Top 50 MS Word Keyboard Shortcuts for PPSC, FPSC, and NTS Exams (2026 Guide)

Why MS Word Shortcuts are the Key to Passing Government Jobs

If you are planning to take a test for Junior Clerk, Data Entry Operator, or Junior Computer Operator through PPSC, FPSC, or NTS, you already know one thing: the Computer Science section makes up a huge part of the paper. Out of the entire computer syllabus, Microsoft Word is the examiner's favorite topic.

Many students fail these tests not because they don't know how to use a computer, but because they don't memorize the exact keyboard shortcuts. Examiners love to ask tricky questions about these shortcuts. In this complete guide, we will look at the most repeated MS Word keyboard shortcuts from past papers. Let's learn them the easy way so you can secure those guaranteed marks!

1. The Basic Shortcuts Every Candidate Should Know

These are the foundation. Even if you think you know them, pay attention to how the questions are worded in the actual exam.

• Ctrl + A: Select All. This selects every piece of text, image, and table in your entire document.
• Ctrl + C: Copy. The examiner might ask: "Which shortcut duplicates text without removing it from its original place?" The answer is Ctrl + C.
• Ctrl + X: Cut. This removes the selected text from the screen and saves it to your clipboard.
• Ctrl + V: Paste. This brings back the text you just copied or cut.
• Ctrl + Z: Undo. If you make a mistake, this is your lifesaver. It reverses your last action.
• Ctrl + Y: Redo. This does the opposite of Undo. It brings back the action you just reversed.
• Ctrl + S: Save. Always save your work!
• Ctrl + P: Print. In exams, the question is often: "Which key combination opens the Print Dialog Box?"
• Ctrl + N: New Document. This opens a fresh, blank MS Word file.
• Ctrl + O: Open. Used to open an already saved document from your computer.

2. Text Formatting Shortcuts (Highly Repeated in PPSC)

Formatting means changing how the text looks. PPSC and FPSC test makers love asking about text alignment and font sizes.

• Ctrl + B: Makes the text Bold.
• Ctrl + I: Makes the text Italic (slightly slanted).
• Ctrl + U: Underlines the text.
• Ctrl + E: Center Alignment. (Exam Trick: Many students guess Ctrl+C for Center, but remember, C is for Copy. E is for Center Alignment!)
• Ctrl + L: Left Alignment. Moves your text to the left margin.
• Ctrl + R: Right Alignment. Moves your text to the right margin.
• Ctrl + J: Justify. This shortcut aligns your text evenly along both the left and right margins, making paragraphs look neat.
• Ctrl + ] (Right Bracket): Increases the font size by exactly 1 point.
• Ctrl + [ (Left Bracket): Decreases the font size by exactly 1 point.
• Ctrl + = (Equal Sign): Subscript. (Used in science, like writing the '2' at the bottom in H₂O).
• Ctrl + Shift + + (Plus Sign): Superscript. (Used in math, like writing the '2' at the top in X²). This is one of the most repeated questions in NTS!

3. Advanced Navigation and Editing Shortcuts

When the exam is a bit difficult, they ask about navigation. These shortcuts save a lot of time when you are typing or editing a large document.

• Ctrl + F: Find. Opens the navigation pane so you can search for a specific word in your document.
• Ctrl + H: Replace. This opens a box where you can find a word and replace it with a new one everywhere in the document.
• Ctrl + K: Insert Hyperlink. (Very Important!) If you want to attach a website link to a word, you use Ctrl + K.
• Ctrl + Enter: Page Break. This forces the cursor to jump to a completely new page immediately.
• Home: Moves your cursor to the very beginning of the current line you are typing on.
• End: Moves your cursor to the very end of the current line.
• Ctrl + Home: Jumps to the absolute top of your entire document (Page 1, Line 1).
• Ctrl + End: Jumps to the absolute end of your document.

4. The Power of Function Keys (F1 to F12)

The F keys at the top of your keyboard do special jobs in MS Word. Here are the ones that appear in past papers.

• F1: Opens the Help menu. Almost all Microsoft programs use F1 for Help.
• F5: Opens the "Find and Replace" dialog box, specifically on the "Go To" tab.
• F7: Spell Check and Grammar. If you see those annoying red or blue wavy lines under your words, press F7 to fix them. This is a favorite question in FPSC tests.
• F12: Save As. If you want to save a copy of your document with a different name or in a different folder, press F12 directly.
• Shift + F3: Change Case. This is a magic trick! It changes your selected text from ALL CAPS to lowercase, or to Sentence case, instantly.

Pro Tip: Speed Matters as Much as Knowledge

Memorizing these shortcuts is step one. But did you know that most Data Entry and Computer Operator jobs also require a typing speed test? You usually need to type between 30 to 40 Words Per Minute (WPM) to pass.

Don't wait until the last minute. Start practicing your typing speed today. You can check your current speed and improve your accuracy using our completely free Online Urdu Typing Test tool right here on MCQs Academy. It is designed exactly like the real exam environments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: PPSC test ki tayari ke liye MS Word ke kitne shortcuts yaad karna zaroori hain?
A: For a solid preparation, you should memorize at least the top 40 to 50 commonly used shortcuts, especially formatting and navigation keys.

Q: Is there any shortcut to remember these keys faster?
A: The best way to remember them is by practical use. Open MS Word on your computer, hide your mouse, and try to do everything using only the keyboard for one hour. Your brain will memorize them automatically.

Q: FPSC aur NTS mein MS Excel ke sawalat aate hain ya sirf Word ke?
A: Both! MS Word is heavily tested, but MS Excel (especially formulas and cell formatting) and MS PowerPoint are also included in the syllabus. We will cover MS Excel shortcuts in our next detailed blog post.