The BCSL 013 Solved Guess Paper is built for one specific exam, the Term End Practical Examination of Computer Basics and PC Software Lab, and it is written the way the answer sheet actually has to look. Twelve expected questions, every one of them solved with the commands, ribbon paths, formulas and screen output an examiner looks for. Five of those solved questions are shown in full further down this page so you can judge the quality before you ask for the rest.
This is a lab paper, not a theory paper. Long paragraphs earn nothing here. What earns marks is the exact syntax of a Linux command, the tab and group name for a ribbon action, the formula written with real cell addresses, and the output copied faithfully into the answer sheet. Every solution in this file is written to that standard.
BCSL 013 Guess Paper at a Glance
| Course code and title | BCSL-013 Computer Basics and PC Software Lab |
|---|---|
| Programme | Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) and BCA Online (BCAOL), Semester 1 |
| Course type | Lab course with a Term End Practical Examination and viva voce |
| Exam duration and marks | 2 hours, maximum 100 marks |
| Paper structure | Five compulsory questions carrying 80 marks, plus 20 marks for viva voce |
| Syllabus covered | Block 1, six units, from Operating System to Browsing and Discussion Forum |
| Questions in this guess paper | 12 expected questions, all solved |
| Shown on this page | 5 complete solved questions and 7 page images |
| Prepared for | December 2026 and June 2027 Term End Practical Examinations |
| Research base | Five years of previous year papers, up to and including December 2025 |
| Delivery | PDF sent on WhatsApp at 9899436384 |
What Is Included in the BCSL 013 Solved Guess Paper
The BCSL 013 Solved Guess Paper contains 12 expected practical questions with complete written answers, each mapped to its unit in Block 1 and tagged with the sessions in which it last appeared. Nothing in the file is a question stem left hanging for you to work out on your own. Each question is followed by the full answer, laid out in the same order a practical answer sheet is marked.
Every solution follows the same internal shape. First a short line on what the examiner is testing. Then the steps, numbered. Then the commands or the ribbon path, written out in the university's own wording. Then the screen output or the completed table, so you can copy it exactly. Then a closing note telling you the one thing students most often forget in that particular question.
The file also carries a topic frequency table, a short list of what is safe to skip, and a set of rules on what examiners reward in a practical paper. If you are collecting material across several courses this session, the wider IGNOU Solved Guess Paper collection follows the same format for other course codes.
- 12 expected questions covering all six units of Block 1
- Full solutions for Linux commands, file permissions and directory handling
- Word processor answers with the complete ribbon path for every effect
- Spreadsheet answers with real cell formulas and the worked out result table
- PowerPoint answers covering slide notes, numbering, footers and timer transitions
- E-mail and Outlook answers including blind carbon copy, vacation message and desktop alert
- Unit wise mapping so you know which part of the book each answer came from
- Viva voce pointers for the 20 mark oral component
Five Sample Questions and Answers from the BCSL 013 Guess Paper
Five of the twelve solved questions are reproduced below in full, one from each examinable area of BCSL 013, so you can see the depth of the answers before deciding. The remaining seven questions cover the second Linux command set, directory handling, the two column newsletter, the flyer, the second PowerPoint variant, the bar chart and the wider Outlook tasks.
Sample 1. Execute the following Linux commands with appropriate parameters, cp, date, man, ls and more (10 marks)
This question has appeared in every paper analysed. Five commands are given and each one carries 2 marks. For the full 2 marks write four things for every command, the syntax, what it does, one example, and the output that appeared on screen. Writing only the meaning loses half the marks.
| Command | Syntax as given in the book | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| cp | cp [options] file1 file2 | Copies files or directories from one place to another |
| date | date [option] [+format] | Shows the date and the time, and can also set the date |
| man | man [options] [[section] subjects] | Opens the online Unix manual, that is, help for any command |
| ls | ls [options] [names] | Lists all the files in the current directory |
| more | more [options] [files] | Shows the contents of a file one screen at a time |
Example and output for each command:
$ cp favourites.html /vvs/laksh/
$ ls /vvs/laksh/
favourites.htmlThis copies favourites.html into the directory called laksh. If the destination is an existing file, that file is overwritten. If the destination is an existing directory, the file is placed inside it. The option -r copies a directory recursively along with everything in it, so you need not copy one file at a time.
$ date
Mon Dec 14 10:25:47 IST 2026In Unix the term date includes the time as well. A format can be specified to control how the date is displayed. A second form of the command sets the date from a numeric string, but only a privileged user is allowed to do that.
$ man chmod
CHMOD(1) User Commands CHMOD(1)
NAME
chmod - change file mode bits ...The man command searches for information about a file, command or directory and displays it on screen. Each command is a subject in the manual. Press q to quit and return to the terminal.
$ ls
favourites.html resume.txt sridhar.txt
$ ls -l
drwxrwxr-x vvs staff 512 Apr 5 09:34 sridhar.txt
-rwx-rw-r-- vvs staff 4233 Apr 1 10:20 resume.txt
-rwx-r--r-- vvs staff 4122 Apr 1 12:01 favourites.htmlThe name ls stands for list. The option -l gives the long format showing permissions, owner, group, size, the date and time of last modification and the filename. The option -a lists hidden files as well. The option -F flags names, putting a slash on directories, an at sign on symbolic links and a star on executable files.
$ more favourites.html
...first screen of the file...
--More--(42%)Press the return key for the next line or the spacebar for the next screen. Press h for help, n to move to the next file, or q to quit. The command also joins with a pipe, as in ls | more, which shows as many filenames as fit on one screen.
Sample 2. Create a file named bcsl13.txt containing given text and change its permission to rwxrw-r-- (6 marks)
Three small jobs sit inside this one question, making the file, putting the text into it, and changing the permission. Do all three and finish with an ls -l line as proof, because that final line is what the examiner uses to confirm the permission actually changed.
$ cat > bcsl13.txt
BCSL-013 is a practical course
[press Ctrl+d to save and exit]
$ cat bcsl13.txt
BCSL-013 is a practical courseThe cat command reads files and prints them out. The greater than operator sends whatever you type into a new file, and the double form appends instead of overwriting. Ctrl+d is the end of input key for a program reading from the terminal. The vi screen editor, which the book also lists, does the same job.
Next comes the permission calculation, which is where most of the marks sit. Read is worth 4, write is worth 2 and execute is worth 1, and the values are added for each category of user.
| Who | Required | Add up | Digit |
|---|---|---|---|
| User or owner | rwx | 4 + 2 + 1 | 7 |
| Group | rw- | 4 + 2 + 0 | 6 |
| Other | r-- | 4 + 0 + 0 | 4 |
So rwxrw-r-- becomes 764. Apply it and verify:
$ chmod 764 bcsl13.txt
$ ls -l bcsl13.txt
-rwxrw-r-- 1 vvs staff 30 Dec 14 10:40 bcsl13.txtThe same result comes from the lettered form, chmod u+rwx,g+rw,o+r bcsl13.txt. Both forms use chmod, which stands for change mode. A plus sign adds permission and a minus sign removes it. Only the owner of a file or a privileged user may change permissions. For a whole directory tree, add the -R option.
Sample 3. Create the following formulas using a word processor, ax + by and the summation of i cubed for i = 1 to n (6 marks)
This six mark part appeared in every paper analysed, with only the formula changing. Two methods answer it. Superscript and subscript handle simple powers, and the Equation tool handles anything with a summation sign.
Method one, superscript and subscript. Type the formula normally, select only the character that has to move above the line, then choose Superscript from the Font group on the Home tab. Subscript sits beside it in the same group and pushes a character below the line, which is what you need for a variable carrying a small i.
Method two, the Equation tool. Place the cursor where the formula is needed and select the Insert tab. Click Equation in the Symbols group, and a blank equation box appears along with an Equation Tools Design contextual tab. From the Structures group choose Large Operator and pick the summation template that has an upper and a lower limit.
Click the lower box and type i = 1, click the upper box and type n, then click the main box and type the expression, using the Script structure for the power. Click outside the box when the formula is complete, then save the document.
| Formula asked | How to build it |
|---|---|
| ax + by | Type it directly. If the paper shows a power, select the character and apply Superscript from the Font group |
| Summation of i cubed, i = 1 to n | Insert tab, Equation, Large Operator, summation template. Lower limit i = 1, upper limit n, body i with 3 as superscript |
| Summation of x, z and y with subscript i, i = 1 to t | Same summation template, lower limit i = 1, upper limit t, each i made a subscript |
| ab + bc + cd | Type directly, no special tool needed |
In the answer sheet, draw the finished formula neatly as well as writing the steps. The examiner wants proof that you know where Superscript and Equation sit on the ribbon.
Sample 4. Create a salary computation worksheet with formulas for gross income, tax and net income (10 marks)
Marks here are split three ways, the layout, the formulas and the formatting, so show all three. Begin by entering the labels and the given data, leaving the calculated columns empty.
| Row | A | B | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salary Computation, merged across A1 to F1 | |||||
| 2 | Month | Daily Rate | Days Present | Gross Income | Tax | Net Income |
| 3 | January | 500 | 23 | |||
| 4 | February | 500 | 21 | |||
| 5 | March | 550 | 24 | |||
Click A1, type the main title, select A1 to F1 and use Merge and Center in the Alignment group of the Home tab. Type the column headings in row 2 with no blank cells between them. Then enter the three formulas in row 3, remembering that a formula always begins with an equal sign.
| Cell | Formula | What it works out |
|---|---|---|
| D3 | =B3*C3 | Gross income equals daily rate multiplied by days present |
| E3 | =D3*10% | Tax at 10 per cent of gross income |
| F3 | =D3-E3 | Net income equals gross income minus tax |
Select D3 to F3 together and drag the fill handle down to row 5. The addresses shift with the row, so D4 becomes =B4*C4 by itself, which is relative reference. If a value must never shift, use absolute reference with a dollar sign, so a tax rate parked in H1 would be written as =D3*$H$1.
| Month | Daily Rate | Days Present | Gross Income | Tax | Net Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 500 | 23 | 11500 | 1150 | 10350 |
| February | 500 | 21 | 10500 | 1050 | 9450 |
| March | 550 | 24 | 13200 | 1320 | 11880 |
Finish with formatting. Apply a number format from the Number group, bold the heading row and add a fill colour and a border from the Font group, then save the workbook. Write the calculated answers into the answer sheet as well, because the examiner checks whether your formula actually produces those numbers.
Sample 5. Perform three e-mail tasks, compose with a blind carbon copy, set a vacation message, and switch on a desktop alert (16 marks)
Three separate tasks sit inside one 16 mark question, so answer them under three clear headings. The desktop alert has come up in every paper analysed, so learn that part first and never leave it blank.
Task A, the mail with a blind carbon copy. On the File menu point to New and click Mail Message. Write the subject line. Put the five student addresses in the To box separated by semicolons. In the Bcc box put the Regional Centre address, because a blind carbon copy reaches that recipient without the others knowing. Write the message and press Send. If the Bcc box is hidden, switch it on from the Options tab of the message, where the Show Fields group holds a Bcc button.
To : student1@x.com; student2@x.com; student3@x.com;
student4@x.com; student5@x.com
Bcc : rcdelhi@ignou.ac.in
Subject : Invitation - Discussion on BCSL-013 Lab Course
Dear Students,
You are invited to a discussion on the BCSL-013 Computer Basics
and PC Software Lab course on Saturday at 11:00 AM in the study
centre computer lab. We will cover Linux commands, word
processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint and e-mail.
Please bring your practical file.
Regards,
ABC, Enrolment No. 0000000Task B, the vacation message. On the Tools menu click Out of Office Assistant and select the option saying you are currently out of the office. Type the reply in the AutoReply box, for instance a line saying you are away between two dates and will reply on return. Click OK, and the message goes once to each person who writes to you. Switch it off on your return through the same dialog box.
Task C, the desktop alert. On the Tools menu click Options. On the Preferences tab click the E-mail Options button, then the Advanced E-mail Options button. Under the heading for new items arriving in the Inbox, tick the box for displaying a new mail desktop alert. Click Desktop Alert Settings to control how long the alert stays on screen and how clear it looks, use Preview to test it, then click OK on each dialog box.
Unit Wise Syllabus Covered in BCSL 013 Computer Basics and PC Software Lab
BCSL 013 has a single block of six units, and the practical paper draws its five compulsory questions from five of them, leaving Unit 6 almost entirely to the viva. Knowing which unit a question belongs to tells you which pages of the book to revise when an answer does not come easily.
| Unit | Unit title | What the practical paper asks from this unit | Weight in the paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Operating System | Executing Linux commands with parameters, reading terminal output, creating files with cat, chmod permission calculation, directory creation and navigation with mkdir, cd and pwd | 16 marks, always asked |
| Unit 2 | Word Processor | Flyers and newsletters, page borders, landscape orientation, two column layout, watermarks, superscript and subscript, the Equation tool for summation formulas | 16 marks, always asked |
| Unit 3 | Spread Sheet | Building a labelled worksheet, entering formulas with cell references, relative and absolute reference, fill handle copying, bar and column charts with all three headings | 16 marks, always asked |
| Unit 4 | PowerPoint | Four slide decks with headings, slide notes, slide numbers, footers, themes, clip art insertion, timer based and sound transitions | 16 marks, always asked |
| Unit 5 | Composing mail with To, Cc and Bcc, vacation and auto reply messages, desktop alerts, contacts, reminders, appointments and meeting requests in Outlook | 16 marks, always asked | |
| Unit 6 | Browsing and Discussion Forum | Search techniques, discussion groups, wiki editing and collaborative documents, which have not surfaced in the written practical in the sessions analysed | Viva voce only in the sessions analysed |
The unit titles above follow the official course structure hosted on eGyanKosh, the IGNOU digital repository, so the mapping in the guess paper matches the book you already have. If you are also collecting notes and block summaries for this course, the BCSL 013 Study Material page carries the unit wise reading list.
Practical File Index for BCSL 013 Lab Sessions
A BCSL 013 practical file is a written record of the lab sessions completed during the semester, and it must be submitted before the practical examination and viva. The index below lists the twelve lab tasks the guess paper solves, in the order they sit in the file, which is the same order most study centres follow for the record book.
| Session | Lab task | Unit | Marks in the paper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Execute Linux commands, cp, date, man, ls and more | Unit 1 | 10 |
| 2 | Execute Linux commands, mv, diff, mkdir, tail and who | Unit 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Create a file with given text and change its permission | Unit 1 | 6 |
| 4 | Create a directory, move into it and list its contents | Unit 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Design a flyer using a word processor with styles and effects | Unit 2 | 10 |
| 6 | Two column newsletter with a page border in landscape orientation | Unit 2 | 10 |
| 7 | Create mathematical formulas using superscript and the Equation tool | Unit 2 | 6 |
| 8 | Four slides with headings, notes, slide numbers and a timer transition | Unit 4 | 16 |
| 9 | Four slides with a footer, a common theme and sound transitions | Unit 4 | 16 |
| 10 | Build a worksheet and enter formulas in the calculated cells | Unit 3 | 10 |
| 11 | Draw a bar chart with a chart title and both axis titles | Unit 3 | 6 |
| 12 | E-mail tasks, compose with Bcc, vacation message and desktop alert | Unit 5 | 16 |
Write each session in the file under four headings, the task as given, the steps or commands used, the output or the screenshot, and a one line result. A file kept in that shape doubles as revision material, because the examiner in the viva usually asks you to explain a task you have already recorded.
How the BCSL 013 Guess Paper Was Prepared from Previous Year Papers
The question selection came from reading five years of BCSL 013 term end practical papers, up to and including the December 2025 session, and counting how often each lab task returned. Nothing on the list is a guess in the loose sense. Every question earned its place either by repeating across sessions or by being overdue for a return.
The work ran in three passes. The first pass logged every task asked in every paper, sorted by unit. The second pass counted repeats and marked the gaps, meaning tasks that appeared in older papers and then went quiet. The third pass took the surviving list and wrote the answers, going back to the Block 1 book for the wording, so the language in each solution matches what the university itself uses.
Tasks were then graded HIGH, MEDIUM or LOW. HIGH means the task repeated across recent sessions or is a recent paper gap that is due to return. MEDIUM means it appeared once and could easily come back. LOW means it has not been asked in the papers studied and is worth reading only for the viva. If you want to run the same check yourself, the archive on the IGNOU Previous Year Question Paper page holds the papers used.
Repeat Topic Frequency for BCSL 013 Practical Questions
Eleven lab tasks in BCSL 013 have appeared in every recent session studied, which is why those eleven carry the HIGH priority tag inside the guess paper. The table below shows the three most recent sessions in detail, drawn from the wider five year comparison.
| Lab task | 2023 | December 2024 | June 2025 | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux commands, cp | Yes | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Linux commands, date | Yes | No | Yes | HIGH |
| Linux commands, man | Yes | Yes | No | HIGH |
| Linux commands, ls, more and cd | No | Yes | No | MEDIUM |
| Linux commands, mv and diff | Yes | No | No | MEDIUM |
| Linux commands, tail, mkdir and who | No | No | Yes | MEDIUM |
| Create a file and change permission with chmod | No | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Create a directory, move into it and list files | Yes | No | No | MEDIUM |
| Word processor flyer with styles and effects | No | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Two column newsletter layout | Yes | No | No | MEDIUM |
| Page border and landscape orientation | Yes | No | No | MEDIUM |
| Mathematical formula and the Equation tool | Yes | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Superscript and subscript | Yes | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Four PowerPoint slides with headings | Yes | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Slide notes and slide numbers | No | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Timer based transition | No | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Footer on slides and sound transition | Yes | No | No | MEDIUM |
| Insert image or clip art on a slide | Yes | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Spreadsheet table with labels and formulas | Yes | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Bar chart with chart title and axis titles | Yes | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Compose an e-mail with subject, To and Cc | No | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Blind carbon copy | No | No | Yes | MEDIUM |
| Vacation or auto reply message | Yes | No | No | MEDIUM |
| Desktop alert for new mail | Yes | Yes | Yes | HIGH |
| Contacts, reminders and appointments | No | No | No | LOW |
| Browsing, search and discussion forums | No | No | No | LOW |
Read the LOW rows as a saving rather than a warning. Two topics in the book have not surfaced in the written practical in any session studied, which means the hours you would have spent memorising them can go into the tasks that keep coming back.
Exam Pattern and Marks Distribution for BCSL 013
The BCSL 013 term end practical examination runs for 2 hours and carries 100 marks, made up of five compulsory questions worth 80 marks and a viva voce worth 20 marks. That structure has held steady across the papers studied, including the officially published December 2024 BCSL-013 question paper.
| Question | Area | Usual split | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Linux | Five commands for 10 marks, plus a file or directory task for 6 marks | 16 marks |
| Question 2 | Word processor | A document or flyer for 10 marks, plus mathematical formulas for 6 marks | 16 marks |
| Question 3 | PowerPoint | Four slides carrying the listed features | 16 marks |
| Question 4 | Spreadsheet | A table with formulas for 10 marks, plus a chart with headings for 6 marks | 16 marks |
| Question 5 | E-mail and Outlook | Two or three tasks, each answered separately | 16 marks |
| Viva voce | All six units | Oral questions on anything you have recorded in the practical file | 20 marks |
There is no word limit printed anywhere in this paper, and length does not earn marks. Correct commands, correct ribbon paths, correct formulas and correct output do. Label your answer sheet as 1(a), 1(b), 2(a) and so on exactly as the paper numbers the parts, and keep the last twenty minutes for the viva.
Who Should Use This BCSL 013 Solved Guess Paper
This file suits any BCA or BCAOL learner sitting the BCSL 013 practical examination who has limited time and needs the answers written out rather than the topics listed. It is not a replacement for the block, and it does not pretend to be. It is a way of aiming your revision at the tasks that actually turn up.
It fits particularly well if you have a job and study at night, if your study centre lab sessions were short, or if this is a re registration attempt and you already know where you lost marks last time. Learners who write well in theory papers but freeze in a lab often find the ribbon path formatting alone worth the read, because it converts a vague memory of the software into a sentence you can write down.
It is a poor fit if you have never opened a terminal or a spreadsheet, because a practical examination still requires you to perform the task on a machine. Practise each solution twice on a real computer before the exam. If you are preparing several first semester lab courses together, the BCA guess paper collection lists the other course codes covered this session.
How to Get the Complete BCSL 013 Guess Paper with Answers
Five of the twelve solved questions are on this page, and the remaining seven arrive as a PDF on WhatsApp at 9899436384. Send the course code BCSL 013 in your message and you will get the complete file along with the frequency table, the rules page and the viva pointers.
The seven questions not shown here are the second Linux command set with mv, diff, mkdir, tail and who, the directory creation task, the word processor flyer, the two column newsletter in landscape, the second PowerPoint variant with footer and sound transition, the bar chart with headings, and the wider Outlook tasks covering contacts, reminders and appointments.
If you are unsure whether this is the right course code, check your term end examination form or your study centre record, because BCSL-013 is the lab pairing for the Computer Basics and PC Software theory course in Semester 1. Send us the code you find and we will confirm before sending anything.
BCSL 013 Guess Paper Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are there in the BCSL 013 solved guess paper?
There are 12 expected questions in the BCSL 013 guess paper, and every one of them carries a complete written answer. Five of the twelve are reproduced in full on this page as samples, which leaves seven more in the PDF file. The twelve questions between them cover all five units that the practical paper examines, so no unit is left without preparation.
Is the BCSL 013 guess paper enough to pass the practical examination?
The BCSL 013 guess paper covers the tasks that have repeated across the sessions studied, which is the bulk of what the practical paper asks. It works best alongside real practice on a computer, because the examination requires you to perform each task on a machine and then write it up. Read the answers, then run each one twice in a terminal or in the software itself.
Which sessions is this BCSL 013 guess paper prepared for?
This BCSL 013 guess paper targets the December 2026 and June 2027 term end practical examinations. IGNOU conducts term end examinations in June and December sessions only, so a file prepared for December 2026 remains useful for the June 2027 attempt as well. The question selection rests on papers up to and including the December 2025 session.
Does the BCSL 013 guess paper include Linux command answers with output?
Yes. Every Linux answer in the BCSL 013 guess paper carries four elements, the syntax exactly as the book words it, a plain explanation of what the command does, one worked example, and the output that appears on screen. That four part structure is what a practical examiner marks against, and writing only the meaning of a command loses roughly half the available marks.
Is a practical file compulsory for BCSL 013?
A practical file is the written record of your BCSL 013 lab sessions and it is normally required before you sit the practical examination and viva. This page carries a twelve session index you can follow when writing it up. Confirm submission dates and format with your own study centre, since the record book requirements are handled at the centre rather than centrally.
What is the marks distribution in the BCSL 013 practical paper?
The BCSL 013 practical examination runs for 2 hours and carries 100 marks in total. Five compulsory questions account for 80 marks, at 16 marks each, and the remaining 20 marks come from the viva voce. Most of the sixteen mark questions split into a ten mark part and a six mark part, so partial answers still collect marks if you attempt every part.
Which units of BCSL 013 can I safely skip?
In the papers studied for the BCSL 013 guess paper, Unit 6 on browsing and discussion forums has not appeared in the written practical, and the Outlook contacts, reminders and appointments tasks have also stayed absent. Read both once for the viva, since oral questions can come from any unit, but do not spend revision hours memorising their steps in detail.
How do I receive the complete BCSL 013 guess paper?
Send a WhatsApp message to 9899436384 with the course code BCSL 013 and the session you are appearing in. The complete PDF is sent on WhatsApp, so no account or login is needed. If you are taking more than one first semester lab course this session, mention the other course codes in the same message and we will tell you which ones are ready.