Community resourceWorksheet

1CP2-CT-1.5 Flowchart symbols and sequence

Part 5 of 7 · 1CP2-CT-1 · Programming foundations

The flowchart worksheet, giving students a shared notation for designs before they translate them.

Students will:

  • name the six standard flowchart symbols and what each is for
  • follow a flowchart in the order its flow arrows set
  • supply a missing process step in a partly drawn design
  • diagnose a flowchart whose steps are in the wrong order
  • specify a complete sequence flowchart precisely

Inside: 9 explanation cells, 3 multiple-choice questions, 2 fill-in-the-blanks cells and 2 written answers. 18 marks, about 45 minutes.

Series: 1CP2-CT-1 · Programming foundations, part 5 of 7.

Shared by Coding PathwayVerified teacher

  • 16 cells
  • About 45 minutes
  • CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Shared 17 Aug 2026

Preview

The whole resource, exactly as a class sees it. Answers and marking are held back.

Flowchart symbols and sequence

A flowchart is a diagram of an algorithm's logical flow. This worksheet returns to sequence and IPO, then teaches all six Pearson flowchart conventions.

You will learn how to recognise each symbol, follow arrows, identify IPO and complete or specify missing sequence steps.

Decision and predefined-subprogram symbols are included so the official set is complete. Their full behaviour is taught later. Freehand drawing remains a teacher-led paper or whiteboard activity because the worksheet has no authentic drawing surface.

1. The six symbols

Six Pearson flowchart symbolsStart / EndTerminatorBegins or finishes the algorithm.ProcessProcessCarries out work or an instruction.Input / OutputInput/outputData enters or information leaves.Decision?DecisionChooses between labelled routes.Flow arrowShows which step happens next.Named taskPredefined subprogramCalls a separately defined task.

Shape communicates the kind of step. The words inside a symbol state the particular action. Flow arrows communicate order. A flowchart needs both.

Fill in the blanks6 marks
A rounded terminator means label 1. A rectangle means label 2. A parallelogram means label 3. A diamond means label 4. A label 5 shows the next step. A rectangle with extra vertical side lines means label 6.
  • decision
  • flow arrow
  • input/output
  • predefined subprogram
  • process
  • start/end

2. How to follow a flowchart

Use a consistent method:

  1. Locate the start symbol.
  2. Follow the arrow leaving it.
  3. Read the next symbol from its shape and label.
  4. Keep a note of any data received or value calculated.
  5. Continue until the end symbol.

Do not read a flowchart by scanning for a visually convenient box. The arrows are part of the algorithm.

Multiple choice1 mark

What does a flow arrow contribute to a flowchart?

  • AIt stores a value for later use.
  • BIt shows which step happens next.
  • CIt always means the algorithm repeats.
  • DIt replaces the need for labels inside shapes.

3. A complete sequence flowchart

Pack total sequence flowchartStartInput packsInput items_per_packtotal = packs × items_per_packProcessOutput totalEnd

Read down the arrows: receive packs, receive items_per_pack, multiply them into total, then output total.

With packs = 4 and items_per_pack = 6, the process creates 24 and the output is 24. Both inputs must occur before the process box.

Fill in the blanks3 marks
In the flowchart, the two parallelograms first provide label 1. The rectangle performs label 2. The final parallelogram produces label 3.
  • input
  • output
  • processing
  • selection
  • subprogram

4. Complete a missing step

Suppose the process box is blank but the flowchart receives a length and width, then outputs area.

Work from the required output backwards:

  • area must exist before it can be output;
  • the available values are length and width;
  • the missing process is area = length × width;
  • a process rectangle is the correct symbol because a calculation is performed.

A good completion gives both the symbol type and the precise content.

Multiple choice1 mark

A flowchart inputs hours and rate, then outputs pay. Which missing step belongs in the process rectangle?

  • AInput pay
  • Bpay = hours × rate
  • COutput hours
  • DStart rate

5. Diagnose a sequence fault

A flowchart that outputs total before its process box is incorrectly ordered. At the output step, total has not yet been calculated.

A precise diagnosis has two parts:

  1. state which value is unavailable;
  2. state how the flow must be changed.

For example: total is unavailable at the output, so move the process box before the output parallelogram and reconnect the arrows in that order.

Written answer2 marks

A flowchart receives days and pages_per_day, outputs pages, and only then calculates pages = days × pages_per_day. Explain the fault and how to correct it.

Name the unavailable value and the required order of the process and output symbols.

Students type their answer here.

6. Specify a flowchart precisely

When you cannot draw inside the worksheet, describe the diagram so another person could construct it:

  1. name each symbol type;
  2. state the text inside it;
  3. give the arrow order;
  4. make the start and end explicit.

Model: Start terminator → input/output parallelogram labelled Input quantity → process rectangle labelled total = quantity × 3 → input/output parallelogram labelled Output total → End terminator.

This textual specification prepares, but does not replace, the teacher-led drawing activity.

Written answer4 marks

Specify a sequence flowchart that inputs bags, calculates items = bags × 5, outputs items and ends.

Name every symbol type, its content and the arrow order from start to end.

Students type their answer here.

Teacher-led practical boundary

After this worksheet, draw at least one sequence flowchart on paper or a whiteboard. Use the standard shapes, connect every step, give each arrow a clear direction and avoid hanging symbols.

The next worksheet translates supplied sequence flowcharts into Python. It will reactivate the symbol-to-code mapping before assessment.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which symbol should contain total = packs × items_per_pack?

  • ADecision diamond
  • BInput/output parallelogram
  • CPredefined-subprogram rectangle
  • DProcess rectangle

Route forward

You can now recognise all six conventions, follow sequence arrows, classify IPO and describe a complete flowchart. Next you will preserve that behaviour while translating supplied flowcharts into Python.