← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Turning numbered steps into a flowchart

Each numbered step becomes one flowchart shape. An IF becomes a diamond, and a REPEAT becomes an arrow going back to an earlier shape. Both versions should do the same thing.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Algorithms with Branching and Repetition — Module 32, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Algorithms, Flowcharts and Pseudocode — Module 33, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Algorithms and Programming Techniques — Module 9, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Pseudocode and Algorithm Design — Module 49

Understanding Turning numbered steps into a flowchart in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: A plain action step turns into one step shape (a rectangle). The arrow shows the next step to follow, so the order stays the same. The IF condition is written as a question inside a diamond. One arrow is for Yes (the THEN part) and one is for No. An IF is a question with two ways out (yes or no), so it becomes a diamond. A repeat is shown by an arrow that loops back to an earlier shape, so the steps run again. A decision has two paths. One arrow is for Yes and one is for No.

Common mistakes: A question that makes a choice or decides when to stop a loop must be a diamond, not a box. The line should be 'Diamond: count < 3?'. START is drawn as an oval (rounded shape). A diamond is only for decisions. The line should be 'Oval: START'.

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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

Your algorithm has the step: 3. IF it is raining THEN take an umbrella. Which flowchart shape do you draw for the IF?

A plain rectangleA diamond

Matches

Step 3: IF age >= 10 → drawn as a rectangle

↓

An IF must be drawn as a diamond, not a rectangle. A rectangle can't show a Yes and No choice.

Applying

Meanings

Term

step = shape

Meaning

Each numbered step becomes one flowchart shape. An IF becomes a diamond, and a REPEAT becomes an arrow going back to an earlier shape. Both versions should do the same thing.

Practice

1. Start (oval)

Testing

Gaps

IF age >= 10 THEN = shape

Check Answer

Spots

2Box: set count to 0

3Box: count < 3?

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Quick Questions

1. Your algorithm has the step: 3. IF it is raining THEN take an umbrella. Which flowchart shape do you draw for the IF?

A. A plain rectangle

B. A diamond ✓

An IF is a question with two ways out (yes or no), so it becomes a diamond.

2. Your algorithm has the step: 2. Add 1 to score. Which shape do you draw?

A. A diamond

B. A rectangle (a step box) ✓

A normal action step like adding 1 goes in a rectangle. Only decisions use diamonds.

3. Your algorithm says: 4. REPEAT from step 2. How do you show this in a flowchart?

A. Draw an arrow going back to the shape for step 2 ✓

B. Draw a new box that says REPEAT and stop

A repeat is shown by an arrow that loops back to an earlier shape, so the steps run again.

4. How many flowchart shapes does each numbered step usually become?

A. One shape for each step ✓

B. One shape for the whole algorithm

Each numbered step becomes its own shape. Then arrows join the shapes in order.

5. A flowchart has a diamond that asks: Is score = 10? How many arrows should leave the diamond?

A. Two arrows, labelled Yes and No ✓

B. One arrow only

A decision has two paths. One arrow is for Yes and one is for No.

Match the Pairs

3. IF score > 10 THEN say "Win" → Draw a diamond shape asking "Is score > 10?" with a Yes arrow to a "Win" step

4. REPEAT from step 2 → Draw an arrow from this step back up to the shape for step 2

Each ordinary numbered step becomes one rectangle shape, joined to the next shape by an arrow → 2. ADD 1 to count → [ ADD 1 to count ]

A decision in the steps becomes a diamond with two arrows out, labelled Yes and No → IF it is raining THEN → <Is it raining?> Yes / No

Step 3: IF age >= 10 → drawn as a rectangle → An IF must be drawn as a diamond, not a rectangle. A rectangle can't show a Yes and No choice.

Step 5: REPEAT from step 2 → drawn as a new shape that goes forward to End → A REPEAT should be an arrow going back to the shape for step 2, not forward to End.

Key Term

step = shape

Each numbered step becomes one flowchart shape. An IF becomes a diamond, and a REPEAT becomes an arrow going back to an earlier shape. Both versions should do the same thing.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF age >= 10 THEN = diamond shape

Hint: Type the name of the flowchart shape used for a decision.

2. REPEAT = arrow back to an earlier shape

Hint: Type the direction the loop arrow travels.

3. 1. SET total TO 0 Shape for step 1: rectangle

Hint: Type the name of the shape used for an ordinary step.

4. 2. IF count > 5 THEN Diamond question: count > 5 ?

Hint: Type the variable name that the decision checks.

5. Both versions must give the same result

Hint: Type the word that describes how the steps and the flowchart results compare.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Oval: START

B Box: set count to 0

C Box: count < 3?

D Box: add 1 to count

E Arrow: back to the diamond

Line C — A question that makes a choice or decides when to stop a loop must be a diamond, not a box. The line should be 'Diamond: count < 3?'.

Question 2

A Diamond: START

B Box: ask for the age

C Diamond: age >= 10?

D Box: say Big kid

Line A — START is drawn as an oval (rounded shape). A diamond is only for decisions. The line should be 'Oval: START'.

Question 3

A Oval: START

B Diamond: add 1 to count

C Diamond: count = 3?

D No: arrow back to the box

Line B — Adding 1 is an ordinary step, so it gets a box. Only questions get a diamond. The line should be 'Box: add 1 to count'.

Question 4

A Box: lose 1 life

B Diamond: lives = 0?

C No: arrow on to the END oval

D Yes: go to END

Line C — A REPEAT is shown by an arrow that goes back to an earlier shape. The No arrow must go back to 'lose 1 life', not forward to END.

Question 5

A 1 START -> oval

B 2 SET n TO 0 -> box

C 3 IF n < 5 -> diamond

D 4 REPEAT -> arrow forward

Line D — A REPEAT becomes an arrow going back to an earlier shape so the steps can run again. It should be 'arrow back'.

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