← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Using generated fake test data

Invented but realistic values made by a data generator, so you can build and test a solution without collecting any real person's data.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 51

Understanding Using generated fake test data in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: A CSV file exported from a generator can be opened in a spreadsheet. The file name shows the data is fake, so nobody mistakes it for real records. This row is made up. It has realistic values for testing a form or a table, but it is not about any real person. A generator saves time. You pick the fields, such as name, age and score, and it creates the rows for you. Most generators let you export to CSV or a spreadsheet format, which you can open or import straight away.

Common mistakes: The list of invented names is missing its closing bracket. It should be names = ['Ava', 'Liam', 'Mia']. A CSV file separates values with commas, not semicolons. The row should be 2,Liam Test,14 so it matches the other rows.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 752–770) and word search (Modules 696–770).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning

Duo

You are building a class sign-up form and want to test it. What is the safest data to use?

Fake data made by a data generatorYour classmates' real names and emails

Matches

Test my quiz app by typing in my classmates' real names and marks

↓

This uses real people's personal data for testing when invented data would work just as well.

Applying

Meanings

Term

fake test data

Meaning

Invented but realistic values made by a data generator, so you can build and test a solution without collecting any real person's data.

Practice

INSERT INTO students VALUES (11, 'Test', 'User', 7, 'Red', 0);

Testing

Gaps

=(12,15)

Check Answer

Spots

1import random

2names = ['Ava', 'Liam', 'Mia'

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Quick Questions

1. You are building a class sign-up form and want to test it. What is the safest data to use?

A. Your classmates' real names and emails

B. Fake data made by a data generator ✓

Generated fake data is invented, so testing your form does not collect or expose any real person's details.

2. Which statement describes fake test data?

A. Real values with the names crossed out

B. Invented values that look realistic, like 'Sam Taylor, age 13' ✓

Fake test data is made up from scratch. Real data with a few parts hidden can still identify a person.

3. A data generator can quickly make 100 rows of names and numbers.

A. True: you choose the fields and it fills in invented values ✓

B. False: you must type every row yourself

A generator saves time. You pick the fields, such as name, age and score, and it creates the rows for you.

4. You made 50 rows of fake data in a generator. How can you use it in a spreadsheet?

A. Export it as a CSV file and import it into the sheet ✓

B. Retype each row by hand into every cell

Most generators let you export to CSV or a spreadsheet format, which you can open or import straight away.

5. Why is fake data good for testing a new app that stores student details?

A. If the app leaks or breaks, no real person is harmed ✓

B. Fake data makes the app collect more real data

Testing with invented values means a mistake or data leak cannot affect real people.

Match the Pairs

fake test data → Invented but realistic values, such as made-up names and numbers, used to build and test a solution

data generator → A tool that quickly creates many rows of invented names, ages and numbers for you to use in testing

Fake data can be exported from a generator as a file and opened in a spreadsheet to test your solution → students_fake.csv

A generator can make invented names and numbers so you never need real people's details to test → Name: Jordan Test, Age: 13, Score: 78

Test my quiz app by typing in my classmates' real names and marks → This uses real people's personal data for testing when invented data would work just as well.

Fake data = copy 50 real rows from the school list and change one letter → Changing one letter does not make data fake. The rows can still be traced back to real people.

Key Term

fake test data

Invented but realistic values made by a data generator, so you can build and test a solution without collecting any real person's data.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =RANDBETWEEN(12,15)

Hint: Type the spreadsheet function that picks a random whole number between two limits, like a fake age.

2. =CONCAT("S",RANDBETWEEN(100,999))

Hint: Type the function that joins text and a number into one fake ID code.

3. exportFile("fakeStudents.csv")

Hint: Type the file extension for comma-separated values, which a spreadsheet can open.

4. INSERT INTO students (firstName, points) VALUES ('Test', 50);

Hint: Type the SQL keyword that introduces the fake data being added to the table.

5. IF testing THEN data ← fakeData ELSE data ← realDataWithConsent

Hint: Type the keyword for the other branch, used when real data is truly needed.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A import random

B names = ['Ava', 'Liam', 'Mia'

C print(random.choice(names))

Line B — The list of invented names is missing its closing bracket. It should be names = ['Ava', 'Liam', 'Mia'].

Question 2

A id,name,age

B 1,Ava Test,13

C 2;Liam Test;14

Line C — A CSV file separates values with commas, not semicolons. The row should be 2,Liam Test,14 so it matches the other rows.

Question 3

A FOR i ← 1 TO 50

B name ← studentRecord(i)

C OUTPUT name

D ENDFOR

Line B — This line pulls a real student's record, which defeats the purpose. The loop should use the generator: name ← randomName().

Question 4

A rows = []

B for i in range(5):

C rows.add(fake_name())

D print(rows)

Line C — Python lists use append() to add an item, not add(). It should be rows.append(fake_name()).

Question 5

A data = generate(20, 'names')

B export(data, 'test.png')

C open('test.csv')

Line B — Generated data should be exported as a CSV file so a spreadsheet can open it. The file name should be 'test.csv', matching line 3.

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