← Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

Drawing a loop in a flowchart

An arrow that goes back to an earlier shape, usually from a decision diamond, so the steps repeat until the exit condition is met and the exit arrow is followed.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Creating Digital Solutions — Module 26, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Designing and tracing algorithms — Module 29, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Designing and validating algorithms — Module 4, VCE Applied Computing U1O2 Programming: Requirements and design tools — Module 12, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7a Program Development Life Cycle — Module 14, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7b Decomposition and Sub-systems — Module 30, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7c Pseudocode and Flowcharts — Module 57, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Pseudocode and Algorithm Design — Module 44

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

What it does: The 'No' arrow goes back to 'Pour water', so the step is done again until the answer is Yes. You keep repeating while the answer is No. When the answer is Yes, you follow the exit arrow out of the loop. The decision diamond checks the condition. One of its arrows goes back so the steps can repeat.

Common mistakes: The count must start at 0. If it starts at 3, adding 1 makes it 4, so 'count = 3?' is never true and the loop never reaches the exit arrow. It should be [Set count to 0]. Filling the cup is an action, so it goes in a rectangle, not a diamond. Only the decision (Cup full?) is a diamond. It should be [Fill the cup].

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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 arrow makes a flowchart repeat steps?
An arrow that goes back to an earlier shapeAn arrow that goes to the End shape
Matches
Decision diamond with both the 'Yes' and 'No' arrows going down to different steps, with no arrow going back
↓
There is no arrow going back to an earlier shape, so this is a branch and not a loop. Nothing repeats.
Applying
Meanings
Term
flowchart loop
Meaning
An arrow that goes back to an earlier shape, usually from a decision diamond, so the steps repeat until the exit condition is met and the exit arrow is followed.
Practice
START
Testing
Gaps
-> go back to Pour water
Check Answer
Spots
1[Set count to 3]
2[Clap hands]

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Quick Questions

1. Which arrow makes a flowchart repeat steps?
A. An arrow that goes to the End shape
B. An arrow that goes back to an earlier shape ✓
A loop is made by an arrow that goes back to an earlier shape. That is how the steps get repeated.
2. Where does the arrow that goes back usually start in a loop?
A. From a decision diamond ✓
B. From the Start oval
The decision diamond checks the condition. One of its arrows goes back so the steps can repeat.
3. A decision diamond asks 'Is the bucket full?' When the answer is No, the arrow goes back to 'Add water'. What does this show?
A. A sequence that runs only once
B. A loop that repeats until the bucket is full ✓
The No arrow goes back, so 'Add water' repeats. The loop stops when the answer is Yes.
4. In the bucket flowchart, which arrow is the exit arrow?
A. The Yes arrow that leads on to the next step ✓
B. The No arrow that goes back to 'Add water'
The exit arrow leaves the loop when the condition is met. The No arrow goes back and keeps the loop going.
5. What happens when you follow a loop on a flowchart and the condition is NOT met yet?
A. You follow the arrow back and repeat the steps ✓
B. You follow the exit arrow and stop
If the condition is not met, you go back along the loop arrow and do the steps again.

Match the Pairs

Decision diamond with a 'No' arrow going back up to an earlier step → A loop: the steps repeat again because the arrow goes back
Decision diamond with a 'Yes' arrow going down to the End shape → The exit arrow: it leaves the loop when the condition is met
To make steps repeat, draw an arrow from the decision diamond back to an earlier shape → Is the plant watered? -> No -> back to 'Pour water'
To follow a loop, keep going round the arrows until the exit condition is met, then take the exit arrow → Is the bell ringing? Yes -> exit to 'Go inside'
Decision diamond with both the 'Yes' and 'No' arrows going down to different steps, with no arrow going back → There is no arrow going back to an earlier shape, so this is a branch and not a loop. Nothing repeats.
Decision diamond with a 'No' arrow going back to an earlier step, but no 'Yes' arrow leaving the diamond → There is no exit arrow, so the loop can never finish and would repeat forever.

Key Term

flowchart loop
An arrow that goes back to an earlier shape, usually from a decision diamond, so the steps repeat until the exit condition is met and the exit arrow is followed.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Box: Pour water Diamond: Is the cup full? NO -> go back to Pour water
Hint: Type the label on the arrow that makes the loop repeat
2. Diamond: Is the cup full? NO -> go back to Pour water YES -> leave loop and Drink water
Hint: Type the label on the arrow that leaves the loop
3. Box: Wash one dish Diamond: Are all dishes clean? NO -> go back to Wash one dish
Hint: Type the name of the shape used for a decision
4. Step 1: Roll the dice Step 2: Is it a 6? NO -> go back to Step 1
Hint: Type the word that tells which way the loop arrow points
5. Box: Take a step Diamond: At the door? YES -> follow the exit arrow
Hint: Type the name of the arrow that ends the loop

Spot the Error

Question 1
A [Set count to 3]
B [Clap hands]
C [Add 1 to count]
D <count = 3?>
E No -> back to [Clap hands]
F Yes -> (End)
Line A — The count must start at 0. If it starts at 3, adding 1 makes it 4, so 'count = 3?' is never true and the loop never reaches the exit arrow. It should be [Set count to 0].
Question 2
A (Start)
B <Fill the cup>
C <Cup full?>
D No -> back to [Fill the cup]
E Yes -> (End)
Line B — Filling the cup is an action, so it goes in a rectangle, not a diamond. Only the decision (Cup full?) is a diamond. It should be [Fill the cup].
Question 3
A (Start)
B [Knock on door]
C <Door open?>
D No -> (End)
E Yes -> (End)
Line D — The 'No' arrow must go back to an earlier shape so the knocking repeats. Going straight to End means there is no loop. It should be: No -> back to [Knock on door].
Question 4
A [Throw the ball]
B [Add 1 to throws]
C [throws = 10?]
D No -> back to [Throw the ball]
E Yes -> (End)
Line C — A question that makes the flowchart choose a path must be in a diamond, not a rectangle. It should be <throws = 10?>.
Question 5
A (Start)
B [Step] -> (End)
C No -> back to [Step]
D Yes -> (End)
Line B — The step must lead into the decision diamond. If it goes straight to End, the question is never asked and nothing repeats. It should be [Step] -> <At the wall?>.

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