ISTQB CTFL-Foundation ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level Exam Practice Test

The task "verify the test environment set up is correct" relates to the Implementation and Execution phase of the fundamental test process. This phase includes setting up the test environment, creating test data, and executing test cases.

Determining whether enough testing has been performed involves considering several factors. These include:

(i) The exit criteria, which define the conditions that must be met to conclude testing. (ii) The budget, which affects the extent of testing that can be conducted. (iv) The product's risk profile,which helps prioritize testing efforts on high-risk areas. (vi) Sufficient details of the system status to allow decisions, ensuring that stakeholders have the necessary information to make informed decisions about the software's readiness.

These factors together ensure a balanced and informed decision-making process regarding the sufficiency of testing​​.

Effective ways to improve communication and relationships between testers and other team members include communicating factual information in a constructive way (a) and trying to understand how the other person feels and why they react the way they do (b). These approaches foster a collaborative and empathetic environment, reducing friction and enhancing teamwork.

Decision table testing is a black-box test design technique used to test system requirements and to ensure that different combinations of inputs result in appropriate outputs. It is especially useful for testing complex business logic and rules where various combinations of conditions need to be verified.

The fundamental test process consists of several sequential steps: planning and control, analysis, design, implementation, execution, evaluation of exit criteria and reporting, and test closure. This comprehensive process ensures that testing is methodical and covers all necessary aspects from preparation to conclusion.

Metrics are used to measure various aspects of the testing process, such as the percentage of work done in test environment preparation, test case preparation, and whether test milestones were met. However, metrics are not specifically used to apply to the RAD (Rapid Application Development) development model. Metrics focus on providing data to evaluate and improve the testing process rather than applying to specific development methodologies.

White box testing design is characterized by its focus on the internal structure of the component or system. It involves testing based on knowledge of the code structure, architecture, and internal design. This approach contrasts with black box testing, which is based on functional specifications without any knowledge of the internal workings of the software.

Debugging is the process where developers identify, locate, and correct defects. Testers are then responsible for confirming that the correction has resolved the original defect. This separation of responsibilities ensures that defects are properly fixed and verified.

To verify the non-functional requirements such as the support for a minimum number of enquiries per hour, availability, and response time during peak loads, the most appropriate set of test types would include Performance Testing to assess the responsiveness and stability, Load Testing to verify the system's ability to handle expected user loads, and Stress Testing to determine the system's behavior under extreme conditions. These tests collectively ensure that the system meets the specified non-functional criteria.

The four test levels defined for a common V-model testing approach are Component, Integration, System, and Acceptance testing. These levels align with the development stages in the V-model,where each level of testing corresponds to a specific phase in the software development lifecycle, ensuring comprehensive verification and validation of the software​​.

Test planning should be a continuous activity throughout the software development lifecycle. This ensures that the test plans remain relevant and effective, adapting to any changes in the project scope, requirements, or timelines.

Exit criteria are the conditions that must be met to conclude a particular phase of testing. These criteria include acceptance criteria, completion criteria, and pass/fail criteria. They help ensure that the testing process is thorough and that the system meets the required standards before moving on to the next phase.

Dynamic Analysis Tools are used during the execution of software to find defects that can occur while the software is running. These tools can identify issues such as memory leaks, which are not detectable by static analysis tools.

Maintenance testing is essential when there is a need to ensure that the software continues to function correctly after it has been modified. Migration to a new platform is a significant change that can impact the software's functionality, requiring thorough maintenance testing to verify that the software performs as expected in the new environment. This ensures that any platform-specific issues are identified and resolved​​.

Independence in software testing refers to the separation of testing activities from the development and production processes. This separation helps ensure objectivity and reduces the risk of bias in the testing results. Independent testers are more likely to identify defects that developers might overlook due to familiarity with the code. The ISTQB syllabus highlights the importance of independence in testing as a key factor in promoting effective and unbiased testing practices​​.

In formal reviews, such as inspections, the role of the moderator is crucial. The moderator is responsible for leading the review process, ensuring that the review is conducted according to the defined procedures, and facilitating the review meeting. The ISTQB syllabus highlights that the moderator's role is to guide the review team, manage any issues that arise during the review, and ensure that the objectives of the review are met​​.

The highest level of independence in testing is achieved by having independent test specialists who focus on specific test types such as usability, performance, or certification testing. This independence helps in unbiased defect detection and evaluation, minimizing cognitive biases that might affect testers who are closer to the development process.

The Black-box testing technique is a method where the internal structure or workings of the item being tested are not known to the tester. This technique focuses on the input and output of the software system, ensuring that it meets the specified requirements without considering the internal code structure. It contrasts with White-box testing, which involves testing internal structures or workings of an application.

Valid test objectives include finding defects (i), gaining confidence about the level of quality and providing information (ii), and preventing defects (iii). Debugging the code (iv) is not a valid test objective as it is a part of the development process rather than the testing process.

The selection of a software development model should be based on the specific characteristics of the product and project. Factors such as project size, complexity, requirements stability, and team expertise influence the choice of the most suitable development model. The ISTQB syllabus explains that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the decision should be tailored to the context and needs of the project​​.

To achieve 100% statement coverage and 100% decision coverage for the provided pseudo code, at least two test cases are required. The first test case should cover the scenario where X > Y, which will execute the statements in the "if" branch. The second test case should cover the scenario where X ≤ Y, which will execute the statements in the "else" branch. This ensures that both the true and false branches of the decision are tested, and all statements in the code are executed at least once.

In state transition testing, test cases are designed to execute specific sequences of state transitions. Referring to the provided state transition diagram:

For test case (i) X-Z-V-W, the corresponding state transitions are S1 (X) → S2, S2 (Z) → S3, S3 (V) → S4, and S4 (W) → S2. Therefore, the sequence of state transitions is S1 – S2 – S3 – S4 – S2.

For test case (ii) W-Y-U-U, the corresponding state transitions are S4 (W) → S2, S2 (Y) → S4, S4 (U) → S4, and S4 (U) → S4. Therefore, the sequence of state transitions is S4 – S2 – S4 – S4 – S4.

This ensures that the transitions accurately reflect the states and paths described in the test cases.

A test condition is defined as an item or event that can be verified by one or more test cases. It can include functions, transactions, structural elements, or quality attributes that need to be tested to ensure the system behaves as expected.

Experience-based and intuition-based testing techniques, such as error guessing and exploratory testing, can be valuable in uncovering defects that formal techniques might miss. These approaches leverage the tester's knowledge, intuition, and experience, providing a complementary layer to more structured and formal testing techniques.

Independent testing is crucial because independent testers can provide an unbiased perspective and verify the assumptions made during the specification and implementation phases. This helps in identifying defects that might be overlooked by developers who are closely involved in the creation of the system.

Maintenance testing is conducted on the software after it has been delivered to address any issues or changes required due to defects, environment changes, or new requirements. The ISTQB syllabus explains that maintenance testing typically involves impact analysis to determine the extent of regression testing required, thus optimizing the testing effort and focusing on affected areas​​.

For user acceptance testing (UAT) of the first release of a new software product aimed at a general market and built using Agile methods, appropriate test objectives would be to ensure the product works as expected (c) and to assess the overall quality of the product (d). These objectives focus on validating that the software meets user needs and overall quality standards.

Equivalence partitioning is a testing technique that divides input data into partitions of equivalent data from which test cases can be derived. The goal is to ensure that at least one value from each partition is tested. The partitions for the examination marks are:

Fail: 0–39

Pass: 40–59

Merit: 60–79

Distinction: 80–100

In set B (0, 45, 79, 87), each value belongs to a different equivalence partition:

0 (Fail)

45 (Pass)

79 (Merit)

87 (Distinction)

Evaluating the testability of requirements (i) and developing and prioritizing test cases (iv) are part of the test analysis and design activities. Repeating testing activities after changes (ii), designing the test environment set-up (iii), and verifying the environment is set up correctly (v) are part of the test implementation and execution activities. These distinctions are part of the fundamental test process, which ensures that each phase of testing is appropriately planned and executed. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 1.4.1​​.

Test independence is beneficial because it helps to avoid author bias, ensuring that the tests are designed and executed objectively. When testers who are not involved in the development of the code test it, they bring a fresh perspective and are more likely to identify defects that the developers might have overlooked due to familiarity with their own work. This principle is supported by the ISTQB CTFL Syllabus, which highlights that independence can enhance the effectiveness of testing by eliminating the preconceived notions and biases of those who wrote the code​​.

The most valid goal for a test team is to cause as many failures as possible so that faults can be identified and corrected. This goal aligns with the primary objective of testing, which is to discover defects and ensure they are addressed before the software is released to end-users. By focusing on causing failures, the test team can identify weaknesses in the software and provide valuable feedback for improvements.

According to the ISTQB CTFL Syllabus, version 4.0, the ultimate aim of testing is to find and fix defects to enhance the quality and reliability of the software. Proving that all faults are identified or that no faults will cause failures are unrealistic and less effective goals because it is impossible to guarantee that all defects have been found. Therefore, the goal of causing failures to find and fix faults is the most valid and practical approach for a test team​​.

A deviation from the specified or expected behavior that is visible to end-users is defined as a "failure." According to the ISTQB CTFL Syllabus, version 4.0:

Anerroris a human action that produces an incorrect result.

Afault(also known as a defect or bug) is a flaw in a component or system that can cause the system to fail to perform its required function.

Afailureoccurs when a fault is executed, leading to a deviation from the expected behavior, and this deviation becomes apparent to the end-users.

Thus, a visible deviation from the specified or expected behavior is termed a failure in the context of software testing​​.

When testing worldwide web sites, it is crucial to focus on several key features:

A. Interaction between HTML pages to ensure that navigation and link functionalities work correctly.

B. Performance on the client side to make sure that the website loads efficiently and performs well under different conditions.

C. Security aspects to protect the website and its users from potential vulnerabilities and attacks.

These combined aspects ensure that the website provides a good user experience, performs well, and remains secure​​.

The main purpose of use case testing is to identify defects in process flows related to the typical use of the system. Use case testing is a black-box test design technique that is based on use case scenarios. These scenarios help in validating that the system performs correctly for the specific ways in which the users will interact with it. This method is particularly effective in finding issues that users might encounter during real-world usage of the system. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.2.4​​.

One of the most likely benefits of using static techniques is productivity improvements in the development process. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 states that static techniques, such as reviews and static analysis, help in identifying defects early, which reduces the time and effort required for rework, thus improving overall productivity in the development process​​.

100% statement coverage means that every statement in the code must be executed at least once. To achieve this, we need to ensure that the conditionIf A > Biggestis both true and false at least once during the test.

Test case D (10, 11, 0) will cover all the statements:

InitialBiggestset to 10.

WhenAis 10, the conditionA > Biggestis false.

WhenAis 11, the conditionA > Biggestis true, andBiggestis updated to 11.

WhenAis 0, the loop exits.

This covers all possible paths through the code, ensuring 100% statement coverage. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.3.1​​.

When working with software development models, it is crucial to adapt the models to the context of the specific project and product characteristics. Different projects and products may require different approaches, and flexibility in choosing or adapting a model ensures that the development process is efficient and effective. This customization allows for better alignment with project requirements, timelines, and risks, ultimately leading to a higher quality product​​.

Code Coverage is a measure used to describe the degree to which the source code of a program is tested by a particular test suite. It helps in determining the effectiveness of testing by indicating the parts of the code that have been exercised by the tests and those that have not. It is an important metric for evaluating test coverage and identifying areas that may require additional testing. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.3.2​​.

Debugging defects is not a testing objective. According to the ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0, the primary objectives of testing include finding defects, gaining confidence about the level of quality, providing information, and preventing defects. Debugging is a developer's activity that involves identifying the cause of defects and fixing them, which is different from the objectives of testing​​.

The test process can start as soon as the software requirements have been approved. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 emphasizes that early involvement of testing helps in identifying defects early in the lifecycle, which includes the validation of requirements and planning of testing activities based on those requirements​​.

Boundary value testing focuses on testing at the boundaries between partitions. It tests conditions on, below, and above the edges of input and output equivalence classes to identify defects that occur at the boundaries. This technique is different from equivalence partitioning, which divides input data into partitions but does not specifically target boundary conditions. Reference: ISTQB CTFL Syllabus V4.0, Section 4.2.1​​.

Designing the tests is part of the Test Analysis and Design phase, not the Test Implementation and Execution phase. The Test Implementation and Execution phase involves creating test suites, executing test cases, and comparing actual results with expected outcomes to identify any discrepancies​​.

Checking test logs against the exit criteria specified in test planning is part of the exit criteria evaluation phase, not the test implementation and execution phase. Test implementation and execution tasks include developing and prioritizing test cases, creating test data, writing test procedures, preparing test harnesses, writing automated test scripts, logging the outcome of test execution, and verifying the test environment setup. The ISTQB CTFL Syllabus delineates these tasks to ensure proper test preparation and execution​​.

For reviewing safety-critical components in a software project, the most adequate review types are Inspections and Technical Reviews. Inspections are a formal review technique with a well-defined process that includes thorough preparation, examination, and documentation, making them suitable for critical components. Technical Reviews involve a detailed examination of the technical aspects of the software and are conducted by experts, which ensures that any potential issues are identified and addressed early.

The selection of test cases for regression testing requires a comprehensive approach. It involves:

A. Knowledge on the bug fixes and how they affect the system to ensure that new changes do not reintroduce old defects.

B. Includes the area of frequent defects to prioritize testing on parts of the software that have a history of issues, thus ensuring that known problem areas are thoroughly tested.

C. Includes the area which has undergone many/recent code changes to verify that new changes have not adversely affected existing functionality.

Combining all these aspects ensures a robust regression testing process, which minimizes the risk of defects in the software after changes are made​​.

The moderator in a review is responsible for planning the review, running the review meeting, and ensuring that follow-up activities are completed. This role is crucial for the effectiveness of the review process, as highlighted in the ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0, which details the responsibilities and importance of the moderator in facilitating a productive and structured review​​.

Iterative development models include the Rapid Application Development (RAD) model and Agile development model. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 explains that these models involve repeated cycles of development activities, allowing for incremental improvements and adjustments based on feedback​​.

Early test design can prevent fault multiplication, find faults, and cause changes to the requirements. The ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0 explains that starting test design early in the lifecycle helps to identify defects sooner, which can prevent the propagation of defects into later stages and reduce the overall cost of fixing them. While it can influence the requirements, it does not necessarily take more effort, and faults found early are typically less expensive to fix than those found later​​.

Test planning involves defining the overall approach to testing and assigning resources. According to the ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0, the activities that form part of test planning include determining the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing activities. Developing test cases, building the test environment, and writing test conditions are activities that belong to the later phases of the testing process, such as test design and implementation​​.

If the project isn't big enough to justify extensive testing, the best approach is to use risk-based analysis. This method prioritizes testing efforts based on the risk of failure and the impact of defects. It helps in identifying critical areas that need more focus, thus optimizing the testing process by concentrating on high-risk components and functionalities​​.

Walkthroughs are a type of static technique used in software testing. According to the ISTQB CTFL syllabus v4.0, static techniques include activities such as reviews, inspections, and walkthroughs, where the evaluation of the software product is done without executing the code​​.

A disadvantage of independent testing is that developers might lose a sense of responsibility for the quality of their work. When developers rely too much on independent testers to find defects, they may become less diligent in their own testing and quality assurance efforts. The ISTQB CTFL Syllabus points out that while independent testing can provide an unbiased perspective and identify defects that might be missed by developers, it can also lead to potential downsides such as diminished developer accountability​​.

A failure is defined as the incorrect program behavior caused by a fault (defect) in the program. This means that when a defect is executed, it leads to the system not performing as expected, which is observed as a failure. This concept is clearly defined in the ISTQB CTFL Syllabus, where it distinguishes between defects (faults) and the resulting failures, emphasizing that failures are the manifestation of defects during the execution of the software​​.

Exploratory testing is highly effective when under severe time pressure because it allows testers to simultaneously learn, design, and execute tests. It is a flexible approach that does not require extensive preparation and documentation, making it ideal for situations where time is limited​​.

The testability of requirements is evaluated during the Test Analysis and Design stage of the fundamental test process. In this stage, the test team reviews the requirements to ensure they are clear, complete, and testable. The focus is on understanding the test basis and defining the test conditions, test cases, and test data necessary to verify the requirements​​.

Load testing is a type of non-functional testing used to verify that the system can handle a specified load of users performing transactions within acceptable performance parameters. In this case, load testing would ensure that up to 100 users can carry out transactions simultaneously with response times within 5 seconds. This testing helps identify performance bottlenecks and ensure that the system meets the performance requirements under expected user load conditions​​.

An incident report typically includes the version(s) of the software under test, expected results and actual results, and precise steps to reproduce the problem. However, the test execution schedule is not a standard part of an incident report. It is more relevant to test planning and management documents rather than incident reporting​​.

Structural testing, also known as white-box testing, focuses on the internal structure of the software. It includes testing all paths, achieving decision coverage, and ensuring that all branches within the component calls are tested. Ensuring that users can navigate to all fields on the screen, however, is a form of functional testing, which focuses on the behavior and usability of the application from the user's perspective, rather than its internal structure​​.

According to the decision table:

For TC1, since Paul is not a full member but is a Loyalty Card holder and requests 18 holes with a buggy/cart, the applicable action is £18 Green Fees plus £5 for buggy/cart, totaling £23.

For TC2, since Cheryl is not a full member, does not have a Loyalty Card, and requests 9 holes with a buggy/cart, the applicable action is £16 Green Fees with no buggy allowed​​.

Specification-based techniques, also known as black-box techniques, derive test cases from the specifications or requirements of the system. These techniques can be particularly useful when the test basis (such as documentation or requirements) is poorly defined or incomplete, as they provide a structured approach to testing based on the available specifications. This ensures that testing can proceed even when detailed documentation is lacking, helping to identify defects related to missing or incorrect functionality​​.

Testing is primarily aimed at detecting defects, verifying the functionality, and providing information to stakeholders for decision-making. While investigating defects is part of the testing process, fixing defects is not typically considered an objective of testing; it falls under the development activities. The main objectives of testing include preventing defects (through early testing activities), gaining confidence in the system, and providing valuable information to stakeholders​​.

Maintenance testing is typically triggered by changes to the operational system, such as data migration, system modification, or system retirement. These triggers require testing to ensure that the changes do not negatively impact the existing functionality. However, the introduction of a test management tool does not directly affect the operational system and is not considered a trigger for maintenance testing​​.

Debugging is the process that involves locating the cause of a failure and fixing the defect. Therefore, activities b) "Locating the cause of failure" and c) "Fixing the defect" are debugging activities. Identifying a failure and checking that the fix has resolved the failure are parts of testing, not debugging​​.

Static analysis tools are designed to analyze code without executing it. They are highly effective at identifying issues such as syntax errors, variable declaration, and usage problems. Options A, B, and D are types of defects that static analysis tools can typically detect because they relate to the code structure and syntax. However, Option C refers to a variable having the wrong numeric value passed into it, which is more of a logical error that typically requires dynamic testing to identify. Static analysis tools cannot understand the correct logical flow or expected values in the code, thus making Option C the correct answer​​ .

A dynamic analysis tool would have been the most effective at detecting a defect where a code component fails to release memory after use. These tools analyze the behavior of the software while it is running, allowing them to identify issues like memory leaks, which occur when memory is not properly freed. Dynamic analysis tools can monitor the allocation and deallocation of memory in real-time, helping to pinpoint the exact location and cause of the memory leak before the software is deployed​​ .

Boundary value analysis involves testing at the boundaries between partitions. For the Frequency input, valid boundaries are 1 and 5, while invalid boundaries are 0 and 6. For the Duration input, valid boundaries are 1 and 60 minutes, while invalid boundaries are 0 and 61 minutes. Therefore, Option C includes the correct set of valid and invalid boundary values for both inputs​​.

The amount of testing effort is highly influenced by the predicted number of defects and the subsequent amount of rework required. If a high number of defects are expected, more effort will be needed to identify, document, and retest the defects after they are fixed. This impacts the overall testing workload significantly compared to other factors such as the ratio of developers to testers, which affects team dynamics but not the core testing effort​​.

Providing support for the test team using the tool is crucial for successful deployment. This includes training the test team on how to effectively use the tool, offering ongoing support to address any issues, and integrating the tool into existing processes. By ensuring that the team is well-equipped and confident in using the tool, the organization can maximize the benefits of the tool and improve overall testing efficiency​​.

Static analysis tools are designed to analyze code without executing it. They are particularly good at finding defects related to code structure, such as variables that are not used or improperly declared. These tools can parse the code and identify issues that may not be easily detected through dynamic testing methods. Other issues like omission of a major requirement (A), inadequate decision coverage (B), and component memory leakage (C) are typically found through dynamic testing or higher-level verification techniques​​ .

The correct sequence in the causal chain is "Error, fault, failure". An error (or mistake) made by a person can lead to a fault (or defect) in the software. When the fault is executed, it may cause a failure in the software system. This sequence is important to understand the cause and effect relationship in software testing and defect management​​ .

The correct logical order for the test cases ensures a smooth and realistic flow through the system functionalities. The sequence should start with logging into the system (Test Case 3), searching for available flights (Test Case 1), selecting an available flight (Test Case 4), viewing the selected item in My Flights (Test Case 2), confirming details and booking the flight in My Flights (Test Case 6), and finally printing the confirmation receipt and exiting (Test Case 5)​​ .

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A Test Procedure Specification is a document that outlines the precise steps required to execute a test. It includes detailed instructions on the setup, execution, and teardown of the test environment, as well as the specific actions to be performed and the expected results. This document ensures that tests are conducted consistently and repeatably​​.

In the provided state table, an invalid transition is represented by an empty cell. According to the table, Event E from State S4 is an invalid transition as the cell for this combination is empty. This indicates that the transition from State S4 on Event E is not defined​​.

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Equivalence Partitioning is a black box test design technique used to divide input data into partitions that are expected to be treated the same by the system. It focuses on ensuring that each partition represents a set of valid or invalid states for the input, and one test case from each partition is enough to cover the entire set. This technique does not rely on the internal structure of the code but rather on the functionality and behavior as seen from the user's perspective​​.

The pesticide paradox in testing refers to the phenomenon where continuously using the same set of tests on the software eventually becomes less effective at finding new defects. Just as insects can develop resistance to pesticides over time, software defects become less detectable by tests that are not updated. Therefore, to maintain the effectiveness of testing, it is essential to regularly review and revise the test cases to introduce new tests and update existing ones​​.

The highest level of testing independence is achieved when the testing process is performed by individuals or teams who are completely independent of the development team and the organization. Option B, which involves outsourcing test design and execution to a different company, ensures that there is no bias or influence from the development team or company politics, thereby achieving the highest level of testing independence​​.

An independent test function in an organization helps improve defect finding during reviews and testing by providing an unbiased perspective on the software. Independent testers are not influenced by the development team’s constraints and can evaluate the software more objectively. This leads to the identification of defects that might be overlooked by developers who are too close to their own code. Independent testing enhances the quality and reliability of the software by bringing fresh insights and ensuring thorough testing​​.

Writing test summary reports is typically the responsibility of a test leader or manager, who consolidates testing activities and results to communicate with stakeholders. Testers are more involved in preparing and acquiring test data, setting up and checking the test environment, and reviewing tests developed by others. These tasks are more hands-on and technical, aligning with the role of a tester​​ .

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Equivalence partitioning is a black-box test design technique that divides input data into partitions that are expected to be treated similarly by the system. In this case, 0600 falls into the peak-time tariff, 1000 is at the boundary of peak-time but still included in it, and 1200 falls into the off-peak tariff. This ensures that each input is from a different equivalence partition, testing different functional areas of the system​​.

During the test planning stage, it is important to assign resources for the planned activities. This ensures that the necessary personnel, equipment, and time are allocated to execute the test plan effectively. Analyzing the test basis, designing test environments, and writing a test execution schedule are activities that come after the initial planning and resource allocation​​.