← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

Tracing a flowchart with test values

Follow a flowchart from Start to Stop using test values, noting each diamond's Yes or No answer in a trace table and following loop arrows back until Stop.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Testing and Validating Programs — Module 27, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Programmed Solutions — Module 79, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Pseudocode and Algorithm Design — Module 66

Understanding Tracing a flowchart with test values in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

What it does: The arrow returning to the diamond shows a loop. Each pass updates the variables and gets a new row until the diamond's answer sends you on to Stop. Reaching Stop means the trace is complete. The final row of the trace table shows the values the flowchart ends with. 42 is not 50 or more, so the answer is No. You record No in the trace table and follow the No arrow. The box changes the variable. You write the new value, 4, in the next row of the count column. You trace until you reach Stop. Some shapes may be skipped, and loops may use a shape many times.

Common mistakes: The test value is 15, and 15 >= 16 is false, so the answer is No. Follow the No arrow to 'Too young'. The line should be: age >= 16? No -> Too young. A trace begins at the Start oval. A diamond is a decision, which you reach later. The line should be: Start at the oval.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 536–590) and word search (Modules 536–622).

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Learning
Duo
Where do you begin when tracing a flowchart with test values?
At the Start ovalAt the first decision diamond
Matches
Test value mark = 45. Diamond: mark >= 50? Trace table records Yes and follows the Yes arrow
↓
The diamond was answered wrongly. 45 is not >= 50, so the answer is No and you must follow the No arrow
Applying
Meanings
Term
trace a flowchart
Meaning
Follow a flowchart from Start to Stop using test values, noting each diamond's Yes or No answer in a trace table and following loop arrows back until Stop.
Practice
Start
Testing
Gaps
mark >= 50:
Check Answer
Spots
2age = 15
3age >= 16? Yes -> Can drive

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Quick Questions

1. Where do you begin when tracing a flowchart with test values?
A. At the first decision diamond
B. At the Start oval ✓
Every trace begins at Start. You write the test values on the trace table, then follow the arrow to the first shape.
2. A diamond asks: Is mark >= 50? The test value is mark = 42. Which arrow do you follow?
A. The Yes arrow
B. The No arrow ✓
42 is not 50 or more, so the answer is No. You record No in the trace table and follow the No arrow.
3. What should you do each time you reach a decision diamond?
A. Answer it using the current values and record the Yes or No in the trace table ✓
B. Pick the arrow that leads to Stop the fastest
The current values decide the path. You never choose an arrow, and recording each answer lets you check the trace later.
4. A loop arrow goes back up to an earlier diamond. What do you do when you follow it?
A. Ask the diamond's question again using the updated values and add a new row ✓
B. Skip the diamond and carry on to Stop
A loop arrow sends you back to re-check the condition. The values may have changed, so the answer may change too.
5. A flowchart has the test value count = 3. A process box says count ← count + 1. What does the trace table show for count afterwards?
A. 4 ✓
B. 3
The box changes the variable. You write the new value, 4, in the next row of the count column.

Match the Pairs

Start oval → The place where you begin tracing, before writing the test values in the trace table
Diamond: age >= 16? → A decision. Check the current value of age, then follow the Yes or No arrow and record the answer
A loop arrow goes back to an earlier box, so you keep tracing and add a new trace table row each time round → count <- count + 1 (arrow returns to: count < 3?)
The trace finishes when you follow the arrows to the Stop oval, and the last row holds the final values → Stop oval (last row: total = 12)
Test value mark = 45. Diamond: mark >= 50? Trace table records Yes and follows the Yes arrow → The diamond was answered wrongly. 45 is not >= 50, so the answer is No and you must follow the No arrow
Loop arrow reached: student jumps straight to Stop and writes no new trace table row → A loop arrow must be followed back to the earlier box. Keep tracing, adding rows, until the diamond sends you to Stop

Key Term

trace a flowchart
Follow a flowchart from Start to Stop using test values, noting each diamond's Yes or No answer in a trace table and following loop arrows back until Stop.

Fill in the Blanks

1. if mark >= 50: print("Pass") else:
Hint: Type the keyword that creates a decision diamond with a Yes and a No arrow.
2. if mark >= 50: print("Pass") else:
Hint: Type the keyword for the path followed when the diamond's answer is No.
3. count = 0 while count < 3: count = count + 1
Hint: Type the keyword that sends the arrow back to the decision while the answer stays Yes.
4. count = 0 while count < 3: count = count + 1
Hint: Type the variable whose trace table column changes each time the loop arrow goes back.
5. x = 5 if x > 3: print("Yes")
Hint: Type the function that shows output on the Yes path before the flow reaches Stop.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Start
B age = 15
C age >= 16? Yes -> Can drive
D Stop
Line C — The test value is 15, and 15 >= 16 is false, so the answer is No. Follow the No arrow to 'Too young'. The line should be: age >= 16? No -> Too young.
Question 2
A Start at the diamond
B mark = 45
C mark >= 50? No
D Follow No arrow to Fail
E Stop
Line A — A trace begins at the Start oval. A diamond is a decision, which you reach later. The line should be: Start at the oval.
Question 3
A Start: n = 1
B n < 3? Yes, n = n + 1 -> 2
C n < 3? Yes, n = n + 1 -> 3
D n < 3? Yes -> Stop
Line D — When n is 3, n < 3 is false, so the answer is No, not Yes. The No arrow leads out of the loop to Stop. The line should be: n < 3? No -> Stop.
Question 4
A Start
B x = 8, y = 3
C x > y? No -> print x
D Stop
Line C — With x = 8 and y = 3, x > y is true, so the answer is Yes. The line should be: x > y? Yes -> print x.
Question 5
A Leave the table empty at first
B Follow arrow from Start
C Record each diamond's answer
D Stop when you reach Stop
Line A — The first job is to write the test values in the trace table. Without them you cannot answer the decisions. The line should be: Write test values in the table.

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