Fiducia TogetherPseudocode and flowcharts
Two ways of writing an algorithm down without committing to a language.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
Pseudocode is structured English describing the steps of an algorithm. A flowchart shows the same thing as boxes and arrows, with defined shapes for start/end, process, decision and input/output.
Where it applies
GCSE and A Level computer science. Each board publishes its own pseudocode reference.
How it works
Both exist to separate the logic from the syntax. An algorithm expressed in pseudocode can be implemented in any language.
Flowchart shapes are standard and are marked: a diamond is a decision with labelled branches, a parallelogram is input or output.
How to use it in your work
Use your board's pseudocode guide — they differ, and using another board's conventions is not automatically wrong but is riskier.
Indent consistently and close every structure. An unclosed loop loses marks even when the intent is clear.
Trace your own algorithm with a small input before moving on. It takes a minute and catches most errors.
Where to get help
Your teacher and your board's specification — the pseudocode and the required language differ between boards. Bitesize covers the concepts; the computer science song runs the topics.
Revise this with a song
These are ours. We write revision songs because a lot of people remember a tune when they cannot remember a page, and because revising out loud in the kitchen beats staring at a highlighter.
- The Computer Science Song The GCSE computer science topics, set to music.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.