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Year 10
AQA

Designing robust programs

I can explain why robust programming is important and use exception handling in Python to catch errors.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Designing robust programs

I can explain why robust programming is important and use exception handling in Python to catch errors.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When developing programs, the code needs to be robust to ensure there are minimal crashes.
  2. Exception handling can be used to ensure the code catches any errors and deals with them appropriately.

Keywords

  • Robust - a program that handles errors or unexpected input without crashing

  • Exception handling - code that catches and manages errors so the program doesn't crash

Common misconception

Exception handling fixes the error in the code or stops it from happening.

Exception handling does not prevent errors but allows the program to detect them and continue running by managing the error appropriately.


To help you plan your year 10 computer science lesson on: Designing robust programs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use real life examples learners can relate to — for example, entering the wrong PIN at a cash machine. Then link this to how programs can catch and handle errors to avoid crashing or giving incorrect results.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Code in this lesson is made using Python. Code examples use the RPF Code Editor but any Python IDE is suitable.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the purpose of validation checks in a program?
to fix errors in code
to prevent the program from running
to create a backup of the program
Correct answer: to ensure data entered is reasonable and expected
Q2.
What is iteration used for in validation?
Correct answer: to repeat the validation process until the data is correct
to stop the program when invalid data is entered
to create new variables for the program
to delete incorrect data
Q3.
Which of these is an example of validation?
Correct answer: a program checking that a user enters a number between 1 and 10
a program allowing any input without checks
a program crashing when invalid data is entered
a program storing data without checking it
Q4.
What happens if validation is not implemented correctly?
the program runs perfectly
Correct answer: the program may accept invalid data
the program becomes faster
the program automatically fixes errors
Q5.
What is a crash in a program?
Correct answer: when a program stops working unexpectedly
when a program runs more slowly than usual
when a program completes a task successfully
when a program saves data incorrectly
Q6.
Which of these is NOT a validation check?
checking whether a number is within a range
ensuring a field is not left blank
Correct answer: allowing any input without restrictions
checking whether an email address is in the correct format

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a program called that can handle errors or unexpected input without crashing?
Correct Answer: robust
Q2.
Match the example with the correct concept:
Correct Answer:robust,a program continues running after catching an error

a program continues running after catching an error

Correct Answer:exception handling,code that detects and manages an error

code that detects and manages an error

Correct Answer:crash,a program stops working unexpectedly

a program stops working unexpectedly

Correct Answer:error,a problem in the code that causes unexpected behaviour

a problem in the code that causes unexpected behaviour

Q3.
Why does exception handling not fix errors in the code?
because it only detects errors
because it prevents errors from happening
Correct answer: because its purpose is to manage errors when they occur
because it ignores errors completely
Q4.
What causes a ValueError in Python?
using a variable before assigning it a value
dividing a number by zero
trying to access an index that doesn’t exist
Correct answer: using a value that is the wrong type for an operation
Q5.
What is a NameError in Python?
Correct answer: when a variable is used before it is defined
when a function is called with the wrong arguments
when a number is divided by zero
when a loop runs infinitely
Q6.
What causes a ZeroDivisionError in Python?
trying to divide a string by a number
Correct answer: dividing any number by zero
using a variable that hasn’t been defined
accessing an element outside of a list’s range