← Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

Turning a flowchart into written steps

Changing a flowchart into written steps: a diamond becomes IF or a loop condition, a back arrow becomes REPEAT, then check both versions do the same thing.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Creating Digital Solutions — Module 27, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Designing and tracing algorithms — Module 31, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Designing and validating algorithms — Module 20, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Algorithms with Branching and Repetition — Module 33, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Algorithms, Flowcharts and Pseudocode — Module 34, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Tracing and Debugging Algorithms — Module 39, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Algorithms and Programming Techniques — Module 10, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Pseudocode and Algorithm Design — Module 50

Understanding Turning a flowchart into written steps in Years 5–6 Creating Digital Solutions

What it does: When the diamond decides if the loop keeps going or stops, the written version uses REPEAT UNTIL with that question as the condition. Checking means testing both versions with the same input and making sure they give the same result, so the translation is correct. A diamond with a Yes path and a No path is a decision, so it becomes IF ... THEN ... ELSE. An arrow that goes back to an earlier step means those steps happen again, so we write REPEAT. Begin at START and follow the arrows so your steps stay in the same order as the flowchart.

Common mistakes: The No arrow leaving a diamond becomes ELSE, not THEN. THEN only comes at the end of the IF line. Line 4 should be ELSE. The flowchart box inside the loop says to pour in water. The written step must match the box, so line 3 should be 'Pour in some water'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

🖨 Print worksheet + answer key Add Turning a flowchart into written steps to a class →

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

Take this worksheet further — free with Cloodit

Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
A flowchart has a diamond with the question 'Is it raining?' and two arrows, Yes and No. How do you write the diamond as steps?
IF it is raining THEN ... ELSE ...REPEAT it is raining
Matches
Flowchart has a diamond with Yes and No paths. Steps: 1. Take umbrella 2. Wear hat
↓
The diamond was written as two plain steps, so the decision is lost. It should be IF ... THEN ... ELSE.
Applying
Meanings
Term
flowchart to steps
Meaning
Changing a flowchart into written steps: a diamond becomes IF or a loop condition, a back arrow becomes REPEAT, then check both versions do the same thing.
Practice
REPEAT UNTIL the bag is full
Testing
Gaps
the bag is heavy THEN
Check Answer
Spots
3 Pump up the ball
4THEN

Cloodit turns curriculum-aligned coding content into journeys students work through one biome at a time.

The 'Nebula Cat' badge — Orbit Debugger, one of Cloodit's 106 collectible badges
Students earn collectable badges

Over 100 of them, across seven natural biomes.

Study Buddy
Students build a real study resource

Turns their work into revision material ready for Flash Cards and Exam study.

Diamond Dash — one of Cloodit's live, competitive Sprint games
Students lock in with Sprints

Live, competitive practice for the start of the lesson or a teacher-led lesson finisher.

A Cloodit certificate of achievement, ready to personalise and print
Custom printable certificates

Honour your top performers, or encourage a student who's trying hard — ready to print in seconds.

Add to class →

Quick Questions

1. A flowchart has a diamond with the question 'Is it raining?' and two arrows, Yes and No. How do you write the diamond as steps?
A. REPEAT it is raining
B. IF it is raining THEN ... ELSE ... ✓
A diamond with a Yes path and a No path is a decision, so it becomes IF ... THEN ... ELSE.
2. In a flowchart, an arrow goes back up to an earlier step. What does it become in written steps?
A. REPEAT ✓
B. START
An arrow that goes back to an earlier step means those steps happen again, so we write REPEAT.
3. A diamond asks 'Is the bag full?'. The No arrow goes back to 'Add a book'. Which written steps match?
A. REPEAT Add a book UNTIL the bag is full ✓
B. IF the bag is full THEN add a book
The back arrow makes a loop. The loop keeps adding a book until the answer to the diamond is Yes.
4. Which is the first thing to do when you turn a flowchart into written steps?
A. Start at the last box and work backwards
B. Follow the arrows from START and number each step in order ✓
Begin at START and follow the arrows so your steps stay in the same order as the flowchart.
5. A flowchart has a diamond with Yes and No arrows. Neither arrow goes back up to an earlier step. Should you write it as a loop?
A. No, write it as IF ... THEN ... ELSE ✓
B. Yes, write it as REPEAT
Only a back arrow makes a loop. If both paths carry on forward, it is a branch, which is IF.

Match the Pairs

Diamond: Is it raining? Yes → take umbrella, No → wear hat → Becomes written steps: IF it is raining THEN take umbrella ELSE wear hat
Arrow from the last box back up to an earlier box → Becomes a REPEAT in the written steps, so the steps in between happen again
A diamond that asks a question each time round the loop becomes the loop condition → REPEAT UNTIL the bin is empty
After translating, check both versions do the same thing by following each one with the same starting facts → Flowchart: Yes path = take umbrella. Steps: IF raining THEN take umbrella
Flowchart has a diamond with Yes and No paths. Steps: 1. Take umbrella 2. Wear hat → The diamond was written as two plain steps, so the decision is lost. It should be IF ... THEN ... ELSE.
Flowchart has a back arrow to 'Stir soup'. Steps: 1. Stir soup 2. Taste soup (no REPEAT) → The back arrow was ignored, so the steps only happen once. REPEAT is needed around the steps that go round again.

Key Term

flowchart to steps
Changing a flowchart into written steps: a diamond becomes IF or a loop condition, a back arrow becomes REPEAT, then check both versions do the same thing.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF the bag is heavy THEN use a trolley
Hint: Type the keyword a diamond decision turns into when you write it as steps.
2. IF the door is locked THEN use the key
Hint: Type the keyword that comes after the condition and introduces what happens when the answer is yes.
3. IF it is sunny THEN wear a hat ELSE take an umbrella
Hint: Type the keyword for the path that follows the No arrow from the diamond.
4. REPEAT stir the soup UNTIL the soup is hot
Hint: Type the keyword that a back arrow in a flowchart becomes in written steps.
5. REPEAT add a cup of water UNTIL the bucket is full
Hint: Type the keyword that introduces the loop condition from the diamond so the repeating stops.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Pick up the ball
B IF the ball is flat THEN
C Pump up the ball
D THEN
E Bounce the ball
Line D — The No arrow leaving a diamond becomes ELSE, not THEN. THEN only comes at the end of the IF line. Line 4 should be ELSE.
Question 2
A START
B REPEAT UNTIL the cup is full
C Drink the water
D END REPEAT
E STOP
Line C — The flowchart box inside the loop says to pour in water. The written step must match the box, so line 3 should be 'Pour in some water'.
Question 3
A START
B REPEAT 3 TIMES
C Jump up and down
D END IF
E STOP
Line D — The back arrow became a REPEAT, so it must be closed with END REPEAT. END IF belongs to IF steps. Line 4 should be END REPEAT.
Question 4
A START
B IF the light is green THEN
C Stop the car
D ELSE
E Keep driving
Line B — The diamond in the flowchart asks 'Is the light red?'. The IF condition must use the same question. Line 2 should be IF the light is red THEN.
Question 5
A START
B IF the door is locked
C Use the key
D END IF
Line B — An IF line needs the word THEN after the condition. Line 2 should be IF the door is locked THEN.

Student with a class code? Join your class →