← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

Flowchart for a REPEAT loop

In a flowchart, the loop body comes first, then a decision. NO goes back to the body, YES leaves the loop, so the body runs at least once.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7c Pseudocode and Flowcharts — Module 55, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Algorithms with Logical Operators — Module 30, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Pseudocode and Algorithm Design — Module 46

Understanding Flowchart for a REPEAT loop in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: When Num > 0? is YES the UNTIL condition is TRUE, so the flow leaves the loop and carries on to OUTPUT Num. A WHILE loop continues on YES and exits on NO. A REPEAT loop exits on YES and continues on NO, so the directions are opposite. REPEAT ... UNTIL tests its condition at the end. The body is drawn first and the decision comes after it.

Common mistakes: A REPEAT loop draws the body first, so the flowchart must start with the Input box. Here a decision comes before the body, so the body might never run. Line 1 should be 'Input: Password'. In a REPEAT flowchart the NO path must return to the loop body. Here NO leaves the loop. It should be 'NO: back to Process'.

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Learning

Duo

In a flowchart for a REPEAT loop, where is the decision diamond placed?

After the loop bodyBefore the loop body

Matches

Flowchart: decision Age >= 18? drawn BEFORE the body INPUT Age, with YES going into the body

↓

The decision is drawn before the body, which makes a WHILE loop. In a REPEAT loop the body comes first and the decision comes after it.

Applying

Meanings

Term

REPEAT ... UNTIL

Meaning

In a flowchart, the loop body comes first, then a decision. NO goes back to the body, YES leaves the loop, so the body runs at least once.

Practice

REPEAT

Testing

Gaps

Number > 0

Check Answer

Spots

1Decision: Is Password empty?

2Decision: Password = Secret?

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Quick Questions

1. In a flowchart for a REPEAT loop, where is the decision diamond placed?

A. After the loop body ✓

B. Before the loop body

REPEAT ... UNTIL tests its condition at the end. The body is drawn first and the decision comes after it.

2. A REPEAT loop is drawn in a flowchart. How many times does the body run at least?

A. Once ✓

B. Zero times

The body comes before the decision, so it always runs once before the condition is checked.

3. In a REPEAT loop flowchart, which decision path goes back to the loop body?

A. The YES path

B. The NO path ✓

The loop repeats UNTIL the condition is TRUE. While the answer is NO (FALSE), the flow returns to the body.

4. In a REPEAT loop flowchart, which decision path leaves the loop?

A. The NO path

B. The YES path ✓

YES means the UNTIL condition is TRUE, so the loop ends and the flow continues to the next statement.

5. Which statement is true about the exit direction of a REPEAT loop compared with a WHILE loop?

A. REPEAT exits on YES, WHILE exits on NO ✓

B. REPEAT exits on NO, WHILE exits on YES

WHILE keeps looping while the condition is TRUE (YES), so it exits on NO. REPEAT keeps looping until the condition is TRUE, so it exits on YES.

Match the Pairs

REPEAT INPUT Guess UNTIL Guess = 7 → In the flowchart, the INPUT Guess process box comes first, then the decision Guess = 7? placed after it, so the body always runs at least once.

Guess = 7? NO -> back to INPUT Guess → The NO flow line goes back up to the start of the loop body, so the loop repeats while the UNTIL condition is not yet TRUE.

The YES path from the decision leaves the loop, because the UNTIL condition is now TRUE → REPEAT INPUT Num UNTIL Num > 0 OUTPUT Num

A REPEAT loop flowchart has the exit direction opposite to a WHILE loop: YES exits, NO loops back → REPEAT Count ← Count + 1 UNTIL Count = 10

Flowchart: decision Age >= 18? drawn BEFORE the body INPUT Age, with YES going into the body → The decision is drawn before the body, which makes a WHILE loop. In a REPEAT loop the body comes first and the decision comes after it.

Flowchart: after INPUT Pin, decision Pin = 1234? with YES going back to INPUT Pin and NO leaving the loop → The exit directions are the wrong way round. For REPEAT ... UNTIL, YES must leave the loop and NO must go back to the body.

Key Term

REPEAT ... UNTIL

In a flowchart, the loop body comes first, then a decision. NO goes back to the body, YES leaves the loop, so the body runs at least once.

Fill in the Blanks

1. REPEAT INPUT Number UNTIL Number > 0

Hint: Type the keyword that ends the loop and holds the exit condition, drawn as the decision after the body.

2. Number > 0? NO -> back to INPUT Number

Hint: Type the label on the decision path that returns to the loop body.

3. Number > 0? YES -> leave the loop

Hint: Type the label on the decision path that exits the REPEAT loop.

4. REPEAT INPUT Mark UNTIL Mark >= 0 AND Mark <= 100

Hint: Type the keyword that starts a loop whose body always runs once before the decision.

5. REPEAT loop exits when condition is TRUE

Hint: Type the Boolean value the condition must have for the flow to leave the loop.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Decision: Is Password empty?

B Decision: Password = Secret?

C NO: back to Input

D YES: Output Welcome

Line A — A REPEAT loop draws the body first, so the flowchart must start with the Input box. Here a decision comes before the body, so the body might never run. Line 1 should be 'Input: Password'.

Question 2

A Process: Count <- Count + 1

B Output: Count

C Decision: Count = 5?

D NO: continue to END

E YES: leave the loop

Line D — In a REPEAT flowchart the NO path must return to the loop body. Here NO leaves the loop. It should be 'NO: back to Process'.

Question 3

A Terminator: END

B Input: Num

C Decision: Num > 0?

D NO: back to Input

E YES: go to END

Line A — A flowchart begins with a START terminator. Line 1 is labelled END, so the program would stop before it begins. It should be 'Terminator: START'.

Question 4

A Terminator: START

B Input: Guess

C Decision: Guess <> Answer?

D NO: back to Input

E YES: Terminator: END

Line C — With REPEAT ... UNTIL, the YES path leaves the loop when the condition is TRUE. The loop should stop when the guess is correct, so the decision must be 'Guess = Answer?', not '<>'.

Question 5

A Input: Num

B Process: Sum <- Sum + Num

C Process: Sum > 50?

D NO: back to Input

E YES: Output Sum

Line C — A question with YES and NO exits must be drawn in a decision diamond, not a process box. Line 3 should be 'Decision: Sum > 50?'.

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