← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

Process symbol

A rectangle in a flowchart that shows one action, such as a calculation or an assignment, written inside it, e.g. Total ← Total + Mark or Count ← 0.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 7c Pseudocode and Flowcharts — Module 45

Understanding Process symbol in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 2

What it does: Each box has a single action, so setting Total and setting Count are drawn as two rectangles joined by a flow line. A calculation and its assignment go inside a rectangle, which is the process symbol. Count ← 0 is an assignment, so it is an action and goes in a rectangle. A question with Yes/No branches goes in a decision diamond. Keep one action per box so the flowchart is clear and each step is easy to trace. Cambridge pseudocode uses ← for assignment. A single = is used for comparison, not for assigning a value. Setting a variable is a process, so it uses a rectangle. A parallelogram is for input and output.

Common mistakes: Setting Count to 0 is an action, so it goes in a process rectangle. A decision diamond is only for yes/no questions. It should be [Process] Count ← 0. An assignment inside a process box must use the arrow ←, not =. It should be [Process] Total ← 0.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 176–187) and word search (Modules 166–187).

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Learning
Duo
Which flowchart shape shows a calculation such as Total ← Total + Mark?
Diamond (decision symbol)Rectangle (process symbol)
Matches
[Total ← 0, Count ← 0, Sum ← 0]
↓
Three actions are crammed into one process box. Each action should have its own box, joined by flow lines.
Applying
Meanings
Term
Process symbol
Meaning
A rectangle in a flowchart that shows one action, such as a calculation or an assignment, written inside it, e.g. Total ← Total + Mark or Count ← 0.
Practice
Count ← 0
Testing
Gaps
Count ←
Check Answer
Spots
1[Decision] Count ← 0
2[Input] INPUT Mark

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Quick Questions

1. Which flowchart shape shows a calculation such as Total ← Total + Mark?
A. Rectangle (process symbol) ✓
B. Diamond (decision symbol)
A rectangle is the process symbol. It shows an action being done, such as a calculation or an assignment. A diamond is only for decisions.
2. Which statement belongs inside a process symbol?
A. Is Count = 0?
B. Count ← 0 ✓
Count ← 0 is an assignment, so it is an action and goes in a rectangle. A question with Yes/No branches goes in a decision diamond.
3. How many actions should one process box normally hold?
A. One action per box ✓
B. As many actions as will fit
Keep one action per box so the flowchart is clear and each step is easy to trace.
4. Which is the correct way to write an assignment inside a process box?
A. Total ← Total + Mark ✓
B. Total = Total + Mark
Cambridge pseudocode uses ← for assignment. A single = is used for comparison, not for assigning a value.
5. You need to set Count to zero before a loop. Which symbol do you draw?
A. A parallelogram containing Count ← 0
B. A rectangle containing Count ← 0 ✓
Setting a variable is a process, so it uses a rectangle. A parallelogram is for input and output.

Match the Pairs

Total ← Total + Mark → A calculation written inside a process rectangle: it adds Mark to Total and stores the answer back in Total
Count ← 0 → An assignment written inside a process rectangle: it sets Count to zero before counting begins
A process rectangle holds one action, so two separate actions need two boxes → [Total ← 0] → [Count ← 0]
The process symbol is a rectangle with the action written inside it → [Average ← Total / Count]
[Total ← 0, Count ← 0, Sum ← 0] → Three actions are crammed into one process box. Each action should have its own box, joined by flow lines.
Diamond containing: Total ← Total + Mark → A calculation is drawn in a diamond, which is the decision symbol. Calculations and assignments belong in a rectangle.

Key Term

Process symbol
A rectangle in a flowchart that shows one action, such as a calculation or an assignment, written inside it, e.g. Total ← Total + Mark or Count ← 0.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Count ← 0
Hint: Type the starting value a counter is set to inside a process box.
2. Total ← Total + Mark
Hint: Type the variable that holds the running total, so the new mark is added to its old value.
3. Count ← Count + 1
Hint: Type the arithmetic operator that makes the counter go up.
4. Total ← Total + Mark
Hint: Type the symbol that stores the result in the variable.
5. Average ← Total / Count
Hint: Type the arithmetic operator that divides the total by the number of items.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A [Decision] Count ← 0
B [Input] INPUT Mark
C [Process] Count ← Count + 1
D [Output] OUTPUT Count
Line A — Setting Count to 0 is an action, so it goes in a process rectangle. A decision diamond is only for yes/no questions. It should be [Process] Count ← 0.
Question 2
A [Oval] START
B [Process] Total = 0
C [Input] INPUT Mark
D [Process] Total ← Total + Mark
E [Output] OUTPUT Total
Line B — An assignment inside a process box must use the arrow ←, not =. It should be [Process] Total ← 0.
Question 3
A [Oval] START
B [Process] Count ← 0, Total ← 0
C [Output] OUTPUT Count
D [Oval] STOP
Line B — Each process box should show only one action. Count ← 0 and Total ← 0 need two separate boxes. The line should be [Process] Count ← 0.
Question 4
A [Input] INPUT Mark
B [Process] Total + Mark ← Total
C [Output] OUTPUT Total
Line B — The variable being assigned goes on the left of the arrow and the calculation on the right. It should be [Process] Total ← Total + Mark.
Question 5
A [Oval] START
B [Process] Count ← 0
C [Input] INPUT Mark
D [Output] Count ← Count + 1
E [Output] OUTPUT Count
Line D — Adding 1 to Count is a calculation and assignment, so it belongs in a process rectangle. The output shape is only for displaying results. It should be [Process] Count ← Count + 1.

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