Drawing a loop inside a decision in a flowchart

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. A loop is drawn on the Yes arrow of a decision diamond. When does the loop run?

A Every time the flowchart runs, whatever the answer

B Only when the answer to the decision is Yes

2. What happens on the No path when the loop is drawn on the Yes path?

A The loop is skipped and the flow carries on past it

B The loop runs once and then the flow carries on

3. Where should the exit arrow of the loop go when the loop finishes?

A It rejoins the main flow after the decision

B It goes back up to Start

4. Which flowchart shows a loop that is skipped when the answer is No?

A The No arrow leads into the first box of the loop

B The No arrow leads past the loop to the next step

5. A student draws the loop first and puts the decision diamond inside it. Is this a loop on the Yes path of a decision?

A No, that is a decision inside a loop

B Yes, it is the same thing

Match the Pairs

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

Left column		Right column
1Decision: Is it raining? Yes -> Loop: Is every window closed? No -> Close a window -> back to loop question		AThe loop is drawn on the No path, but it should be on the Yes path. Closing windows would happen when it is NOT raining.
2Decision: Is it raining? No -> arrow goes straight to Show 'Done'		BLoop question: Is every window closed? Yes -> Show 'Done' (same step the No path goes to)
3The loop exit arrow rejoins the main flow so the Yes and No paths meet again at the same step.		CIs the bin full? Yes -> Is the bin empty yet? No -> Take out one item -> back to question
4The loop is only entered when the decision gives Yes, so its first step is drawn on the Yes arrow.		DA loop sits on the Yes path. It only runs when it is raining, and it repeats until every window is closed.
5Decision: Is it raining? No -> Loop: Close a window until all are closed		EThe No path skips the loop completely and carries on with the main flow.
6Is it raining? Yes -> Loop: Close a window -> Is every window closed? Yes -> end of flowchart (No path never reaches Show 'Done')		FThe loop exit arrow does not rejoin the main flow, so the flowchart stops and the next step is never reached.

Definitions

Loop on the Yes path

Fill in the Blanks

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

IF score > 10 THEN ______ 3 TIMES OUTPUT "Well done"

IF lights = "off" THEN REPEAT _____ lights = "on" FLICK switch

END REPEAT END __ OUTPUT "Goodbye"

IF answer = "Yes" THEN REPEAT UNTIL _____ = 5 count ← count + 1

IF mark __ 50 THEN REPEAT 2 TIMES OUTPUT "Pass"

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A Start -> Step: Any dishes?

B Yes -> Step: Wash a dish

C Then -> Diamond: More dishes?

D Yes -> back to Wash a dish

E More dishes? No -> Dry up

F Any dishes? No -> Dry up

Question 2

A Start -> Diamond: Homework?

B Yes -> Step: Do a question

C Start -> Diamond: Any left?

D Yes -> back to Do a question

E Any left? No -> Pack bag

F Homework? No -> Pack bag

Question 3

A Start -> Diamond: Monday?

B No -> Step: Water a plant

C Then -> Diamond: More plants?

D Yes -> back to Water a plant

E More plants? No -> Go inside

F Monday? No -> Go inside

Question 4

A Start -> Diamond: Bin full?

B Yes -> Step: Empty the bin

C Bin full? No -> Empty the bin

D Empty it -> Diamond: Another?

E Yes -> back to Empty the bin

F Another? No -> Wash hands

Question 5

A Start -> Diamond: Raining?

B Yes -> Step: Shut a window

C Then -> Diamond: More windows?

D Yes -> back to Raining?

E More windows? No -> Go to bed

F Raining? No -> Go to bed

Answer Key

Drawing a loop inside a decision in a flowchart

Section A: Quick Questions

B — Only when the answer to the decision is Yes

A — The loop is skipped and the flow carries on past it

A — It rejoins the main flow after the decision

B — The No arrow leads past the loop to the next step

A — No, that is a decision inside a loop

Section B: Match the Pairs

Decision: Is it raining? Yes -> Loop: Is every window closed? No -> Close a window -> back to loop question → A loop sits on the Yes path. It only runs when it is raining, and it repeats until every window is closed.

Decision: Is it raining? No -> arrow goes straight to Show 'Done' → The No path skips the loop completely and carries on with the main flow.

The loop exit arrow rejoins the main flow so the Yes and No paths meet again at the same step. → Loop question: Is every window closed? Yes -> Show 'Done' (same step the No path goes to)

The loop is only entered when the decision gives Yes, so its first step is drawn on the Yes arrow. → Is the bin full? Yes -> Is the bin empty yet? No -> Take out one item -> back to question

Decision: Is it raining? No -> Loop: Close a window until all are closed → The loop is drawn on the No path, but it should be on the Yes path. Closing windows would happen when it is NOT raining.

Is it raining? Yes -> Loop: Close a window -> Is every window closed? Yes -> end of flowchart (No path never reaches Show 'Done') → The loop exit arrow does not rejoin the main flow, so the flowchart stops and the next step is never reached.

Section C: Definitions

Loop on the Yes path — A loop drawn on the Yes arrow of a decision diamond. It only runs if Yes is taken. The No path skips it. When the loop ends, its exit arrow rejoins the main flow.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

IF score > 10 THEN
    REPEAT 3 TIMES
        OUTPUT "Well done"

IF lights = "off" THEN
    REPEAT UNTIL lights = "on"
        FLICK switch

    END REPEAT
END IF
OUTPUT "Goodbye"

IF answer = "Yes" THEN
    REPEAT UNTIL count = 5
        count ← count + 1

IF mark >= 50 THEN
    REPEAT 2 TIMES
        OUTPUT "Pass"

Section E: Spot the Error

A — A question with Yes and No answers must be drawn in a decision diamond, not a step box. It should be 'Start -> Diamond: Any dishes?'.

C — The loop's check must come after the step on the Yes path ('Then -> Diamond: Any left?'). It cannot start straight from Start, because the loop is only reached through the Yes arrow.

B — The loop belongs on the Yes path, so it only runs when it is Monday. Line 2 should start with 'Yes ->'. Putting it on No would run the loop on the wrong days.

C — The No path must skip the loop and go straight to the step after it. Line 3 should be 'Bin full? No -> Wash hands'. Sending No into the loop means the loop runs even when the bin isn't full.

D — The loop arrow must return to the loop's own step, 'Shut a window'. Going back to the 'Raining?' diamond asks the first decision again instead of repeating the loop.