ISTQB Foundation Level
  • ISTQB CTFL Syllabus 2018 V3.1
  • Author - Magdalena Olak
  • 1. Fundamentals of Testing
    • 1.1. What is Testing?
      • 1.1.1. Typical Objectives of Testing
      • 1.1.2. Testing and Debugging
    • 1.2. Why is Testing Necessary?
      • 1.2.1 Testing’s Contributions to Success
      • 1.2.2 Quality Assurance and Testing
      • 1.2.3 Errors, Defects, and Failures
      • 1.2.4 Defects, Root Causes and Effects
    • 1.3. Seven Testing Principles
    • 1.4. Test Process
      • 1.4.1 Test Process in Context
      • 1.4.2 Test Activities and Tasks
      • 1.4.3 Test Work Products
      • 1.4.4 Traceability between the Test Basis and Test Work Products
    • 1.5. The Psychology of Testing
      • 1.5.1 Human Psychology and Testing
      • 1.5.2 Tester’s and Developer’s Mindsets
  • 2. Testing Throughout the Software Development Lifecycle
    • 2.1. Software Development Lifecycle Models
      • 2.1.1. Software Development and Software Testing
      • 2.1.2. Software Development Lifecycle Models in Context
    • 2.2. Test Levels
      • 2.2.1. Component Testing
      • 2.2.2 Integration Testing
      • 2.2.3. System Testing
      • 2.2.4. Acceptance Testing
    • 2.3. Test Types
      • 2.3.1. Functional Testing
      • 2.3.2. Non-functional Testing
      • 2.3.3. White-box Testing
      • 2.3.4. Change-related Testing
      • 2.3.5. Test Types and Test Levels
    • 2.4. Maintenance Testing
      • 2.4.1 Triggers for Maintenance
      • 2.4.2 Impact Analysis for Maintenance
  • 3 Static Testing
    • 3.1 Static Testing Basics
      • 3.1.1 Work Products that Can Be Examined by Static Testing
      • 3.1.2 Benefits of Static Testing
      • 3.1.3 Differences between Static and Dynamic Testing
    • 3.2 Review Process
      • 3.2.1 Work Product Review Process
      • 3.2.2 Roles and responsibilities in a formal review
      • 3.2.3 Review Types
      • 3.2.4 Applying Review Techniques
      • 3.2.5 Success Factors for Reviews
  • 4 Test Techniques
    • 4.1 Categories of Test Techniques
      • 4.1.1 Categories of Test Techniques and Their Characteristics
    • 4.2 Black-box Test Techniques
      • 4.2.1 Equivalence Partitioning
      • 4.2.2 Boundary Value Analysis
      • 4.2.3 Decision Table Testing
      • 4.2.4 State Transition Testing
      • 4.2.5 Use Case Testing
    • 4.3 White-box Test Techniques
      • 4.3.1 Statement Testing and Coverage
      • 4.3.2 Decision Testing and Coverage
      • 4.3.3 The Value of Statement and Decision Testing
    • 4.4 Experience-based Test Techniques
      • 4.4.1 Error Guessing
      • 4.4.2 Exploratory Testing
      • 4.4.3 Checklist-based Testing
  • 5 Test Management
    • 5.1 Test Organization
      • 5.1.1 Independent Testing
      • 5.1.2 Tasks of a Test Manager and Tester
    • 5.2 Test Planning and Estimation
      • 5.2.1 Purpose and Content of a Test Plan
      • 5.2.2 Test Strategy and Test Approach
      • 5.2.3 Entry Criteria and Exit Criteria (Definition of Ready and Definition of Done)
      • 5.2.4 Test Execution Schedule
      • 5.2.5 Factors Influencing the Test Effort
      • 5.2.6 Test Estimation Techniques
    • 5.3 Test Monitoring and Control
      • 5.3.1 Metrics Used in Testing
      • 5.3.2 Purposes, Contents, and Audiences for Test Reports
    • 5.4 Configuration Management
    • 5.5 Risks and Testing
      • 5.5.1 Definition of Risk
      • 5.5.2 Product and Project Risks
      • 5.5.3 Risk-based Testing and Product Quality
    • 5.6 Defect Management
  • 6 Tool Support for Testing
    • 6.1 Test Tool Considerations
      • 6.1.1 Test Tool Classification
      • 6.1.2 Benefits and Risks of Test Automation
      • 6.1.3 Special Considerations for Test Execution and Test Management Tools
    • 6.2 Effective Use of Tools
      • 6.2.1 Main Principles for Tool Selection
      • 6.2.2 Pilot Projects for Introducing a Tool into an Organization
      • 6.2.3 Success Factors for Tools
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  1. 1. Fundamentals of Testing
  2. 1.4. Test Process

1.4.1 Test Process in Context

Contextual factors that influence the test process for an organization, include, but are not limited to:

  • Software development lifecycle model and project methodologies being used

  • Test levels and test types being considered

  • Product and project risks  Business domain

  • Operational constraints, including but not limited to:

    • Budgets and resources

    • Timescales

    • Complexity

    • Contractual and regulatory requirements

  • Organizational policies and practices

  • Required internal and external standards

The following sections describe general aspects of organizational test processes in terms of the following:

  • Test activities and tasks

  • Test work products

  • Traceability between the test basis and test work products

It is very useful if the test basis (for any level or type of testing that is being considered) has measurable coverage criteria defined. The coverage criteria can act effectively as key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive the activities that demonstrate achievement of software test objectives (see section 1.1.1).

For example, for a mobile application, the test basis may include a list of requirements and a list of supported mobile devices. Each requirement is an element of the test basis. Each supported device is also an element of the test basis. The coverage criteria may require at least one test case for each element of the test basis. Once executed, the results of these tests tell stakeholders whether specified requirements are fulfilled and whether failures were observed on supported devices.

ISO standard (ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-2) has further information about test processes.

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