← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Drawing a loop in a flowchart

An arrow that goes back to an earlier shape so steps repeat. The loop stops when the decision's exit arrow is followed, such as when the answer is Yes.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Algorithms with Branching and Repetition — Module 29, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Algorithms, Flowcharts and Pseudocode — Module 29, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Tracing and Debugging Algorithms — Module 34, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Algorithms and Programming Techniques — Module 8, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Interactions Between Users, Data and Digital Systems — Module 21

Understanding Drawing a loop in a flowchart in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: The No arrow leads to a step and then back to the question, so it repeats until the answer is Yes. The Yes arrow leaves the loop instead of going back, so the repeating stops. Without an exit arrow there is no way out, so you go around forever. Every loop needs an exit arrow. No means try again, so the arrow loops back. Only the Yes arrow moves on towards End.

Common mistakes: The loop needs a decision shape with a Yes/No question. Line 2 should be 'Is the cup full?' so the No and Yes arrows have a question to answer. The No arrow must go back to an earlier shape to make a loop. Going to END stops after one page. It should be 'No: arrow back to Read one page'.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 120–132) and word search (Modules 106–132).

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Learning

Duo

Which arrow makes a loop in a flowchart?

An arrow that goes down to the End shapeAn arrow that goes back to an earlier shape

Matches

Is the cup full? No -> Pour water -> Is the cup full? has no arrow back, it goes on to End

↓

The step has no arrow going back to the question, so there is no loop. The steps only happen once.

Applying

Meanings

Term

loop arrow

Meaning

An arrow that goes back to an earlier shape so steps repeat. The loop stops when the decision's exit arrow is followed, such as when the answer is Yes.

Practice

START

Testing

Gaps

No: go back to

Check Answer

Spots

1Pour water into the cup

2Pour more water

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Quick Questions

1. Which arrow makes a loop in a flowchart?

A. An arrow that goes down to the End shape

B. An arrow that goes back to an earlier shape ✓

A loop arrow points back to a shape that came earlier, so the steps happen again.

2. A flowchart asks 'Is the bag full?' If the answer is No, an arrow goes back to the step 'Add one book'. What does this do?

A. It repeats the step 'Add one book' ✓

B. It ends the flowchart straight away

The arrow back to an earlier step sends you around again, so the step repeats.

3. Where should the loop arrow usually point back to?

A. The step before the decision, so the steps can run again ✓

B. The Start shape only, every time

The arrow goes back to the first step you want to repeat. It is not always the Start shape.

4. The decision 'Is the answer Yes?' has two arrows coming out. Which one is the exit arrow?

A. The Yes arrow that leads on to the next shape ✓

B. The No arrow that goes back to repeat the steps

In a repeat-until loop, the exit arrow is followed when the answer is Yes. The No arrow makes the loop go around again.

5. Which sentence describes how a 'repeat until the answer is Yes' loop works?

A. Keep following the arrow back until the answer is No

B. Keep following the arrow back until the answer is Yes ✓

The loop repeats while the answer is No. It stops when the answer is Yes and you take the exit arrow.

Match the Pairs

Arrow from a step back up to the decision → A loop arrow: it sends the flow back to an earlier shape so the steps repeat

Decision diamond: Is the cup full? Yes arrow goes to End → The exit arrow: when the answer is Yes, the loop stops and the flow moves on

A loop that repeats until the answer is Yes → Is the cup full? No -> Pour water -> back to Is the cup full?

The loop ends when the exit arrow is followed → Is the cup full? Yes -> Stop pouring -> End

Is the cup full? No -> Pour water -> Is the cup full? has no arrow back, it goes on to End → The step has no arrow going back to the question, so there is no loop. The steps only happen once.

Is the cup full? has only a No arrow that goes to Pour water, then back, and no Yes arrow → There is no exit arrow, so the loop can never stop. The decision needs a Yes arrow that leads out of the loop.

Key Term

loop arrow

An arrow that goes back to an earlier shape so steps repeat. The loop stops when the decision's exit arrow is followed, such as when the answer is Yes.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Decision: Did someone answer? No: go back to Step 2 Yes: exit the loop to End

Hint: Type the step that the loop arrow goes back to (the knocking step).

2. Decision: Did someone answer? No: go back to Step 2 Yes: exit the loop to End

Hint: Type the answer on the arrow that leaves the loop.

3. Step 2: Add 1 to count Decision: Is count equal to 5? No: go back to Step 2

Hint: Type the name of the variable that is being counted up.

4. Decision: Is the score 10 or more? No: go back to Step 2 Yes: follow the exit arrow to End

Hint: Type the word for the arrow that leaves the loop.

5. Decision: Is the cup full? No: go back to Step 2 Yes: exit the loop to End

Hint: Type the answer that sends the arrow back so the steps repeat.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Pour water into the cup

B Pour more water

C No: arrow back to Pour water

D Yes: arrow to END

Line B — The loop needs a decision shape with a Yes/No question. Line 2 should be 'Is the cup full?' so the No and Yes arrows have a question to answer.

Question 2

A Read one page

B Is the book finished?

C No: arrow on to END

D Yes: arrow to END

Line C — The No arrow must go back to an earlier shape to make a loop. Going to END stops after one page. It should be 'No: arrow back to Read one page'.

Question 3

A START in a diamond

B Knock on the door

C Did someone answer?

D No: arrow back to Knock

E Yes: arrow to END

Line A — START goes in an oval (rounded) shape. A diamond is only for decisions, so line 1 should be 'START in an oval'.

Question 4

A The light is green

B No: arrow back to the question

C Yes: exit arrow to Walk

Line A — A decision must be a question with a Yes and No answer. Line 1 should be 'Is the light green?' so the No arrow can loop back and ask again.

Question 5

A START

B Press the button

C Is the lift here?

D No: arrow forward to Get in

E Yes: arrow to Get in

F END

Line D — The No arrow should go back to Press to make a loop. Going forward means you get in even when the lift is not here.

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