Big data lesson for Pearson Edexcel International A Level Computer Science, with editable PowerPoint slides, a student worksheet and full answers. Big data is data too large, fast or varied for ordinary tools; students cover its main features, uses and the issues it raises.

Written for Unit 1 Principles of Computer Science, topic 6 Enabling technologies (specification 6.1.1). Everything is editable, so you can adapt it to your class.

What’s included

• PowerPoint lesson (13 slides) with teacher notes on every slide
• Student worksheet (Word), ready to print or edit
• Answer sheet (Word) with mark-scheme style answers for every question

U1.38 Big data

By the end of the lesson students can:

• Define big data and describe each of the five Vs
• Describe the six parts of a big-data infrastructure
• Interpret and complete a diagram of a big-data system

Worksheet sections: A. Key words; B. The five Vs in context; C. Complete the system; D. Exam-style questions; E. Challenge

Every lesson includes

• Learning goals and a starter question
• Clear explanations, diagrams and worked examples (Python 3 throughout, as the specification requires)
• A quick check and a “your turn” task linked to the worksheet
• Exam-style questions with marks, and an exit ticket

Format

• PowerPoint (.pptx) and Word (.docx), fully editable
• Works in PowerPoint and Google Slides
• Calm, muted sixth-form design, consistent across the whole course

These are independent resources written for the Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Computer Science specification (Issue 1, first teaching 2026; IAS XCP01, IAL YCP01). They are not produced or endorsed by Pearson.

More lessons in this series

• Previous lesson: Procedural and declarative paradigms – Edexcel IAL CS lesson
• Next lesson: Data science tools and techniques – Edexcel IAL Computer Science
• Save with the bundle: Enabling technologies – Edexcel IAL Computer Science (6 lessons)

Last updated: November 2026.