PowerPoint 2013 is the presentation software application that is part of the Microsoft Office suite. This quiz will test your knowledge of some of the key features and functions of PowerPoint 2013.
Getting Started with PowerPoint
When you first open PowerPoint 2013, you are presented with a blank slide canvas. This is where you will build your presentation by adding text, images, shapes, charts, tables, and other elements.
Some key things to know about getting started:
- To begin a new blank presentation, click the File tab and select New.
- The ribbon at the top contains all the main tools and commands, organized into tabs like Home, Insert, Design, Transitions, etc.
- The slides pane on the left shows thumbnail images of all your slides. Click a slide to edit it.
- By default, new presentations have the white Office Theme applied with Calibri font.
Working with Text
Text boxes are the main way to add text to your PowerPoint slides. Here’s how to work with text:
- Click inside an existing placeholder text box to edit the text
- Or click the Text Box icon on the Insert tab to add a new text box
- Customize the font, size, color, alignment from the Home tab
- Use the Mini toolbar that pops up for quick text formatting
- Bullets and numbered lists can be applied from the Home tab
Inserting Images, Shapes and Charts
To make your presentations visually compelling, you can insert various objects:
- Images: Click the Pictures icon on the Insert tab to select an image file from your computer to insert
- Shapes: Click the Shapes button to choose rectangles, circles, arrows, callouts, and lines
- Charts: Click Chart on the Insert tab to insert a data chart powered by Excel
- Use guides and alignment tools to position objects
- Format shapes and images using tools on the Format and Picture Tools contextual tabs
Applying Themes and Layouts
To change the overall design of slides, modify the theme:
- On the Design tab, browse the built-in themes under Themes
- Or click Colors or Fonts to change those elements of the current theme
- Use slide layouts like Title Slide or Comparison from the Home tab to quickly apply pre-designed slide layouts
- Themes and layouts provide coordinated fonts, colors, object positioning, etc.
Adding Transitions and Animations
To make your presentations visually compelling, you can insert various objects:
- Images: Click the Pictures icon on the Insert tab to select an image file from your computer to insert
- Shapes: Click the Shapes button to choose rectangles, circles, arrows, callouts, and lines
- Charts: Click Chart on the Insert tab to insert a data chart powered by Excel
Applying Themes and Layouts
To change the overall design of slides, modify the theme:
- On the Design tab, browse the built-in themes under Themes
- Or click Colors or Fonts to change those elements of the current theme
- Use slide layouts like Title Slide or Comparison from the Home tab to quickly apply pre-designed slide layouts
- Themes and layouts provide coordinated fonts, colors, object positioning, etc.
Adding Transitions and Animations
Animations and transitions help presentations flow smoothly and look polished:
- On the Transitions tab, select a transition like Push or Wipe to apply between all slides
- For animations, select text or objects, click Animation on the Animations tab and pick an effect
- Use the Animation Pane to precisely control animation start, delay, duration, and order
- Morph transition makes objects animate smoothly from one slide to the next
Presenter View
To view notes and other tools while presenting:
- Select Slide Show tab > From Beginning to enter Presenter View
- Displays current slide, next slide preview, timer, notes and more
- Use pen, highlighter, and laser pointer tools to annotate your presentation
- End show by clicking Exit button or pressing Escape key
Printing and Sharing
When you finish your presentation, you can export it in different formats:
- Click File > Print to print handouts, notes pages, outlines, or slides
- Click File > Export to create PDF, video, JPEG images, and other formats
- Save presentations to OneDrive or SharePoint to collaborate or present online
- Email presentations directly from PowerPoint using the Share button
This covers some of the essentials of using PowerPoint 2013! Let’s test your knowledge with 10 quiz questions.
