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Year 10
AQA

Developing programs using sequence

I can explain how sequence of a program affects the output it produces.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Developing programs using sequence

I can explain how sequence of a program affects the output it produces.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Link copied to clipboard

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

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Computers execute the instructions within a program in a sequential manner to produce output.
  2. Changes to the sequence of code affects the output.

Keywords

  • Sequence - the sequence of a program is performed from top to bottom, executing each line in turn

  • Debugging - the process of finding and correcting errors in program code

Common misconception

As long as all the necessary lines of code are present, the program will work, regardless of their order.

Computers run code line by line, in the order it's written. If you change the sequence, you're changing the steps the computer takes, and that will change the output.


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

Discuss the order of traffic lights to demonstrate how sequence affects outcomes, similar to how it affects programs. Ask pupils to identify other similar sequences they encounter in their everyday lives.
Teacher tip

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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 input in a computer system?
Correct answer: data sent to a program to be processed
information produced after processing
a type of storage device
a program written in code
Q2.
What is output in a computer system?
data sent to a program to be processed
Correct answer: information produced by a computer after processing
a way to store information
a type of input device
Q3.
Which of these is an example of input?
a printed document
Correct answer: typing on a keyboard
a displayed image on a screen
a sound played by speakers
Q4.
Which of these is an example of output?
clicking a mouse button
pressing keys on a keyboard
speaking into a microphone
Correct answer: a graph displayed on a monitor
Q5.
What does the sequence in a program determine?
the colour of the output
the type of input devices used
Correct answer: the order in which tasks are processed
the speed of the computer
Q6.
What Python code is used to take input from the user and store it in a variable called 'name'?
Correct Answer: name = input(), name=input()

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the process of finding and correcting errors in a program called?
Correct Answer: debugging, Debug
Q2.
Put these steps in order to produce the correct output from a program.
1 - Write the code in the correct sequence.
2 - Execute the program.
3 - Debug the program if necessary.
Q3.
What does the sequence of a program determine?
the speed of the program
the type of input devices used
the colour of the output
Correct answer: the order in which tasks are executed
Q4.
What happens if the sequence of code in a program is incorrect?
The program runs faster.
Correct answer: The program may produce unexpected results.
The program will always crash.
The program ignores the sequence.
Q5.
What does debugging involve?
adding new lines of code
writing a program from scratch
rearranging the sequence of code
Correct answer: finding and correcting errors in program code
Q6.
Why does the order of code in a program matter?
because computers run code randomly
Correct answer: because computers execute instructions line by line
because computers ignore the sequence of code
because the order of code determines the speed of execution