Practical Computer Competency Requirement (PCCR) Examination

Computer Competency

All pre-business majors must demonstrate practical computer proficiency prior to enrolling in BUS 211 - Managerial Statistics or BUS 230A - Financial Accounting, and/or any upper-division business core class.

Students must demonstrate basic, practical computer proficiency in the following areas:

• Internet, Email, Slide Presentation, and the Microsoft Windows Operating System
• Basic Word Processing Skills
• Basic Spreadsheet Skills

Computer proficiency is demonstrated by successful completion of the Practical Computer Competency Requirement (PCCR) Exam.

Click here to view upcoming exam dates and access the online registration form.

Click here to view recent results from the exam.

PCCR Exams are given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Starting in Spring 2006 the exams will be given during regular semesters, however, exam dates will be scheduled around the first and final weeks of the semester and about two weeks before the commencement of first registration. Exam dates and times are usually posted for registration about 4 weeks before the exams are administered. Students are advised to take and pass the exam as early in their pre-business program as possible. The three-part exam must be completed in forty (40) minutes.

All components of the Practical Computer Competency Requirement will be examined using Personal Computer (PC) Windows based systems and Microsoft Office application programs only. Students are required to have a valid Sonoma State University Seawolf account and access to an email account that will allow the transmission of the attached files necessary to complete the exam.

Click here to register.

Students are required to pass all three graded components of the PCCR before they may register for BUS 230-A and/or BUS 211, and/or any upper-division business core class.

PCCR Examination Components

The PCCR Exam is divided into three parts. All three parts must be completed within the time limit of forty (40) minutes. Areas the examination may cover include, but are not limited to:

Part One – Internet, Email, Powerpoint & Windows Operating System
• Formatting a Diskette
• Saving, Copying, and Renaming a File
• Creating Folders
• Downloading Files from Server
• Drafting and sending email message
• Attaching files to and downloading files from email message
• Creating a multiple slide MS Powerpoint document
• Promoting and demoting outline texts
• Choosing slide layout and design template
• Creating notes for slides
• Resizing text boxes
• Inserting and resizing graphics

Part Two – Word Processing
• Setting font and font size
• Cutting/Copying and pasting text
• Finding and replacing text
• Changing margins
• Changing line spacing
• Adding bullets and numbers
• Setting tab stops
• Inserting table
• Inserting / deleting table rows / columns
• Formatting text into columns
• Inserting and resizing graphics
• Inserting special characters and symbols
• Drawing borders around the page

Part Three – Spreadsheet Skills
• Entering labels
• Entering Excel formulas
• Copying a formula using the fill handle
• Copying a formula using Relative reference
• Copying a formula using an absolute reference
• Copying cell context using the copy-and-paste method
• Using Excel functions
• Formatting numbers
• Using color for emphasis
• Creating a column chart
• Moving and resizing a chart
• Revising the chart data series

Please click for a sample of the PCCR Examination

Last modified 07.21.2008 . Tracy Navas