algorithms

At the start, an algorithm is a series of steps to solve a problem. An algorithm should not be language specific, as the plan or steps should be able to be programmed in any language. That being said, there needs to be some standards which are used in the representation of algorithms, particularly in a teaching environment. While some of these standards may not match directly to how a structure might be coded in a particular language, these are what will be used in Information Technology examination papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2) and candidates are expected to follow these guidelines when answer both papers.

An algorithm can be represented in many ways, including flowcharts or pseudocode. The focus of this document is on pseudocode and its use to represent an algorithm.