← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Following a flowchart to predict the result

Start at the oval, follow each arrow with your finger, answer every diamond using the current values, write down counter changes, and stop at the end oval to find the result.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Algorithms with Branching and Repetition — Module 31, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Algorithms, Flowcharts and Pseudocode — Module 43, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Tracing and Debugging Algorithms — Module 36

Understanding Following a flowchart to predict the result in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: A trace table or list of values shows how the counter changes each time round, so you always know its current value. You stop at the End oval. The last values you wrote down give the result of the flowchart. Every flowchart begins at the Start oval. Put your finger there first, then follow the arrows. Arrows show the order. If you skip around, you will get a different (wrong) result. A diamond needs the latest number. Writing each change helps you keep track of it. After each trip total is 2, then 4, then 6. Record every change as you loop.

Common mistakes: The counter needs a starting value before the loop. count + 1 can't be worked out if count has no value yet. It should be count <- 0. This is the YES arrow of the diamond. When mark >= 50 is true you follow it, so it should show "Pass". "Try again" belongs on the ELSE (NO) path.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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

🖨 Print worksheet + answer key Add Following a flowchart to predict the result to a class →

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

Take this worksheet further — free with Cloodit

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

Learning

Duo

Where do you begin when you follow a flowchart?

At the Start ovalAt the first diamond

Matches

Count is 2. The diamond asks 'Is count = 5?' and you follow the Yes arrow.

↓

The answer to the diamond is wrong. 2 is not 5, so you must follow the No arrow.

Applying

Meanings

Term

trace a flowchart

Meaning

Start at the oval, follow each arrow with your finger, answer every diamond using the current values, write down counter changes, and stop at the end oval to find the result.

Practice

START

Testing

Gaps

Check Answer

Spots

1START

2count <- count + 1

Cloodit turns curriculum-aligned coding content into journeys students work through one biome at a time.

Students earn collectable badges

Over 100 of them, across seven natural biomes.

Study Buddy

Students build a real study resource

Turns their work into revision material ready for Flash Cards and Exam study.

Diamond Dash — one of Cloodit's live, competitive Sprint games

Students lock in with Sprints

Live, competitive practice for the start of the lesson or a teacher-led lesson finisher.

A Cloodit certificate of achievement, ready to personalise and print

Custom printable certificates

Honour your top performers, or encourage a student who's trying hard — ready to print in seconds.

Add to class →

Quick Questions

1. Where do you begin when you follow a flowchart?

A. At the first diamond

B. At the Start oval ✓

Every flowchart begins at the Start oval. Put your finger there first, then follow the arrows.

2. How do you move from one shape to the next?

A. Follow the arrows ✓

B. Jump to any shape you like

Arrows show the order. If you skip around, you will get a different (wrong) result.

3. You reach a diamond that asks 'Is score > 10?' and score is 7. Which arrow do you follow?

A. The No arrow ✓

B. The Yes arrow

7 is not bigger than 10, so the answer is No. Always use the current value of the variable.

4. A flowchart sets count to 0, then has a box 'Add 1 to count'. After the box runs once, what is count?

A. 1 ✓

B. 0

0 + 1 = 1. Write the new value down every time a box changes the counter.

5. Why do you write down the counter each time it changes?

A. So you can skip the diamonds

B. So you answer each diamond with the current value ✓

A diamond needs the latest number. Writing each change helps you keep track of it.

Match the Pairs

Oval labelled Start → This is where you put your finger first. Begin here and follow the arrow out of it.

Diamond: Is count = 3? → A decision. Check the current value of count, then follow the Yes arrow or the No arrow.

Write down each change to the counter so you can answer later diamonds correctly → count: 0 → 1 → 2 → 3

The result is found when your finger reaches the end oval → Oval labelled End

Count is 2. The diamond asks 'Is count = 5?' and you follow the Yes arrow. → The answer to the diamond is wrong. 2 is not 5, so you must follow the No arrow.

A loop adds 1 to count each time, but you skip writing the new value and keep using 0. → You forgot to record the counter change, so later diamonds are answered with an old value.

Key Term

trace a flowchart

Start at the oval, follow each arrow with your finger, answer every diamond using the current values, write down counter changes, and stop at the end oval to find the result.

Fill in the Blanks

1. START count ← 0 IF count < 3 THEN

Hint: Type the word in the oval where you always begin when following a flowchart.

2. Diamond: is count less than 5? IF count < 5 THEN

Hint: Type the comparison symbol that means 'less than', matching the question in the diamond.

3. count ← 3 count ← count + 1 Now count is 4

Hint: Type the operator that makes the counter go up by one, so you can write down its new value.

4. count ← 0 REPEAT 3 TIMES count ← count + 1

Hint: Type the keyword for the arrow that sends your finger back to run the same steps again.

5. count ← count + 1 SAY count END

Hint: Type the word in the final oval, where you stop tracing and read the result.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A START

B count <- count + 1

C REPEAT 3 TIMES

D count <- count + 1

E SHOW count

Line B — The counter needs a starting value before the loop. count + 1 can't be worked out if count has no value yet. It should be count <- 0.

Question 2

A START

B INPUT mark

C IF mark >= 50 THEN

D SHOW "Try again"

E ELSE

F SHOW "Try again"

Line D — This is the YES arrow of the diamond. When mark >= 50 is true you follow it, so it should show "Pass". "Try again" belongs on the ELSE (NO) path.

Question 3

A END

B score <- 0

C score <- score + 2

D SHOW score

E END

Line A — A flowchart begins at the START oval, so you know where to put your finger first. Line 1 should be START. END is where you stop.

Question 4

A START

B lives <- 0

C REPEAT UNTIL lives = 0

D lives <- lives - 1

E SHOW lives

Line B — The starting value should be 3. If lives starts at 0, the loop condition is already true and the loop never runs. Lives needs to count down from 3 to 0.

Question 5

A SHOW age

B IF age >= 10 THEN

C SHOW "Big kid"

D ELSE

E SHOW "Little kid"

Line A — The diamond needs a value for age to answer its question. The first step should be INPUT age so the value is entered, not shown.

Student with a class code? Join your class →