Pseudocode

Pseudocode is a way of writing algorithms using structured English that resembles programming code but is not written in any specific programming language. It is used to plan and communicate algorithms before they are implemented in code. Pseudocode is a core part of GCSE Computer Science — both AQA and OCR use pseudocode extensively in exam papers, and you are expected to read, write, and trace pseudocode.

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Why Use Pseudocode?

Pseudocode has several advantages:

• Language-independent — it does not depend on the syntax of any particular programming language
• Easier to read — it uses English words and is more accessible than raw code
• Focuses on logic — you concentrate on the algorithm's structure rather than worrying about syntax errors
• Quick to write — no need to worry about semicolons, brackets, or indentation rules
• Easy to modify — changes can be made without rewriting actual code