CAT Practical
In-Depth Study Notes
,Contents
CAT Practical Test — In-Depth Study Notes ............................................................................. 3
1) Word Processing (MS Word) ................................................................................................ 3
What examiners look for ..................................................................................................... 3
A. Page setup ..................................................................................................................... 3
B. Sections & columns ........................................................................................................ 4
C. Styles & navigation ......................................................................................................... 4
D. References ..................................................................................................................... 4
E. Images, shapes, text boxes.............................................................................................. 4
F. Tables & tab stops ........................................................................................................... 4
G. Find/Replace (wildcards) ................................................................................................ 5
H. Final polish .................................................................................................................... 5
High-value shortcuts .......................................................................................................... 5
Common pitfalls................................................................................................................. 5
Quick practice .................................................................................................................... 5
2) Spreadsheets (Excel) .......................................................................................................... 6
What examiners look for ..................................................................................................... 6
A. Cell referencing .............................................................................................................. 6
B. Frequent functions (learn the patterns) ............................................................................ 6
C. Data cleaning & import ................................................................................................... 7
D. Data validation & conditional formatting .......................................................................... 7
E. Sorting, filtering, subtotaling ........................................................................................... 7
F. Tables, PivotTables & Charts ............................................................................................ 7
G. Print & layout.................................................................................................................. 8
High-value shortcuts .......................................................................................................... 8
Common pitfalls................................................................................................................. 8
Quick practice .................................................................................................................... 8
3) Database (MS Access) ........................................................................................................ 9
What examiners look for ..................................................................................................... 9
A. Table design ................................................................................................................... 9
B. Relationships ................................................................................................................. 9
C. Query criteria (Select queries) ......................................................................................... 9
D. Parameter queries ........................................................................................................ 10
E. Joins............................................................................................................................. 10
F. Action queries (only if required) .................................................................................... 10
G. Forms .......................................................................................................................... 10
, H. Reports & Labels .......................................................................................................... 10
Common pitfalls............................................................................................................... 10
Quick practice .................................................................................................................. 11
4) Web Design (HTML & CSS) ................................................................................................ 12
What examiners look for ................................................................................................... 12
A. HTML5 skeleton ............................................................................................................ 12
B. External CSS (css/style.css) .......................................................................................... 14
C. Paths & assets .............................................................................................................. 14
D. Links & anchors ............................................................................................................ 14
E. Lists, entities & semantics............................................................................................. 15
F. Image optimisation........................................................................................................ 15
G. Validation & accessibility .............................................................................................. 15
H. Print/export .................................................................................................................. 15
In-Depth Study Notes
,Contents
CAT Practical Test — In-Depth Study Notes ............................................................................. 3
1) Word Processing (MS Word) ................................................................................................ 3
What examiners look for ..................................................................................................... 3
A. Page setup ..................................................................................................................... 3
B. Sections & columns ........................................................................................................ 4
C. Styles & navigation ......................................................................................................... 4
D. References ..................................................................................................................... 4
E. Images, shapes, text boxes.............................................................................................. 4
F. Tables & tab stops ........................................................................................................... 4
G. Find/Replace (wildcards) ................................................................................................ 5
H. Final polish .................................................................................................................... 5
High-value shortcuts .......................................................................................................... 5
Common pitfalls................................................................................................................. 5
Quick practice .................................................................................................................... 5
2) Spreadsheets (Excel) .......................................................................................................... 6
What examiners look for ..................................................................................................... 6
A. Cell referencing .............................................................................................................. 6
B. Frequent functions (learn the patterns) ............................................................................ 6
C. Data cleaning & import ................................................................................................... 7
D. Data validation & conditional formatting .......................................................................... 7
E. Sorting, filtering, subtotaling ........................................................................................... 7
F. Tables, PivotTables & Charts ............................................................................................ 7
G. Print & layout.................................................................................................................. 8
High-value shortcuts .......................................................................................................... 8
Common pitfalls................................................................................................................. 8
Quick practice .................................................................................................................... 8
3) Database (MS Access) ........................................................................................................ 9
What examiners look for ..................................................................................................... 9
A. Table design ................................................................................................................... 9
B. Relationships ................................................................................................................. 9
C. Query criteria (Select queries) ......................................................................................... 9
D. Parameter queries ........................................................................................................ 10
E. Joins............................................................................................................................. 10
F. Action queries (only if required) .................................................................................... 10
G. Forms .......................................................................................................................... 10
, H. Reports & Labels .......................................................................................................... 10
Common pitfalls............................................................................................................... 10
Quick practice .................................................................................................................. 11
4) Web Design (HTML & CSS) ................................................................................................ 12
What examiners look for ................................................................................................... 12
A. HTML5 skeleton ............................................................................................................ 12
B. External CSS (css/style.css) .......................................................................................... 14
C. Paths & assets .............................................................................................................. 14
D. Links & anchors ............................................................................................................ 14
E. Lists, entities & semantics............................................................................................. 15
F. Image optimisation........................................................................................................ 15
G. Validation & accessibility .............................................................................................. 15
H. Print/export .................................................................................................................. 15
