← Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

Drawing a decision in a flowchart

A diamond shape in a flowchart that holds a yes/no question. One arrow labelled Yes and one labelled No lead to different steps, and the paths can join up again later.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Creating Digital Solutions — Module 24, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Designing and tracing algorithms — Module 26, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Designing and validating algorithms — Module 2, VCE Applied Computing U1O2 Programming: Requirements and design tools — Module 11, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7a Program Development Life Cycle — Module 13, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7b Decomposition and Sub-systems — Module 29, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7c Pseudocode and Flowcharts — Module 47, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Pseudocode and Algorithm Design — Module 41

Understanding Drawing a decision in a flowchart in Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

What it does: Is the score over 10? can only be answered Yes or No, so it works well inside a decision diamond. Both paths lead to the same step, Walk to school, so the paths rejoin after the decision. A decision is drawn as a diamond. Rectangles are used for ordinary steps. A diamond holds a question that can be answered Yes or No. 'Get an umbrella' is an action, so it goes in a step box. A decision question must have a Yes or No answer. 'What is the score?' needs a number as an answer, so it does not fit.

Common mistakes: Arrows leaving a decision diamond must be labelled Yes or No. 'Maybe' is not allowed. It should be 'Yes -> Walk to school'. The diamond must hold a question with a yes/no answer. 'What colour is the light?' can't be answered with Yes or No. It should be '<Is the light red?>'.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 21–30) and word search (Modules 21–40).

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Learning
Duo
Which shape do you use to show a decision in a flowchart?
A rectangleA diamond
Matches
Diamond: What is the weather?
↓
The diamond holds a question that has more than two answers, not a yes/no question. It should be something like Is it raining?
Applying
Meanings
Term
decision diamond
Meaning
A diamond shape in a flowchart that holds a yes/no question. One arrow labelled Yes and one labelled No lead to different steps, and the paths can join up again later.
Practice
Start
Testing
Gaps
: Is it raining?
Check Answer
Spots
2<Is the bag packed?>
3Maybe -> Walk to school

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Quick Questions

1. Which shape do you use to show a decision in a flowchart?
A. A rectangle
B. A diamond ✓
A decision is drawn as a diamond. Rectangles are used for ordinary steps.
2. Which question is best to write inside a decision diamond?
A. Is it raining? ✓
B. Get an umbrella
A diamond holds a question that can be answered Yes or No. 'Get an umbrella' is an action, so it goes in a step box.
3. How many arrows leave a decision diamond?
A. Two: one labelled Yes and one labelled No ✓
B. One arrow with no label
Every decision diamond has a Yes arrow and a No arrow so the flowchart shows both paths.
4. Which question works in a decision diamond?
A. Is the score more than 10? ✓
B. What is the score?
A decision question must have a Yes or No answer. 'What is the score?' needs a number as an answer, so it does not fit.
5. What do the labels on the arrows leaving a diamond tell you?
A. How fast to move through the steps
B. Which path to follow for each answer ✓
Yes and No labels show which path to take depending on the answer to the question.

Match the Pairs

Diamond: Is it raining? → A decision diamond holding a yes/no question that the flowchart asks
Diamond --Yes--> Take umbrella → A Yes arrow leading from the diamond to the step done when the answer is Yes
The question in a diamond must be a yes/no question → Diamond: Is the score over 10?
Two paths from a decision can join up again afterwards → Yes --> Wear coat --> Walk to school; No --> Walk to school
Diamond: What is the weather? → The diamond holds a question that has more than two answers, not a yes/no question. It should be something like Is it raining?
Diamond: Is it sunny? --> Wear a hat (no labels on the arrows) → The arrows leaving the diamond are not labelled Yes and No, so you cannot tell which path to follow.

Key Term

decision diamond
A diamond shape in a flowchart that holds a yes/no question. One arrow labelled Yes and one labelled No lead to different steps, and the paths can join up again later.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Diamond: Is it raining?
Hint: Type the name of the flowchart shape used to hold a yes/no question.
2. Diamond: Is it raining? Yes -> Take an umbrella No -> Wear a cap
Hint: Type the label on the arrow that leads to the umbrella step.
3. Diamond: Is the door locked? Yes -> Get the key No -> Open the door
Hint: Type the label on the other arrow coming out of the diamond.
4. Diamond: Is it a school day?
Hint: Type the punctuation mark that ends a yes/no question in the diamond.
5. Yes and No paths join at the next step
Hint: Type the word for when two paths come back together into one.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Start
B <Is the bag packed?>
C Maybe -> Walk to school
D No -> Pack the bag
E Both paths -> End
Line C — Arrows leaving a decision diamond must be labelled Yes or No. 'Maybe' is not allowed. It should be 'Yes -> Walk to school'.
Question 2
A <What colour is the light?>
B Yes -> Stop the car
C No -> Keep driving
D Both paths -> Check the road
Line A — The diamond must hold a question with a yes/no answer. 'What colour is the light?' can't be answered with Yes or No. It should be '<Is the light red?>'.
Question 3
A <Is the door open?>
B Yes -> Walk inside
C Yes -> Knock on the door
D Both paths -> Sit down
Line C — The two arrows from a diamond need different labels. This line uses Yes twice. It should start with 'No ->'.
Question 4
A <Charge the phone>
B Yes -> Play the game
C No -> Plug in the charger
D Both paths -> Finish
Line A — A diamond holds a question, not an action. 'Charge the phone' is a step. It should be '<Is the phone charged?>'.
Question 5
A <Is the dog hungry?>
B -> Feed the dog
C No -> Play with the dog
D Both paths -> Go to bed
Line B — Every arrow from the diamond needs a label. This arrow has no Yes or No. It should be 'Yes -> Feed the dog'.

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