Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/3-1-4-algorithms-22 [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [Primary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary.md) › [Computer Science](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science.md) › [Computing: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum.md) › Algorithms (2/2) # Algorithms (2/2) Computing: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum, topic 3.1.4 ## Algorithms ### Repetition ![Repetition](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-07/786ad253-6895-4549-bed8-9f4f748d5b51/40a67df0-3345-409a-9faf-9b59593b41da.png) - Repetition means doing the same step over again. - The step can be repeated with different variables. - A variable is something that can change. ### Repetition: example ![Repetition: example](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-07/12a1fd87-3ccc-47cd-bd01-62bf93ad181c/073538e2-b60f-4129-86d9-1eb3ed25a03d.png) - The toppings must be placed on the cakes. - The step is repeated for each cake (repetition). - But the type of topping can change each time (variable). ### Repeat until... ![Repeat until...](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-09/3aecadc5-a6d0-4f74-8076-a0b56ec23bd0/step-by-step-repeat-until-computational-thinking-.png) - Sometimes a step can be repeated until something happens. - Then we can move to the next step. - A step is repeated until something happens. - This step is called a ‘**repeat until**’ instruction. ### Repeat until: example ![Repeat until: example](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-07/8338347a-2e1c-4b7a-9870-abc5831d9218/68306d37-1163-4a58-aea0-26d8c5f32993.png) - Put cake batter in each paper case. - **Repeat until** all the cases are filled - Then stop and go to the next step. ## Test yourself on Algorithms (2/2) - What is a variable? - What does a 'repeat until' instruction do? - What do you call it when you change the cupcake topping each time? - What does repetition mean in computing? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/19eff8d0-37ca-47d8-89d9-9810d0f53c27/section/43d8730a-8361-4ec7-9913-5a8e2f1132b8/session) - Previous topic: [3.1.3 Algorithms (1/2)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/3-1-3-algorithms-12.md) - Next topic: [3.1.5 Logical Reasoning & Debugging](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/3-1-5-logical-reasoning-and-debugging.md) ## Computing: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum contents ### 1 Using Computers - 1.1 Computers as a Tool - [1.1.1 Uses of Computers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/1-1-1-uses-of-computers.md) - [1.1.2 More Uses of Computers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/1-1-2-more-uses-of-computers.md) - [1.1.3 Advantages of Information Technology](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/1-1-3-advantages-of-information-technology.md) - [1.1.4 More Advantages of Information Technology](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/1-1-4-more-advantages-of-information-technology.md) - 1.2 Data - [1.2.1 Storing Data](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/1-2-1-storing-data.md) - [1.2.2 Databases](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/1-2-2-databases.md) - [1.2.3 Sorting & Filtering Data](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/1-2-3-sorting-and-filtering-data.md) - [1.2.4 Interrogating Data](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/1-2-4-interrogating-data.md) - 1.3 Plagiarism & Illegal Sharing - [1.3.1 Plagiarism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/1-3-1-plagiarism.md) - [1.3.2 Copyrighted Content](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/1-3-2-copyrighted-content.md) ### 2 Networks & the World Wide Web - 2.1 Networks - [2.1.1 Parts of Networks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-1-1-parts-of-networks.md) - [2.1.2 The Internet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-1-2-the-internet.md) - [2.1.3 The World Wide Web](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-1-3-the-world-wide-web.md) - 2.2 Searching Online - [2.2.1 Searching the World Wide Web](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-2-1-searching-the-world-wide-web.md) - [2.2.2 Searching Tips](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-2-2-searching-tips.md) - [2.2.3 Reliable Information](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-2-3-reliable-information.md) - 2.3 Protecting Yourself Online - [2.3.1 Your Digital Footprint](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-3-1-your-digital-footprint.md) - [2.3.2 Being Safe](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-3-2-being-safe.md) - [2.3.3 Online Safety](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-3-3-online-safety.md) - [2.3.4 Viruses](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-3-4-viruses.md) - [2.3.5 Malware](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-3-5-malware.md) - [2.3.6 People Online](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-3-6-people-online.md) - [2.3.7 Your Feelings](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-3-7-your-feelings.md) - [2.3.8 Getting Help](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/2-3-8-getting-help.md) ### 3 Computational Thinking - 3.1 Computational Thinking - [3.1.1 Computational Thinking](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/3-1-1-computational-thinking.md) - [3.1.2 Decomposing Tasks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/3-1-2-decomposing-tasks.md) - [3.1.3 Algorithms (1/2)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/3-1-3-algorithms-12.md) - [3.1.4 Algorithms (2/2)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/3-1-4-algorithms-22.md) - [3.1.5 Logical Reasoning & Debugging](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/3-1-5-logical-reasoning-and-debugging.md) ### 4 Computer Languages - 4.1 Coding - [4.1.1 Code](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/4-1-1-code.md) - [4.1.2 Programs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/4-1-2-programs.md) - [4.1.3 Writing Programs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/4-1-3-writing-programs.md) - [4.1.4 Writing Your Own Program: Input, Outputs, Design](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/4-1-4-writing-your-own-program-input-outputs-design.md) - [4.1.5 Turning an Algorithm into an App (1/2)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/4-1-5-turning-an-algorithm-into-an-app-12.md) - [4.1.6 Turning an Algorithm into an App (2/2)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/computer-science/computing-year-5-and-6-national-curriculum/4-1-6-turning-an-algorithm-into-an-app-22.md)