IBPS PO (Probationary Officer) Computer Aptitude Syllabus

Computer Aptitude syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Computer Aptitude in IBPS PO (Probationary Officer), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Computer Fundamentals

   3 topics

   • Basics of Computers
     • Generations and types of computers
     • Input and output devices
     • Hardware and software basics
   • Memory and Storage
     • Primary and secondary memory
     • Units of memory measurement
   • Number Systems in Computing
     • Binary, octal, hexadecimal
     • Conversions between bases
2. 2

   Operating Systems and Software

   3 topics

   • Operating System Concepts
     • Functions of an OS
     • Types of operating systems
   • MS Office Applications
     • MS Word and Excel shortcuts
     • MS PowerPoint basics
   • Programming Basics
     • High-level and low-level languages
     • Compiler, interpreter and assembler
3. 3

   Internet, Networking and Security

   3 topics

   • Networking Fundamentals
     • LAN, WAN, MAN and topologies
     • OSI model basics
   • Internet and Web
     • Protocols (HTTP, FTP, TCP/IP)
     • Browsers, email and search engines
   • Cyber Security
     • Viruses, malware and antivirus
     • Firewalls and digital security in banking

Computer Aptitude flashcards for IBPS PO (Probationary Officer)

21 of 75 cards from the Computer Aptitude deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is a computer?

   An electronic device that accepts data as input, processes it according to a set of instructions (program), stores it, and produces meaningful information as output.

2. Who is known as the 'Father of Computers'?

   Charles Babbage, for designing the Analytical Engine and the Difference Engine.

3. Define hardware and software with examples.

   Hardware is the physical, tangible parts of a computer (CPU, keyboard, monitor, RAM). Software is the set of instructions/programs that run on the hardware (Windows, MS Word).

4. What are the three main functional units of the CPU?

   The Control Unit (CU), the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), and the registers/memory unit. The CPU is called the 'brain' of the computer.

5. What is the function of the ALU in a CPU?

   The Arithmetic Logic Unit performs all arithmetic operations (add, subtract, etc.) and logical operations (comparisons such as AND, OR, NOT, greater than/less than).

6. Name the five generations of computers by their core technology.

   1st: Vacuum tubes; 2nd: Transistors; 3rd: Integrated Circuits (ICs); 4th: Microprocessors (VLSI); 5th: Artificial Intelligence (ULSI / parallel processing).

7. What is the difference between input and output devices? Give examples.

   Input devices feed data into the computer (keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone). Output devices give results out to the user (monitor, printer, speaker).

8. What is firmware?

   Permanent software programmed into a read-only memory (like BIOS in ROM); it is a combination of hardware and software that controls basic startup and device functions.

9. What is the smallest unit of data in a computer?

   A bit (binary digit), which holds a value of either 0 or 1.

10. How many bits are in a byte, and what does one byte typically represent?

    8 bits make 1 byte, and one byte typically represents a single character (a letter, digit, or symbol).

11. List the memory size units in ascending order from byte to terabyte.

    Byte (B) < Kilobyte (KB) < Megabyte (MB) < Gigabyte (GB) < Terabyte (TB), each 1024 times the previous (1 KB = 1024 bytes).

12. How many bytes are in 1 Kilobyte, 1 Megabyte, and 1 Gigabyte?

    1 KB = 1024 bytes; 1 MB = 1024 KB = 1,048,576 bytes; 1 GB = 1024 MB. (Each step multiplies by 1024 = 2^10.)

13. What is the difference between primary and secondary memory?

    Primary memory (RAM/ROM) is directly accessible by the CPU, fast, and (for RAM) volatile. Secondary memory (HDD, SSD, USB) is non-volatile, slower, larger, and used for permanent storage.

14. Differentiate RAM and ROM.

    RAM (Random Access Memory) is volatile, read/write, temporary working memory. ROM (Read Only Memory) is non-volatile, mostly read-only, and stores permanent startup instructions.

15. What is the difference between SRAM and DRAM?

    SRAM (Static RAM) uses flip-flops, is faster, costlier, and used in cache. DRAM (Dynamic RAM) uses capacitors, needs constant refreshing, is slower/cheaper, and used as main memory.

16. What is cache memory and why is it used?

    Cache is a small, very fast memory between the CPU and main memory that stores frequently used data/instructions to reduce average access time and speed up processing.

17. Name the types of ROM.

    PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM, erased by UV light), and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM).

18. What is virtual memory?

    A technique where part of the secondary storage (hard disk) is used as an extension of RAM, allowing the system to run programs larger than physical memory.

19. What is the key difference between an HDD and an SSD?

    HDD (Hard Disk Drive) stores data on spinning magnetic platters and is slower/cheaper. SSD (Solid State Drive) uses flash memory with no moving parts, making it faster, more durable, and costlier.

20. Which memory is volatile and loses its contents when power is switched off?

    RAM (Random Access Memory) is volatile and loses all stored data when power is turned off.

21. Which four number systems are commonly used in computing and what are their bases?

    Binary (base 2), Octal (base 8), Decimal (base 10), and Hexadecimal (base 16).

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