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Pseudocode and Flowcharts

An algorithm can be planned in more than one way. This lesson looks at the standard flowchart symbols and what each represents, shows how the same algorithm can be written as a flowchart or as Cambridge pseudocode, and practises reading a flowchart to work out what it outputs.

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Standard flowchart symbols

STARTTerminator: start / stopTotal <- 0Process: an actionx > 10?Decision: yes / noOUTPUT xInput / Output
  • A terminator is drawn as a rounded rectangle and marks the START or STOP of the algorithm.
  • A process is drawn as a plain rectangle and represents a calculation or an action, such as a total being updated.
  • A decision is drawn as a diamond, holds a question with a yes or no answer, and has two exit arrows for the two outcomes.
  • An input or output is drawn as a parallelogram and represents data being read in or a result being displayed.

Check you've got it

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1. Which flowchart symbol is used to represent a decision with a yes or no answer?

2. In Cambridge pseudocode, what does the statement Count <- Count + 1 do?

3. Trace this pseudocode and decide what is output. Total <- 0 FOR Count <- 1 TO 4 Total <- Total + Count NEXT Count OUTPUT Total

4. Which pair correctly matches a Cambridge pseudocode loop to how it behaves?

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