UIL Computer Applications Contest Sample Test

Being a contest based on Microsoft Office, Computer Applications will continue to make
incremental changes to keep abreast of the changing technology. This year, the competitors will be
using only Office 2007 or Office 2010. The format of these two versions is fairly consistent.
Currently, consideration is being given to distribute larger files via downloading from the UIL
website so that tests will not be as severely impacted by typographical errors and will be closer to
what is common in the business world usage of Microsoft Office. If a student enters a typo, then
every field that is calculated based on the field with the typo is also incorrect, and this complicates
grading by having graders count a field correct if it matches the key or if, for instance, the field is
equal to one field minus another field. When we eliminate typos in the entered data, we eliminate
this complication in grading.
An Access database has been created that is downloadable from the UIL website, and it is entitled
Starter File.accdb. We'd like coaches to download this file and the associated file, Downloadable
Test.pdf, with directions for this exercise. If this experiment works well, we will use such a
downloadable database for the State UIL test. This database has 350+ records in a table entitled
"All Employees," and it has nearly 1,000 records in a table entitled "All Sales." This will enable the
test to work with a large set of data without requiring students to enter that data.
The Downloadable Test.pdf. file is in a pdf format so that it is easily downloaded, and it has
directions for taking a sample test using the downloaded Starter File.accdb. Included are the
following:

Test. The test uses the downloaded database to make calculations using an update query and
print a report in which summary only data is printed. The test then creates a select query,
taking fields from both the All Employees table and from the All Sales table and exports the
result to an Excel worksheet. Students are instructed to used the Excel data to create a pivot
table and hide part of the rows of data and print the worksheet.

Score Sheets. Scoring sheets are available for each of the printouts similar to scoring sheets
for all Computer Application invitational tests, and a Final Total scoring sheet is included
for composite scores.

Printouts. Both printouts are included after the scoring sheets.

Additional Data. Since this is an experiment, this packet includes a printout of the update
query formulas, a printout of the select query fields, a printout of the design view of the
report, and a printout of the building of the pivot table.
After you've tried the sample test yourself, have your students attempt the test. I would really like
to get feedback on how this system will work. I think this will actually give students a truer
picture of how people use Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Access. Perhaps, eventually this
will make it clear what the actual function of a database is as opposed to the usage of a spreadsheet.
Many students working with a very limited collection of data have little understanding of the value
of database applications and feel that everything can be done in a spreadsheet. This is not the case
when there are large database files and multiple related tables. Hopefully, this will also make the
grading a bit more straightforward with the elimination of most typos.
(UILComputerApplicationsInstructionsforCoaches)

SEND FEEDBACK TO LINDA TARRANT AT [email protected]

UIL Computer Applications Test Using Downloaded Files

GENERAL TEST INSTRUCTIONS: This is a sample test that uses files that should be downloaded onto students' hard drives so that the test can be
taken with files for which students do not have to enter data. This attempts to eliminate most typos in the test, and it is a precursor to possibly using large
downloadable files for the State Computer Applications Test in 2012. Download the Access file entitled Starter Files.accdb, which has 2 tables, All
Employees and All Sales. Process each section of this sample test to create the required printouts. When time is called, you will be graded on the
printouts completed. Times New Roman in a 12 point font was primarily used for the Answer Key, but this is not a requirement, and a smaller type is
sometimes easier to fit to a page. Include only what is requested (i.e., if it asks for boldface type, include only boldface type, not underlined and not italic.

I.

DATABASE
MAX 125
A. Use the Starter Files database, and be sure there is a relationship between the ID field of the
Employees table and the Salesman field of the Sales table.
B. Save the database as Finished Files.
C. Create an update query in design view to update the following fields from All Employees table.
1. Update NoYears by subtracting the DateHired from 12/31/2011 and dividing the result by
365.25, then use the Int function with the entire formula as the parameter and run query.
2. Update the Increase field by subtracting StartSalary from CurrentSalary and run query.
3. Update the AvgInc field by dividing Increase by NoYears and run query. Six 6 fields will
not update because NoYears and Increase are 0. Click Yes to ignore error.
4. Update the PctInc field by dividing the AvgInc by StartSalary and run query. One record
with 6 fields will not update because AvgInc is blank. Click Yes to ignore error.
5. Save query as UpdQry.
D. Create a report using the report wizard with the following specifications.
1. Select these fields from the All Employees table: StartSalary, CurrentSalary, NoYears,
Increase, AvgInc, and PctInc, and use the SaleAmount field from the AllSales table.
2. Group by NoYears with grouping intervals of 10.
3. For Summary Options, calculate the average of StartSalary, CurrentSalary, Increase,
AvgInc, and PctInc, and calculate the sum of SaleAmount.
4. Show Summary Only.
5. Use Stepped Layout, landscape orientation, and None Style (if using Office 2007).
6. Use the following title: Salary Summary.
7. Make the following changes after the report is created.
a. Add a label box with the following top aligned with the title and right aligned on the
right-hand margin, replacing 99999 with contestant number: (99999)-Printout 1
b. Make everything in the report plain, black type.
c. Set all margins to 1".
d. Remove Years Employed column heading and detail data field.
e. Be sure nothing in truncated or wrapped, including the Summary for... line.
f. Everything in the first column should be left justified with page header, group header,
and group footer inset from the report header, report footer and page footer.
g. All other column headings and summary data should be vertically right justified.
8. Print your report. (Note: report may or may not have shading and borders.)
E. Create a select query in design view with the following specifications.
1. Use both tables, and select the following from All Employees table: LastName, NoYears,
Increase, AvgInc, and PctInc, and select SaleAmount and Quarter from All Sales table.
2. Save the query as SelQry, and run the query.
3. View the data from the SelQry in the datasheet view and export the data with formatting
and layout to an Excel file named Selected Sales, and open the destination file after the
export operation is complete.

(UILComputerApplicationsTestInstructionsforStudents&Coaches/Graders)

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II. EXCEL WITH PIVOT TABLE & PRINTOUT

MAX 100
A. Using the newly exported Selected Sales table in Excel, select Cells A1 thru G937 and create a
pivot table in Cell A938 of the SelQry worksheet with the following appearance.
1. Use Last Name for Row Labels.
2. Use Quarter for Column Labels.
3. Use Amount of Sales for Values
4. The pivot table should have the following appearance. Note colons represent missing rows
of data.

B.

Format the worksheet and pivot table with the following specifications.
1. Use landscape orientation.
2. Use 3/4" for all margins, and center the printout vertically and horizontally.
3. Use the following header 3/4" from the top and right margins: Printout 2
4. Show gridlines and row and column headings.
5. Make sure everything in Row 1 is boldface type with shading and borders, and center and
wrap column headings as needed to fit on a one-page printout.
6. Hide all rows from Row 3 thru Row 936 so that they are not visible.
7. Center everything in Columns A and G.
8. Right justify everything else in the worksheet and pivot table.
9. Make sure all column headings for the pivot table in Rows 938, 939 and 950 are boldface
type and shaded, and all match those shown above with nothing wrapped or truncated.
10. Show values in Cells E2 and E937 as percentages with no decimals, and show all other
values in the worksheet and pivot table as numbers with commas and no decimals and no
dollar signs.
11. Set the print area to be Cell A1 thru Cell G950.
12. Print your printout on one page.

(UILComputerApplicationsTestInstructionsforStudents&Coaches/Graders)

SEND FEEDBACK TO [email protected]

Contestant Number ___________________

UIL Computer Applications Test Using Downloaded Files

I ACCESS REPORT
1 Format (Grading for formatting only, not for correct data.)
2
Printout in Landscape Orientation on one page
3
Top, bottom, left, and right margins 1"
4
Everything shown in plain, black type
5
Header top aligned with the title and right aligned on the right-hand margin
6
7 columns shown, no more and no less
7
Headings matching key
8
Nothing truncated or wrapped
9
Group footer averages shown for Start Salary, Current Salary, Salary
Increase, Average Increase, and Percent of Increase
10 Group and report footer sums shown for Amount of Sales
11 Everything in the first column left aligned, and all other column headings and
summary values vertically right aligned
12 Percent of Increase shown as percent with no decimals and all other
numbers shown with commas and no decimals and no dollar signs
13 No detail data shown
14
Format Total
15 Grouping/Calculations (Grading for correct data, not formatting.)
16 Report grouped by NoYears by 10s
17 5 groups shown matching key
17 All Starting Salary group footer values matching key
18 All Current Salary group footer values matching key
19 All Salary Increase group footer values matching key or equal to Current
Salary minus Starting Salary
20 All Average Increase group footer values matching key
21 All Percent of Increase group footer values matching key
22 All Amount of Sales group footer values matching key
23 Amount of Sales in report footer matching key or equal to sum of the group
footer values
24
Grouping/Calculations Total
25 e SUBTOTAL PRINTOUT 1
26
27

SUBTRACT TYPOS

5
5
5
5
60
10
5
5
5
10

____
____
____
____

____
____
____
____

____
____
____
____

10
10
5
5

____
____
____
____

____
____
____
____

____
____
____
____

____

____

____

65
125

Maximum 20 Points

e Deduct two points for each typographical error in the printout. Note that this was a practice test, and there was no way to
easily grade values in group footers if they did not equal the key by defining a calculation except for Salary Increase.
e Errors include misspelling, missed capitalization, double words, omitted words, extra words, words that run together,
incorrectly divided words, and incorrect values not otherwise scored. Header is subject to 2 typos.

28 e TOTAL PRINTOUT 1
29

TOTAL VALUE: 125

PTS GRD1 GRD2 GRD3
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5

125

GRADERS INITIALS

(UILComputerApplicationsTestScoreSheetforCoaches/Graders)

SEND FEEDBACK TO LINDA TARRANT AT hexco@hexco. com

Contestant Number ___________________

UIL Computer Applications Invitational Test B - Printout 2

II. EXCEL WORKSHEET WITH PIVOT TABLE
Format (Grading for formatting, not correct data.)
1
Printout in landscape orientation on one page
2
Header right aligned 3/4" from top and right edges of the page
3
Printout centered vertically and horizontally with at least 3/4"
margins
4
7 columns shown
5
Row headings matching key, showing only Rows 1, Row 2 and
Rows 937 thru 950
6
Everything in Row 1 centered and boldface type
7
Everything in Rows 938, 939, and 950 in boldface type
8
Everything in Columns A and G centered
9
Everything in Cells B2 thru F950 right justified
10
Percent of Increase shown as percent with no decimals and all
other values shown as numbers with commas and no decimals
and no $ signs
11
Pivot table shown covering most of Cells A938 thru F950
12
Row labels of pivot table shown as Last Name fields
13
Column labels of pivot table shown as Q1 thru Q4 & Grand Total
14
Gridlines shown (except in pivot table)
15
Format Total
16 Calculations/Pivot Table
17
Add 5 points for values in Years Employed matching key
max
18
All values in Q1 detail data matching key
19
All values in Q2 detail data matching key
20
All values in Q3 detail data matching key
21
All values in Q4 detail data matching key
22
All values in Grand Total column of pivot table matching key or
equal to sum of values in Columns B thru E on each line
23
All values in Grand Total row of pivot table matching key or
equal to sum of the values in the respective column
24
Calculations/Pivot Table Total
25 e SUBTOTAL PRINTOUT 1
26
27

SUBTRACT DEDUCTIONS

TOTAL VALUE: 125

PTS GRD1 GRD2 GRD3
5
5
5
5
10
5
5
5
5
5

____
____

____
____

____
____

5
10
10
5
85

____
____

____
____

____
____

10
10
10
10
10
10
5
65
150

Maximum 10 Points

e Deduct two points for each typographical error in the printout. Do not deduct for typos in the values that were specifically scored.
Header is subject to 2 typos. Note: most data came straight from the downloaded database and this precludes most typos unless
incorrect data was exported. Deduct typos for Row 2 and 937 for all values except Years Employed.
e Errors include misspelling, missed capitalization or punctuation, double words, omitted words, extra words, words that run together,
incorrectly divided words, truncated or wrapped values, and incorrect values that are not otherwise scored.

28 e TOTAL PRINTOUT 1
29
GRADERS INITIALS

(UILComputerApplicationsTestScoreSheetforCoaches/Graders)

150

SEND FEEDBACK TO LINDA TARRANT AT [email protected]

Contestant Number ___________________

UIL Computer Applications Invitational Test B - Final Score

FINAL SCORE
e TOTAL PRINTOUT 1

125

e TOTAL PRINTOUT 2

125

e TOTAL SCORE

250

GRADERS INITIALS

(UILComputerApplicationsTestScoreSheetforCoaches/Graders)

SEND FEEDBACK TO LINDA TARRANT AT [email protected]

30,170

34,200

35,100

20 - 30
Summary for 'NoYears' = 25 (292 detail records)
Sum
Avg
10,294
40,464

30 - 40
Summary for 'NoYears' = 32 (83 detail records)
Sum
Avg
9,800
44,000

40 - 50
Summary for 'NoYears' = 41 (91 detail records)
Sum
Avg
8,100
43,200

(UILComputerApplications Printout1AccessforCoaches/Graders )

Page 1 of 1

Monday, January 23, 2012

3,230,389
34,257,274

11%

11%

3,110,848

10,709,023

3,401,342

13,805,672

Amount of Sales

Printout 1

Grand Total

856

1,069

1,344

14%

13%

30,200

10 - 20
Summary for 'NoYears' = 14 (92 detail records)
Sum
Avg
16,900
47,100
2,157

16%

Percent of Increase

NoYears by 10s
Start Salary Current Salary Salary Increase Average Increase
0 - 10
Summary for 'NoYears' = 6 (378 detail records)
Sum
Avg
20,991
29,052
8,061
3,454

Salary Summary

(UILComputerApplicationsPrintout2forgradersanddirector)

938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950

1
2
937

Years
Last Name
Employed
Bridges
14
Thyme
3
Sum of Amount of
Column
Sales
Labels
Row Labels
Q1
Bridges
727,889
Cash
614,464
Kerr
750,257
Marx
727,289
Nutt
1,084,108
Oki
1,028,415
Poole
610,279
Rubin
807,924
Shinn
911,986
Thyme
834,454
Grand Total
8,097,065

Q2
773,090
942,986
1,082,661
952,901
977,810
782,977
959,549
581,483
505,953
877,208
8,436,618

Salary
Increase
30,200
10,200

Q3
1,016,396
786,042
1,070,522
804,644
855,201
614,540
1,095,383
823,568
629,803
634,956
8,331,055

Average
Increase
2,157
3,400

Q4 Grand Total
883,967
3,401,342
1,477,773
3,821,265
939,102
3,842,542
745,555
3,230,389
917,927
3,835,046
684,916
3,110,848
831,617
3,496,828
818,460
3,031,435
773,647
2,821,389
1,319,572
3,666,190
9,392,536
34,257,274

Percent of
Amount of
Quarter
Increase
Sales
13%
30,047
Q3
14%
70,013
Q1

Printout 2

(UILComputerApplicationsUpdateQueryforCoaches/Graders)

Design View of Salary Summary Report

UILComputerApplicationsSelectQueryforCoaches/Graders)

(UILComputerApplicationsPivotTableFormatforCoaches/Graders)