New
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Lesson 7 of 9
  • Year 11
  • AQA

Testing principles

I can explain different types of software testing.

Lesson 7 of 9
New
New
  • Year 11
  • AQA

Testing principles

I can explain different types of software testing.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Software testing checks whether a program works correctly, meets requirements and is free from bugs or errors.
  2. Integration testing checks whether different parts of the program work together correctly.
  3. Black box testing tests without knowing how the code works inside.
  4. White box testing tests with full knowledge of the code, often focusing on logic and structure.
  5. After testing, debugging can take place to remove and correct errors in a program.

Keywords

  • White box - a method of testing where all possible routes through a program are identified and tested

  • Black box - testing that does not rely on understanding the inner workings of a program

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

Common misconception

Testing is something you only do at the end of a project.

Testing is carried out throughout the development process. There are also specific stages and methods of testing that can be adopted. An overall approach to testing should be agreed and planned depending on the requirements of the system.


To help you plan your year 11 computer science lesson on: Testing principles, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Equipment

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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which aspect of a software project would be described by a functional requirement?

the time it takes to load a page
Correct answer: the ability to search for records
the colour of the background
the type of computer used

Q2.
What is the main purpose of input validation in a program?

to speed up the program
to create new features
to reduce memory usage
Correct answer: to ensure data fits expected rules

Q3.
What is the term for the data or information provided to a computer system for processing?

Correct Answer: input

Q4.
What is the term for the actions or steps a computer system carries out on data to transform it into a result?

Correct Answer: process

Q5.
Put these actions in order for using a list to manage homework submissions.

1 - Create the list.
2 - Add new submissions.
3 - Remove late submissions.
4 - View all submissions.

Q6.
Match each example to the correct keyword.

Correct Answer:validation,ensuring a password has at least eight characters

ensuring a password has at least eight characters

Correct Answer:list,keeping track of items in a shopping basket

keeping track of items in a shopping basket

Correct Answer:functional requirement,requiring a system to send reminders

requiring a system to send reminders

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which type of testing involves checking how different modules of a program interact?

Correct answer: integration testing
usability testing
system testing
unit testing

Q2.
What type of test data is deliberately incorrect or invalid to check whether a program can handle mistakes properly?

Correct Answer: erroneous

Q3.
Match each term to its correct description.

Correct Answer:black box testing,testing without knowledge of internal workings

testing without knowledge of internal workings

Correct Answer:white box testing,testing with full knowledge of the code

testing with full knowledge of the code

Correct Answer:debugging,finding and fixing errors in code

finding and fixing errors in code

Q4.
When performing white box testing, what does the tester focus on?

the appearance of the program
the data stored in the database
Correct answer: the internal logic and structure of the code
the speed at which the program runs

Q5.
Put these stages of handling a bug in the correct order.

1 - Identify the bug.
2 - Record details.
3 - Fix the bug.
4 - Retest the program.

Q6.
Which of these would be the best time to start testing a program?

only after the whole program is finished
Correct answer: at the very start and throughout development
just before releasing to users
after writing the user manual