IGCSE ICT Theory Quiz: Graphs & Charts, Spreadsheets, and Presentations

Section 1: Graphs & Charts

1. What is the primary purpose of using charts or graphs in a spreadsheet?

o a) To decorate the spreadsheet

o b) To visually represent data for easier understanding

o c) To perform calculations automatically

o d) To sort data alphabetically

2. Which of the following is the best type of chart to show the proportion of each category in a
whole?

o a) Line chart

o b) Pie chart

o c) Bar chart

o d) Scatter graph

3. When should you use a line chart instead of a bar chart?

o a) When comparing data between different categories (Mixed Graph/Bar Graph)

o b) When showing trends over time (Line Graph)

o c) When displaying individual data points (Scatter Graph)

o d) When illustrating proportions (Pie Chart)

4. What is the role of a legend in a chart?

o a) To label the axes

o b) To explain the chart's data series

o c) To change the colors of the chart

o d) To display the title of the chart

Section 2: Spreadsheets

5. What function would you use to find the average of a set of numbers in a spreadsheet?

o a) =SUM() - to add numbers in a range if cells

o b) =AVERAGE()

o c) =COUNT() – to count the number of entries in an array

 o =COUNTIF - to count the number of cells that meet a criterion; for example, to count
the number of times a particular city appears in a customer list. In its simplest form,
COUNTIF says: =COUNTIF(Where do you want to look?, What do you want to look for?)

o =COUNTA - The COUNTA function counts cells containing any type of information,
including error values and empty text (""). For example, if the range contains a formula
that returns an empty string, the COUNTA function counts that value. The COUNTA
function does not count empty cells.

o What is the difference between count and counta?

o The COUNT function is generally used to count a range of cells containing numbers or
dates excluding blanks. COUNTA, on the other hand will count everything... numbers,
dates, text or a range containing a mixture of these items, but does not count blank
cells. COUNTA stands for count all.

o d) =MIN() - MIN function is a premade function in Excel, which finds the lowest number
in a range. The function ignores cells with text. It will only work for cells with numbers.

6. What does a 'cell reference' refer to in a spreadsheet?

o a) The title of the spreadsheet

o b) The formula used in a cell

o c) The unique location of a cell (e.g., A1)

o d) The name of the worksheet

7. What is the difference between relative and absolute cell references?

o a) Relative cell references stay the same when copied, absolute references change

o b) Relative cell references change when copied, absolute references stay the same

o c) Both stay the same when copied

o d) Both change when copied

8. Which formula would correctly calculate the total of cells A1 to A10?

o a) =TOTAL(A1)

o b) =ADD(A1)

o c) =SUM(A1)

o d) =COUNT(A1)

9. What is the purpose of using 'conditional formatting' in a spreadsheet?

o a) To lock cells for editing

o b) To automatically format cells based on their values

 o c) To organize data alphabetically

o d) To apply the same formula to multiple cells

Section 3: Presentations

10. What is the main benefit of using slide transitions in a presentation?

o a) To add animation between slides

o b) To rearrange slides

o c) To improve the readability of content

o d) To make the text bold

11. What feature allows you to create visual effects for objects such as text or images during a
presentation?

o a) Layout

o b) Animation

o c) Theme

o d) Master Slide

12. Which of the following best practices should you follow when designing a presentation slide?

o a) Use small font sizes for all text

o b) Include as much text as possible on each slide

o c) Keep slides simple and use bullet points for key information

o d) Avoid using visuals and images

13. What is the purpose of using the 'Master Slide' in a presentation?

o a) To format individual slides

o b) To apply consistent formatting across all slides

o c) To add more slides to the presentation

o d) To create animations for text

14. Which of these file formats is most suitable for saving a presentation for use on different
computers?

o a) .DOC

o b) .XLS

o c) .PPT
 o d) .PDF

15. When would it be appropriate to use a bar chart in a presentation?

o a) When you need to show a comparison between different categories

o b) When showing the progress of a trend over time

o c) When illustrating the proportion of parts to a whole

o d) When comparing data with a lot of variables

IGCSE ICT Structured Question Quiz: Graphs & Charts, Spreadsheets, and Presentations

Section 1: Graphs & Charts

1. Explain the importance of using graphs and charts in presenting data.

Describe two types of charts and give examples of situations where each is most effective.

2. You are asked to create a chart showing monthly sales data for a company over the past year.

o a) Which type of chart would you use to show trends over time? Explain your choice.

o b) What information should be included in the chart to make it easy to understand?

(Discuss axes, labels, and legends.)

3. What is the role of a 'legend' in a chart, and why is it important for the clarity of data?
Provide an example where the absence of a legend could lead to confusion in interpreting a
chart.

Section 2: Spreadsheets

4. Define the term 'cell reference' in a spreadsheet.

Explain the difference between absolute and relative cell references and provide an example of
when each should be used.

5. You are given a dataset containing sales figures in a spreadsheet.

o a) Write a formula to calculate the total sales from cell range A1 to A10.

o b) Write another formula that would calculate the average sales for the same range.

o c) How would you use conditional formatting to highlight sales figures below a certain
threshold?

6. Describe how spreadsheets can be used to automate calculations in a business context.

Provide an example of a business scenario where a spreadsheet’s functions (e.g., SUM,
AVERAGE, IF) can enhance efficiency.

Section 3: Presentations
7. Discuss three key design principles that should be followed when creating an effective
presentation.
Explain why these principles are important for keeping the audience engaged and ensuring that
your message is clear.

8. You are creating a presentation for a company’s annual report.

o a) Explain how you would use a 'Master Slide' to ensure consistency throughout your
presentation.

o b) What are the advantages of using a 'Master Slide' compared to formatting each slide
individually?

9. When preparing a presentation with a lot of data, how can charts enhance understanding?
Discuss the benefits of using charts in presentations and provide an example where a bar chart
could be more effective than a table of data.

10. Describe the process of applying animations to objects in a presentation.

Explain how animations can be used to guide the audience's attention, and what potential
drawbacks should be avoided.
IGCSE ICT Structured Question Quiz Answers: Graphs & Charts, Spreadsheets, and Presentations

Section 1: Graphs & Charts

1. Explain the importance of using graphs and charts in presenting data.

Answer: Graphs and charts are vital tools for visually representing data, making complex
datasets easier to understand at a glance. They allow patterns, trends, and comparisons to be
seen quickly, which can be difficult to spot in raw data.
Types of Charts:

o Bar Chart: Used to compare data across different categories. For example, comparing
sales figures for different products in a company.

o Pie Chart: Best for showing the proportions of parts to a whole, such as market share
distribution among competitors.

2. You are asked to create a chart showing monthly sales data for a company over the past year.

o a) Answer: A line chart is best for showing trends over time because it clearly illustrates
the progression of data points (e.g., sales) over a continuous period.

o b) Answer: The chart should include labeled axes (e.g., months on the x-axis, sales
figures on the y-axis), a clear title describing the data (e.g., "Monthly Sales for 2023"),
and a legend if there are multiple data series (e.g., sales for different regions or
products).

3. What is the role of a 'legend' in a chart, and why is it important for the clarity of data?
Answer: A legend explains the meaning of the different colors, patterns, or symbols used in the
chart to represent data series. It is essential for clarity because it helps the audience distinguish
between multiple datasets.
Example: In a chart showing sales for different products, a missing legend could confuse the
audience, as they wouldn’t know which line or bar represents which product.

Section 2: Spreadsheets

4. Define the term 'cell reference' in a spreadsheet.

Answer: A cell reference identifies the location of a cell in a spreadsheet by its column letter and
row number (e.g., A1 refers to the cell in column A and row 1).
Difference between Absolute and Relative References:

o Relative Reference: Changes when copied to another location (e.g., copying =A1+B1
from one row to another will adjust to the new row, becoming =A2+B2).

o Absolute Reference: Remains fixed when copied (e.g., $A$1 will always refer to cell A1,
even if the formula is copied elsewhere).
Example: Use relative references for formulas applied across multiple rows, and
 absolute references when you need to consistently refer to a specific cell (e.g., applying
a tax rate stored in a specific cell across various calculations).

5. You are given a dataset containing sales figures in a spreadsheet.

o a) Answer: The formula to calculate the total sales for cells A1 to A10 is: =SUM(A1:A10)

o b) Answer: The formula to calculate the average sales for the same range is:
=AVERAGE(A1:A10)

o c) Answer: Conditional formatting can be applied by selecting the sales data range and
setting a rule that highlights cells with sales below a certain threshold (e.g., any cell
below 500 will be formatted with a red background).

6. Describe how spreadsheets can be used to automate calculations in a business context.

Answer: Spreadsheets allow businesses to automate repetitive calculations, reducing human
error and increasing efficiency. For example, a company can use the SUM function to total
monthly expenses, the AVERAGE function to calculate the average revenue, and the IF function
to automatically flag when performance targets are not met. This allows businesses to quickly
generate reports, analyze financial data, and make informed decisions without manual
calculation.

Section 3: Presentations

7. Discuss three key design principles that should be followed when creating an effective
presentation.
Answer:

o Consistency: Use consistent fonts, colors, and slide layouts to create a cohesive look
throughout the presentation.

o Simplicity: Avoid clutter by limiting the amount of text and focusing on key points. Use
bullet points instead of long paragraphs, and include only necessary visuals.

o Visual Aids: Use charts, images, and diagrams to support and emphasize points rather
than text-heavy slides. This engages the audience and makes the information easier to
digest.
These principles help ensure that the audience remains focused, and the message is
communicated clearly and efficiently.

8. You are creating a presentation for a company’s annual report.

o a) Answer: A Master Slide is used to apply a uniform design template across all slides,
ensuring consistent use of fonts, colors, and logos. Changes made to the Master Slide
automatically reflect across all slides, saving time and maintaining a professional
appearance.
 o b) Answer: The advantage of using a Master Slide is that it ensures consistency without
having to manually format each slide, and it saves time by applying the same changes
(e.g., a logo or footer) across all slides.

9. When preparing a presentation with a lot of data, how can charts enhance understanding?
Answer: Charts make data easier to understand by presenting it visually, allowing the audience
to quickly grasp trends, comparisons, or proportions. For instance, a bar chart can effectively
compare the sales figures of different products, making it clearer and more impactful than
displaying raw numbers in a table. Visuals also make the presentation more engaging and help
retain audience attention.

10. Describe the process of applying animations to objects in a presentation.

Answer: Animations are added to objects (text, images, shapes) through the Animations tab in
presentation software. You can choose from various effects, such as entrances (e.g., fade-in),
exits (e.g., fly-out), and emphasis (e.g., color change). Animations should be used to draw
attention to key points but should be kept simple to avoid distracting the audience.
Drawbacks: Overusing animations or making them too flashy can distract the audience and
detract from the content, so it is important to use them sparingly and purposefully.