Drawing a loop in a flowchart

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

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

2. Where does the arrow that goes back usually start in a loop?

A From a decision diamond

B From the Start oval

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

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'

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

Match the Pairs

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

Left column		Right column
1Decision diamond with a 'No' arrow going back up to an earlier step		AThere is no arrow going back to an earlier shape, so this is a branch and not a loop. Nothing repeats.
2Decision diamond with a 'Yes' arrow going down to the End shape		BThe exit arrow: it leaves the loop when the condition is met
3To make steps repeat, draw an arrow from the decision diamond back to an earlier shape		CA loop: the steps repeat again because the arrow goes back
4To follow a loop, keep going round the arrows until the exit condition is met, then take the exit arrow		DIs the plant watered? -> No -> back to 'Pour water'
5Decision diamond with both the 'Yes' and 'No' arrows going down to different steps, with no arrow going back		EThere is no exit arrow, so the loop can never finish and would repeat forever.
6Decision diamond with a 'No' arrow going back to an earlier step, but no 'Yes' arrow leaving the diamond		FIs the bell ringing? Yes -> exit to 'Go inside'

Definitions

flowchart loop

Fill in the Blanks

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

Box: Pour water Diamond: Is the cup full? __ -> go back to Pour water

Diamond: Is the cup full? NO -> go back to Pour water ___ -> leave loop and Drink water

Box: Wash one dish _______: Are all dishes clean? NO -> go back to Wash one dish

Step 1: Roll the dice Step 2: Is it a 6? NO -> go ____ to Step 1

Box: Take a step Diamond: At the door? YES -> follow the ____ arrow

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an 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)

Question 2

A (Start)

B <Fill the cup>

C <Cup full?>

D No -> back to [Fill the cup]

E Yes -> (End)

Question 3

A (Start)

B [Knock on door]

C <Door open?>

D No -> (End)

E Yes -> (End)

Question 4

A [Throw the ball]

B [Add 1 to throws]

C [throws = 10?]

D No -> back to [Throw the ball]

E Yes -> (End)

Question 5

A (Start)

B [Step] -> (End)

C No -> back to [Step]

D Yes -> (End)

Answer Key

Drawing a loop in a flowchart

Section A: Quick Questions

B — An arrow that goes back to an earlier shape

A — From a decision diamond

B — A loop that repeats until the bucket is full

A — The Yes arrow that leads on to the next step

A — You follow the arrow back and repeat the steps

Section B: 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.

Section C: Definitions

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.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

Box: Pour water
Diamond: Is the cup full?
NO -> go back to Pour water

Diamond: Is the cup full?
NO -> go back to Pour water
YES -> leave loop and Drink water

Box: Wash one dish
Diamond: Are all dishes clean?
NO -> go back to Wash one dish

Step 1: Roll the dice
Step 2: Is it a 6?
NO -> go back to Step 1

Box: Take a step
Diamond: At the door?
YES -> follow the exit arrow

Section E: Spot the Error

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].

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].

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].

C — A question that makes the flowchart choose a path must be in a diamond, not a rectangle. It should be <throws = 10?>.

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?>.