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Year 10
AQA

Data structures

I can describe and compare data structures.

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New
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Year 10
AQA

Data structures

I can describe and compare data structures.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Data structures are used to help store, organise and manipulate data to solve problems efficiently.
  2. Arrays are static data structures that can store data of a single type in indexed elements.
  3. Lists are dynamic data structures that can store data of different types in indexed elements.
  4. The choice of data structure depends on the specific needs of the algorithm or problem.

Keywords

  • Data structure - a way of organising and storing data in a computer

  • Composite - something made of various parts or elements

  • Dynamic data structure - a data structure where the size and memory allocation can change as a program runs

  • Static data structure - a data structure with a fixed size and memory allocation that is set before a program runs

Common misconception

Arrays are always the best choice for storing and accessing collections of data.

While arrays offer efficient direct access to elements using their index, they have limitations, such as fixed size and potential inefficiency in terms of unused elements.


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

Encourage learners to consider how they organise and store their own everyday data in the physical world such as calendars, to-do lists, sports scores, etc. and how they would store this data in a computer program.
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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 computational thinking?
a way to write computer programs
a tool for debugging code
a type of programming language
Correct answer: a structured approach to solving problems
Q2.
What is pseudocode?
a programming language
Correct answer: a way of expressing an algorithm in plain language
symbols used in flowcharts
a type of computer program
Q3.
What does a flowchart represent?
Correct answer: the steps of an algorithm using symbols
a computer program in plain language
a trace table for debugging
the file size of an image
Q4.
What is the process of identifying and fixing errors in a computer program called?
Correct Answer: debugging, debug
Q5.
A shopping is used to organise items you need to buy, such as milk, bread and eggs.
Correct Answer: list
Q6.
Which of the following is an example of a list in everyday life?
a single number written on a piece of paper
a random number generated by a computer
Correct answer: the names of pupils in a class written in a register
a single item on a to-do list

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the term for a sequence of characters, such as a name, password or email address?
Correct Answer: string, strings, a string
Q2.
What is a data structure?
Correct answer: a way to organise and store data in a computer
a type of programming language
a tool used to debug programs
a method for writing algorithms
Q3.
What is a static data structure?
a structure that only stores numerical data
a structure that is independent of memory allocation
a structure with a size that can change during program execution
Correct answer: a structure with a fixed size and memory allocation
Q4.
What is a dynamic data structure?
a structure that stores only one type of data
a structure with a fixed size
Correct answer: a structure that can change in size during program execution
a structure that does not use memory
Q5.
Which of the following is an example of a static data structure?
list
Correct answer: array
dynamic array
linked list
Q6.
What is the term for a structure made of various parts or elements?
Correct Answer: composite, composite structure, composite data structure