Ceist Eile

Ceist Eile is in development. Features, questions and prices may change while we refine it.

Subjects · Leaving Cert Computer Science

Leaving Cert Computer Science: Flowcharts & pseudocode

How often Flowcharts & pseudocode comes up on the Computer Science papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 4 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

OL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Flowcharts & pseudocode, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Flowcharts & pseudocode.

(a)In a flowchart, what does a diamond-shaped symbol show?
  1. A process
  2. A decision
  3. Input or output
(b)In a flowchart, what does a parallelogram show?
  1. A decision
  2. Start or end
  3. Input or output
(c)In a flowchart, what does a rounded rectangle (terminator) show?
  1. Start or end
  2. A decision
  3. A process
Show the answers

(a) A decision

(b) Input or output

(c) Start or end

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Flowcharts & pseudocode.

Higher Level

Asked on 4 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024A11, B14
2023A11
2022A5
2021A5

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Flowcharts & pseudocode questions

Flowcharts & pseudocode, 3 marks

Pseudocode: SET n TO 1, then REPEAT 4 TIMES: SET n TO n * 3, then OUTPUT n. What is output?

  1. 12
  2. 27
  3. 81
Show the answer

81

n is multiplied by 3 four times: 3, 9, 27, 81. 27 is one pass too few, and 12 is 3 x 4, which is not what the loop does.

Flowcharts & pseudocode, 2 marks

Pseudocode: IF score >= 50 THEN OUTPUT Pass ELSE OUTPUT Fail. What is output when score is 50?

  1. Nothing
  2. Pass
  3. Fail
Show the answer

Pass

>= means greater than or equal to, so 50 itself passes. With > instead, 50 would fail: a boundary value worth testing.

Flowcharts & pseudocode, 3 marks

What is one advantage of a flowchart over pseudocode?

  1. The flow of the algorithm can be seen at a glance
  2. It can be run directly by the computer as code
  3. It does not need to be tested once drawn
Show the answer

The flow of the algorithm can be seen at a glance

Flowcharts are visual, so loops and branches are easy to follow. Pseudocode is quicker to write for long algorithms and closer to real code.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025A10, B14
2024A5, B15
2023A3, B13
2022A3, A6, A12, B14
2021A8, A10

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Flowcharts & pseudocode questions

Flowcharts & pseudocode, 2 marks

Which flowchart symbol is a diamond?

  1. Process
  2. Input/output
  3. Decision
Show the answer

Decision

A diamond asks a Yes/No question and has two exits. Rectangle = process, parallelogram = input/output, rounded box = start/end.

Flowcharts & pseudocode, 2 marks

Which flowchart shape shows input or output?

  1. Rectangle
  2. Parallelogram
  3. Diamond
Show the answer

Parallelogram

A parallelogram is used for steps like INPUT age or OUTPUT total.

Flowcharts & pseudocode, 2 marks

Which flowchart shape marks Start and End?

  1. Terminator (rounded box)
  2. Decision (diamond)
  3. Input/output (parallelogram)
Show the answer

Terminator (rounded box)

Every flowchart begins and ends with a terminator, a rounded box (oval) labelled Start or End.

Other Computer Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Computer Science