016 in the exam environment). You are given a document with text already typed and a list of formatting tasks to complete. The test is approximately 15 minutes long.
Like the typing test, the computer efficiency test is a qualifier — it does not add marks to your merit list. But failing it means disqualification even with a top written score.
The exam environment is a physical computer lab. You will not have internet access and cannot use any personal software or tools. What you practice on is exactly what you get.
Task Types That Appear in the Test
The exam document contains a mix of text, tables, and basic document structure. You are asked to apply formatting changes to specific parts. Here are the categories to master:
Text Character Formatting
These are the most basic and most frequently tested tasks:
| Task | What to learn |
|---|---|
| Bold / Italic / Underline | Keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, Ctrl+U |
| Font name change | Home → Font dropdown; know common fonts (Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri) |
| Font size change | Home → Font Size box; Ctrl+Shift+P shortcut |
| Font colour | Home → Font Color arrow → pick a colour |
| Text highlight | Home → Text Highlight Color |
| Strikethrough | Home → Strikethrough button |
| Superscript / Subscript | Ctrl+Shift+= for super, Ctrl+= for sub |
| Change case | Shift+F3 cycles through UPPERCASE / lowercase / Title Case |
Practice tip: The exam doesn't test whether you know these exist — it tests whether you can apply them to a specific word, sentence, or paragraph quickly. Practice selecting exactly the right text range before applying formatting.
Paragraph Formatting
| Task | What to learn |
|---|---|
| Alignment | Ctrl+L (left), Ctrl+E (centre), Ctrl+R (right), Ctrl+J (justify) |
| Line spacing | Home → Line and Paragraph Spacing; or Format → Paragraph |
| Indentation | Increase/Decrease Indent buttons; or Format → Paragraph → Indentation |
| Paragraph spacing (Before/After) | Format → Paragraph → Spacing section |
| Borders and shading | Home → Borders dropdown for paragraph borders |
Most candidates know alignment shortcuts but miss line spacing and paragraph spacing tasks.
Styles
Styles are a common exam task that trips up unprepared candidates:
- Applying a style: Select text → Home → Styles gallery → click the style (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2, Normal, Title)
- Common styles tested: Heading 1, Heading 2, Normal, Title, Subtitle
A quick test: in the Styles gallery, can you visually identify which button is Heading 1? Many candidates look for it for 30 seconds and panic. Practice until you find it in under 3 seconds.
Tables
Table tasks appear in most RSMSSB LDC efficiency tests:
| Task | Method |
|---|---|
| Insert a table | Insert → Table → select rows × columns |
| Add/delete rows or columns | Right-click on row/column → Insert or Delete |
| Merge cells | Select cells → Layout tab → Merge Cells |
| Apply table borders | Table Design tab → Borders dropdown |
| Apply cell shading | Table Design tab → Shading dropdown |
| Auto-fit column width | Layout tab → AutoFit → AutoFit Contents |
Many candidates know how to create a table but stumble on merging cells and applying borders to specific sides only (e.g., "add a bottom border to row 1").
Headers, Footers & Page Numbers
| Task | Method |
|---|---|
| Insert header | Insert → Header → choose a style |
| Insert footer | Insert → Footer → choose a style |
| Insert page number | Insert → Page Number → choose position |
| Type text in header/footer | Double-click the header/footer area to enter it |
| Exit header/footer | Double-click the document body, or press Escape |
A frequent mistake: candidates try to type in the header/footer area without first double-clicking to enter edit mode. The text ends up in the wrong place.
Find & Replace
Ctrl+H opens Find & Replace. You are typically asked to replace one specific word with another throughout the document. Make sure you understand the difference between Replace (one at a time) and Replace All (all instances at once).
Page Setup
| Task | Method |
|---|---|
| Change margins | Layout → Margins → choose a preset or Custom Margins |
| Change orientation | Layout → Orientation → Portrait or Landscape |
| Change paper size | Layout → Size → A4, Letter, etc. |
These tasks are quick once you know where to look. The Layout tab (called Page Layout in Word 2010) is where all three live.
How Scoring Works
The exam usually follows a task-completion model — each completed task earns marks, and partially completed tasks may earn partial marks. There is no standard published marking scheme, but based on reported exam patterns:
- Fully correct formatting on a task = full marks
- Wrong selection (applied to the wrong text/paragraph) = zero, even if the formatting itself is correct
- Skipped tasks = zero
The most common reason for low scores is not failing to apply formatting — it is applying formatting to the wrong text. Read each task instruction carefully and select precisely before clicking.
Common Mistakes
- Skipping the task instructions — Reading the task list quickly leads to wrong selections. Slow down on reading, move fast on execution.
- Not knowing keyboard shortcuts — Using menus for everything eats time. Ctrl+B, Ctrl+U, Ctrl+J, Ctrl+H are non-negotiable.
- Editing in the header/footer without entering it — Double-click first, always.
- Wrong tab for table formatting — Table formatting is in the Table Design and Layout contextual tabs, which only appear when your cursor is inside a table. If you don't see them, click inside the table.
- Applying a Heading style to selected text then clicking Normal — Styles replace each other; be deliberate.
- Never having practiced under a timer — The 15-minute limit feels generous until you are in the room.
Quick Reference: Task Checklist
Before your exam, make sure you can do all of these in under 10 seconds each:
- Bold/Italic/Underline a word using keyboard shortcuts
- Change font name and font size
- Apply font colour and text highlight
- Change text alignment (all four types)
- Set line spacing to 1.5 or double
- Apply Heading 1 and Heading 2 styles
- Insert a 3×4 table
- Merge two cells in a table
- Apply a table border (specific side)
- Insert a header with text, insert a footer with page number
- Find & Replace a word throughout the document
- Change page margins and orientation
Practice all of these inside a live browser simulator before your exam — no install required. → Practice the MS Word Efficiency Test on MedhaV.in