Pseudocode is a design notation used to represent the logic and structure of a computer program without specific programming syntax. It allows for more flexibility than actual programming languages and uses common descriptions of programming constructs like INPUT, OUTPUT, WHILE loops, and IF/THEN conditional statements. An example pseudocode solution is given for a program that asks the user to input a test score between 1 and 99, displaying an error if they enter an invalid value. Pseudocode is useful for planning programs before writing actual code as each line can later be directly converted to a programming language.

1. PSEUDOCODE
NATIONAL 5 COMPUTING SCIENCE

2. PSEUDOCODE
• The design notation pseudocode relates to the logic of how a
program will work.
• Programming languages like Python and Visual Basic have rules
around syntax and structure, pseudocode gives more freedom.
• We number each line to ensure the design can be followed
correctly.

3. RULES FOR PSEUDOCODE
• No strict rules, here are the most used ones:
• INPUT – user will be inputting something (FROM KEYBOARD)
• OUTPUT – display to the user (SEND TO OUTPUT)
• WHILE – a loop (Condition at the beginning)
• FOR – a counting loop (Iteration)
• REPEAT… UNTIL – a loop which ends with a condition
• IF … THEN … ELSE – a choice or decision is made.

4. PSEUDOCODE QUESTION
• Write the pseudocode steps for a program asking the user to
enter their test score, this has to be between 1 and 99.
• If not between 1 and 99, send an error message to user.

5. PSEUDOCODE SOLUTION
Line 1 RECEIVE score FROM (INTEGER) KEYBOARD
Line 2 WHILE score < 1 or score > 99 DO
Line 3 SEND “Error, please enter a score between 1 and 99” TO
DISPLAY
Line 4 RECEIVE score FROM (INTEGER) KEYBOARD
Line 5 END WHILE

6. WHY USE PSEUDOCODE?
• It is good planning!
• Each line of pseudocode can be converted into a line of code in
any programming language.