Computer Science 9608

2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Syllabus Content:
2.2.1 Algorithms
show understanding that an algorithm is a solution to a problem expressed as a sequence of
defined steps
use suitable identifier names for the representation of data used by a problem
o summarise identifier names using an identifier table
show understanding that many algorithms are expressed using the four basic constructs of
assignment, sequence, selection and repetition
show understanding that simple algorithms consist of input, process, output at various
stages
document a simple algorithm using:
o Structured English
o pseudocode (on the examination paper, any given pseudocode will be presented
using the Courier New font)
o program flowchart
derive pseudocode or a program flowchart from a structured English description of a
problem
derive pseudocode from a given program flowchart or vice versa
use the process of stepwise refinement to express an algorithm to a level of detail from
which the task may be programmed
decompose a problem into sub-tasks leading to the concept of a program module
(procedure/ function)
show an appreciation of why logic statements are used to define parts of an algorithm
solution
use logic statements to define parts of an algorithm solution

2.2.1 Data types

select appropriate data types for a problem solution
use in practical programming the data types that are common to procedural high-level
languages: integer, real, char, string, Boolean, date (pseudocode will use the following data
types: INTEGER, REAL, CHAR, STRING, BOOLEAN, DATE, ARRAY, FILE)
show understanding of how character and string data are represented by software including
the ASCII and Unicode character sets

2.2.2 Arrays
use the technical terms associated with arrays including upper and lower bound
select a suitable data structure (1D or 2D array) to use for a given task
use pseudocode for 1D and 2D arrays (pseudocode will use square brackets to contain the
array subscript, for example a 1D array as A[1:n] and a 2D array as C[1:m, 1:n])
write program code using 1D and 2D arrays
write algorithms/program code to process array data including:

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 Computer Science 9608
2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Syllabus Content:
2.3.1 Programming basics
write a program in a high-level language (The nature of the language should be procedural
and will be chosen by the Centre from the following: Python, Visual Basic (console mode),
Pascal/Delphi (console mode))
implement and write a program from a given design presented as either a program flowchart
or pseudocode
write program statements for:
o the declaration of variables and constants
o the assignment of values to variables and constants
o expressions involving any of the arithmetic or logical operators
o input from the keyboard and output to the console given pseudocode will use the
following structures:
o DECLARE <identifi er> : <data type> // declaration
o CONSTANT <identifi er> = <value>
o <identifi er> ← <value> or <expression> // assignment
o INPUT <identifi er>
o OUTPUT <string> , OUTPUT <identifi er(s)>

2.3.2 Transferable skills

recognise the basic control structures in a high-level language other than the one chosen to
be studied in depth
appreciate that program coding is a transferable skill

2.3.3 Selection
use an „IF‟ structure including the „ELSE‟ clause and nested IF statements
use a „CASE‟ structure

2.3.4 Iteration
use a „count-controlled‟ loop:
o FOR <identifier> ← <value1> TO <value2> <statement(s)> ENDFOR
o alternatively: FOR <identifi er> ← <value1> TO <value2> STEP <value3>
<statement(s)> ENDFOR
use a „post-condition‟ loop:
o REPEAT <statement(s)> UNTIL <condition>
use a „pre-condition‟ loop
o WHILE <condition> <statement(s)> ENDWHILE • justify why one loop structure
may be better suited to a problem than the others

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 Computer Science 9608
2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Algorithms:
An algorithm is a sequence of steps done to perform some task.
The essential aim of an algorithm is to get a specific output,
An algorithm involves with several continuous steps,
The output comes after the algorithm finished the whole process.

So basically, all algorithms perform logically while following the steps to get an output for a
given input.

Types of Algorithms:
Structured English
Flowcharts
Pseudo codes
Program Code

STRUCTURED ENGLISH:

Structured English provides a more formal way of documenting the stages of the algorithm.
Structured English is a subset of English language that consists of command statements used
to describe an algorithm.

FLOWCHARTS:
Flow chart is a graphical representation of a program.
Flowcharts use different symbols containing information about steps or a sequence of events.

Flowchart Symbols: START/ STOP

INPUT/ OUTPUT PROCESS

PRE DEFINED PROCESS

DECISION

DATA FLOW LINES IF condition?

PSEUDOCODE:
Pseudo code is an outline of a program, written as a series of instruction using simple English
sentences.
Pseudo code uses keywords commonly found in high-level languages and mathematical notation. It

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

describes an algorithm‟s steps like program statements, without being bound by the strict rules of
vocabulary and syntax of any particular language, together with ordinary English.

Variable:
Variable is memory location where a value can be stored.

Constants:
Just like variables, constants are "dataholders". They can be used to store data that is needed
at runtime.
In contrast to variable, the content of a constant can't change at runtime, it has a constant value.
Before the program can be executed (or compiled) the value for a constant must be known.

Arithmetic
Use the arithmetic operators.

Assignment
Assignment is the process of writing a value into a variable (a named memory location). For
example, Count ← 1 can be read as „Count is assigned the value 1‟, „Count is made equal to 1‟
or „Count becomes 1‟.

Initialization:
If an algorithm needs to read the value of a variable before it assigns input data or a calculated
value to the variable, the algorithm should assign an appropriate initial value to the variable,
known as Initialization.

Input
We indicate input by words such as INPUT, READ or ENTER, followed by the name of a
variable to which we wish to assign the input value.

Output:
We indicate output by words such as OUTPUT, WRITE or PRINT, followed by a comma-
separated list of expressions.

Totaling
To keep a running total, we can use a variable such as Total or Sum to hold the running total
and assignment statements such as:
Total ← Total + Number
ADD Number to Total

Counting
It is sometimes necessary to count how many times something happens.
To count up or increment by 1, we can use statements such as:
Count ← Count + 1
INCREMENT Count by 1

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Structured statements

In the sequence structure the processing steps are carried out one after the other. The
instructions are carried out in sequence, unless a selection or loop is encountered.

Operator Comparison
> Greater than
< Less than
>= Greater than equal to
<= Less than equal to
= Equals to
<> Not equal
() Group
AND And
OR Or
NOT not

Data types

The following table shows the Visual Basic data types, their supporting common language runtime types,
their nominal storage allocation, and their value ranges.
Basic Data Types
A variable can store one type of data. The most used data types are:

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Declaration of Variables and Constant:

The process of creating a variable is called declaring a variable. Variables must be created or declared
where users enter their data.

Pseudo code

BEGIN

DECLARE variable As Datatype

Variable 0 //initialization

OUTPUT (“What is your Email address”)

INPUT variable value

IF valid email address?

Then ...
END

Each declaration needs 4 things:

Pseudo code VB code example:

• DECLARE keyword
• Variable name
• AS keyword
• Variable data type

DECLARE variable As Datatype

Declaring Multiple Variables:

Pseudocodes VB Code Console Mode

DECLARE index As Integer

DECLARE grade As Integer
DECLARE counter As Integer

The three declarations above can be rewritten as one declaration if same data type is used:

DECLARE index, grade, counter As Integer

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Constants

Creating Constants in Pseudocode is just writing costant name and value with it. In contrast to variable,
the content of a constant can't change at runtime, it has a constant value.

CONSTANT <identifier> = <Value>

CONSTANT Pi 3.1415 or CONSTANT Pi = 3 .14

Type of Programs:
 Sequence
 Selection
 Repetitions/Loops
Sequence
Statements are followed in sequence so the order of the statements in a program is important.

Assignment statements rely on the variables used in the expression on the right-hand side of
the statement all having been given values. Input statements often provide values for
assignment statements. Output statements often use the results from assignment statements.

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

PSEUDOCODE VB code example

BEGIN

DECLARE number1 As Integer

DECLARE number2 As Integer
DECLARE sum As Integer
DECLARE product As Integer

PRINT (“Enter number 1”)

INPUT number1

PRINT (“Enter number 2”)

INPUT number2

Sum number1 + number2

product number1 * number2

PRINT (“the sum is”)

PRINT (sum)
PRINT (“the product is”)
PRINT (product)

END

STRUCTURED ENGLISH FLOWCHART

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Pseudocode VB Code

BEGIN
DECLARE miles,km As REAL

OUTPUT (“Enter miles”)

INPUT miles

km miles * 1.61

OUTPUT(“Km are : ” & km)

END

Structured statements for selection (conditional statements)

These statements are used to select alternative routes through an algorithm; selection‟s logical
expressions often involve comparisons, which can operate on text strings as well as numbers.

IF…THEN…ELSE…ENDIF
CASE…OF…OTHERWISE…ENDCASE

IF…THEN…ELSE…ENDIF
For an IF condition the THEN path is followed if the condition is true and the ELSE path is
followed if the condition is false.
There may or may not be an ELSE path. The end of the statement is shown by ENDIF.
A condition can be set up in different ways:

IF ((Height > 1) OR (Weight > 20) OR (Age > 5)) AND (Age < 70)
THEN PRINT "You can ride"
ELSE PRINT "Too small, too young or too old"
ENDIF

CASE … OF … OTHERWISE … ENDCASE

For a CASE condition the value of the variable decides the path to be taken. Several values are
usually specified. OTHERWISE is the path taken for all other values. The end of the statement
is shown by ENDCASE.
The algorithm below specifies what happens if the value of Choice is 1, 2, 3 or 4.

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

CASE Choice OF
1: Answer ← Num1 + Num2
2: Answer ← Num1 - Num2
3: Answer ← Num1 * Num2
4: Answer ← Num1 / Num2
OTHERWISE PRINT "Please enter a valid choice"
ENDCASE

The IF THEN statement

PSEUDOCODE VB Code

BEGIN
DECLARE grade As Integer

PRINT ("Enter your grade")

INPUT grade

IF grade > 50
THEN PRINT ("You have passed")
ELSE PRINT (“You have failed”)
END IF

END

FLOWCHART:
START

INPUT
marks

IF marks>50
No OUTPUT
(“Fail”)

Yes
OUTPUT
(“Pass”) STOP

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

IF THEN, ELSE-IF statements VB code example

BEGIN
DECLARE grade As Integer
PRINT ("Enter a grade")
INPUT grade
IF grade > 80
THEN PRINT ("Grade A")
ELSE IF grade > 60
THEN PRINT ("Grade B")
ELSE IF grade > 50
THEN PRINT ("Grade C")
ELSE PRINT ("Grade U")
END IF
END IF
END IF
END
The IF statement is useful, but can get clumsy if you want to consider “multi-way selections

CASE OF OTHERWISE… FLOWCHART

START
Pseudo code
BEGIN INPUT marks
DECLARE grade As Integer
PRINT ("Enter your grade")
INPUT grade OUTPUT
marks>=80?
CASE grade OF Yes (“Grade A”)
grade >= 80 No
PRINT ("Grade A") OUTPUT
grade >= 70 marks>=70? (“Grade B”)
PRINT ("Grade B") Yes
grade >= 60 No OUTPUT
PRINT ("grade C") (“Grade C”)
marks>=60?
grade >= 50 Yes
PRINT ("grade D") No
grade >= 40 OUTPUT
PRINT ("grade E") (“Grade D”)
marks>=50?
OTHERWISE Yes
PRINT("Grade U, Repeat Exam")
No OUTPUT
Yes (“Grade D”)
marks>=40?
END CASE No

END OUTPUT Yes STOP

(“Grade U)

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 Computer Science 9608
2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Program Code in Visual Basic Console Mode:

LOOPS (Structured statements for iteration (repetition)

Many problems involve repeating one or more statements, so it is useful to have structured
statements for controlling these iterations or repetitions. Exit conditions consist of logical
expressions whose truth can be tested, such as Count = 10 or Score < 0. At a particular time, a
logical expression is either True or False.

FOR…TO…NEXT
WHILE…DO…ENDWHILE
REPEAT…UNTIL

FOR … NEXT LOOP

This is to be used when loop is to be repeated a known fixed number of times.
The counter is automatically increased each time the loop is performed.

FOR count = 1 to 10
INPUT number
total = total + number
NEXT count

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

WHILE … Do LOOP
This loop is used when we don not know how many times the loop is to be performed. The Loop
is ended when a certain condition is true.
This condition is checked before starting the loop.

While COUNT < 10 DO

Input NUMBER
TOTAL = TOTAL + NUMBER
COUNT = COUNT + 1
Endwhile
Output TOTAL

REPEAT … UNTIL LOOP

REPEAT UNTIL Loop is used when we do not know how many times loop will be performed.
The Loop is ended when a certain conation is true.
The Condition is checked at the end of the Loop and so a REPEAT Loop always has to be
performed at least once.

REPEAT
Input NUMBER
TOTAL = TOTAL + NUMBER
COUNT = COUNT + 1
Until COUNT = 10
Output Total
FOR loop

The fore loop repeats statements a set number of time. It uses a variable to count how many time it goes
round the loop and stops when it reaches its limit.

BEGIN
DECLARE index As Integer

FOR index = 1 To 20
PRINT (index & “times 5 is" & index * 5”)
NEXT VB code example:

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Other examples of FOR loop

BEGIN
DECLARE BiggestSoFar, NextNumber, Counter As Integer

INPUT BiggestSoFar

FOR Counter 1 TO 5

INPUT NextNumber
IF NextNumber > BiggestSoFar
THEN
BiggestSoFar NextNumber
ENDIF

END FOR

OUTPUT (“The biggest number so far is” & BiggestSoFar)

END

Sample VB Code of above Pseudocode:

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

FLOWCHART FOR LOOP

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 Computer Science 9608
2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

WHILE DO ENDWHILE loop

The wile look is known as a test before loop. The condition is tested before entering the loop, but tested
each time it goes round the loop. The number of times the statements within the loop are executed
varies. The test before loop goes round 0 or more times.
This method is useful when processing files and using “read ahead” data

VB Code example
BEGIN
DECLARE name As String

INPUT name

WHILE name <> "x"

PRINT (“Your name is: “name)
INPUT name
END WHILE

END

REPEAT UNTIL loop

The repeat loop is similar to the while loop, but it tests the condition after the statements have been
executed once. This means that this test after loop goes round 1 or more times.

VB code example
BEGIN
DECLARE name As String

REPEAT
INPUT name
PRINT (“Your name is:” name)
UNTIL name = "x"

END

Keeps inputting name and keeps printing name until user enters “X”

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

FLOWCHART…WHILE-ENDWHILE

START

INPUT name LOOP

WHILE OUTPUT (“Your

name <> “x” name is”)
Yes OUTPUT (name)

No

STOP

FLOWCHART…REPEAT-UNTIL
START

INPUT name
LOOP

OUTPUT (“Your
name is”)
OUTPUT (name)

UNTIL
No
name= “x”

Yes

STOP

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Array Data Type

An array is a special variable that has one name, but can store multiple values. Each value is stored in an
element pointed to by an index.
The first element in the array has index value 0, the second has index 1, etc

One Dimensional Arrays

A one dimensional array can be thought as a list. An array with 10 elements, called names, can store 10
names and could be visualized as this:

Arrays (One-dimensional arrays)

In order to use a one-dimensional array in a computer program, you need to consider:

• What the array is going to be used for, so it can be given a meaningful name
• How many items are going to be stored, so the size of the array can be determined.
• What sort of data is to be stored, so that the array can be the appropriate data type.

This array would be created by:

VB code example:

DECLARE names (9) As String

PRINT (names (1))

will display James

PRINT (names (7))

Will display Mathew

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Entering Values in One-Dimension Array

BEGIN

DECLARE count As Integer

DECLARE name (5) As String // for declaring 10 elements in ARRAY
DECLARE marks (5) As Integer

FOR count = 1 to 5 // for inputting 10 names and grades

PRINT (“Enter Name “& count)
INPUT name (count)
PRINT (“Enter grade for “& name (count))
INPUT grades (count)
NEXT count
// for displaying 10 names and grades
FOR count 1 to 5
PRINT (name (count) & “has grade " & grades (count))
NEXT count
END

VB Code in Console Mode

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2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Output of VB code displayed above

Another example of One-Dimensional Array

Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim count As Integer
Dim name(4) As String
Dim marks(4) As Integer
Dim gender(4) As String
For count = 0 To 4
Console.WriteLine("please enter your name" & count)
name(count) = Console.ReadLine()
Console.WriteLine("please enter your gender" & count)
gender(count) = Console.ReadLine()
Console.WriteLine("please enter your marks" & count)
marks(count) = Console.ReadLine()
Next count
For count = 0 To 4
Console.WriteLine("your name is : " & name(count))
Console.WriteLine("your gender is : " & gender(count))
Console.WriteLine("your marks are : " & marks(count))
Next count
Console.ReadKey()
End Sub
End Module

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 Computer Science 9608
2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Two Dimensional Arrays (2-D Arrays)

VB Code Example of Two-Dimension Array

Sub Main()

Dim thistable(3, 5) As Integer

Dim maxrow, maxcolumn, row, column As Integer

maxrow = 3
maxcolumn = 5

For row = 1 To maxrow

For column = 1 To maxcolumn
thistable(row, column) = (maxrow) & (maxcolumn)
Next
Next

For row = 1 To maxrow

For column = 1 To maxcolumn
Console.WriteLine("This table has values" & thistable(row, column))
Next
Next
Console.ReadKey()
End Sub

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 Computer Science 9608
2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Multi-Dimensional Arrays:

A multi-dimensional array can be thought of as a table, each element has a row and column index.
Following example declares a two-dimensional array called matrix and would be declared by

VB Code for 2-D Array is:

Sub Main()

Dim matrix(2, 3) As Integer

matrix(0, 0) = 10
matrix(1, 0) = 20
matrix(1, 2) = 30

Console.WriteLine("first row, first column : " & matrix(0, 0))

Console.WriteLine("second row, first column : " & matrix(1, 0))
Console.WriteLine("second row, second column : " & matrix(1, 1))
Console.WriteLine("third row, third column : " & matrix(1, 2))

Console.ReadLine()

End Sub

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 Computer Science 9608
2.1.1, 2.2.2
1 - 2.3.4 Algorithm, Flowcharts & Programming
with Majid Tahir

Using Pre-Release Material in Programming

In order to answer practical questions based on pre-release material, you will need to practise the skills
you have learnt so far. The pre-release material will arrive a few months before your examination; you
can discuss it with your teacher and your fellow students.

You need to practise applying your skills to the tasks mentioned in the scenario, which is different for
each examination series.

Here is a checklist of useful things to do:

.
1. Read through the pre-release material several times. Check with your teacher if there is
anything at all that you do not understand.

2. For each task, write an algorithm using both pseudocode and a flowchart to show what
is required.

3. Choose sets of test data that you will need to use, and work out the expected results.
Remember to use normal, boundary and erroneous data. Be able to give reasons for
your choice of test data.

4. Complete trace tables to test your pseudocode and flowcharts. This will enable you to
ensure that both the pseudocode and the flowcharts work properly. It is a good idea to
get another student to trace your algorithms as well.

5. Decide which works best for each task, pseudocode or a flowchart, and why.

6. Before starting to write your program for each task:

a. decide the variables, including any arrays, and constants you will need
b. decide the data types required for these
c. decide the meaningful names you will use
d. be able to explain your decisions.

7. If you are asked to repeat the same thing many times, for example adding up totals,
complete the task for one and check it works before repeating it many times.

8. Write and test each task. You can use the same test data as you used for your
pseudocode and flowcharts.

Refrences:

Computer Science by David Watson & Helen Williams

Visual Basic Console Cook Book
Computer Science AS and A level by Sylvia Langfield and Dave Duddell
https://www.sitesbay.com/javascript/javascript-looping-statement
http://wiki.jikexueyuan.com/project/lua/if-else-if-statement.html

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