Drawing a loop in a flowchart

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

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

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

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

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

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

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1Arrow from a step back up to the decision		AThe exit arrow: when the answer is Yes, the loop stops and the flow moves on
2Decision diamond: Is the cup full? Yes arrow goes to End		BIs the cup full? No -> Pour water -> back to Is the cup full?
3A loop that repeats until the answer is Yes		CThere is no exit arrow, so the loop can never stop. The decision needs a Yes arrow that leads out of the loop.
4The loop ends when the exit arrow is followed		DIs the cup full? Yes -> Stop pouring -> End
5Is the cup full? No -> Pour water -> Is the cup full? has no arrow back, it goes on to End		EThe step has no arrow going back to the question, so there is no loop. The steps only happen once.
6Is the cup full? has only a No arrow that goes to Pour water, then back, and no Yes arrow		FA loop arrow: it sends the flow back to an earlier shape so the steps repeat

Definitions

loop arrow

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

Decision: Did someone answer? No: go back to ______ Yes: exit the loop to End

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

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

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

Decision: Is the cup full? __: go back to Step 2 Yes: exit the loop to End

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an 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

Question 2

A Read one page

B Is the book finished?

C No: arrow on to END

D Yes: arrow to END

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

Question 4

A The light is green

B No: arrow back to the question

C Yes: exit arrow to Walk

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

Answer Key

Drawing a loop in a flowchart

Section A: Quick Questions

B — An arrow that goes back to an earlier shape

A — It repeats the step 'Add one book'

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

A — The Yes arrow that leads on to the next shape

B — Keep following the arrow back until the answer is Yes

Section B: 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.

Section C: Definitions

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.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

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

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

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

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

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

Section E: Spot the Error

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.

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'.

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

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.

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.